WOMEN WHO SELL WITH RUTH PERCIVAL
‘Women Who Sell’ is all about showcasing women who sell and are thriving and challenging stereotypes. We feature real perspectives of what it’s like being someone that identifies as a woman in Sales, the barriers and the breakthroughs.
Here, Ruth Percival, Software Solutions Consultant at Amdaris shares her take.
What is your job title?
Software Solutions Consultant – A relatively new role for me! I recently took the plunge into tech sales after a five-year stint as a Senior Interim Recruitment Consultant.
How did you get into sales and what makes it the career of your choice?
I’ve always loved building network relationships and getting to know great people. I started working in retail part-time as a teenager and absolutely adored the fact the main element of my job was talking. Quickly I realised that I loved talking to members of the public.
At the time my career grew, I took on another two sales jobs, a bar job in a nightclub and a promotions role for an event company. At one point, I worked three jobs in sales, one in a bar, one in promotions and the other, my full-time retail job. I worked my way up, made great friends and built a growing network from the age of sixteen.
It got to crunch time about deciding what to do at university and I knew in my heart of hearts… I didn’t want to go! If I’m honest I didn’t know what to do, but I did know what I loved and was good at. I just loved working in retail. So, to my sixth form and entire family’s dismay, I made the decision to progress my focus on building a sales career in sales.
It was a tough move. But by the time I turned twenty, I had managed someone twice my age, looked after a team of four students, supervised three stores and was making the move to a new city to launch a concession. I was instrumental in setting up the finance division in my first recruitment role – this was possibly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
I think like most, I fell into sales. You don’t hear a career in sales being discussed at school. Nobody sits you down and suggests it to you. For some of us though, it’s an incredible career path. When I look back now, I realise that it played to all my strengths:
My A-Level in English and love for the language
My love of communicating
My ability to take on a range of challenges at once
All the way down to my ability to make people laugh.
Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in sales, and how have you overcome them?
I was fortunate enough to be in retail for five years, where it’s a predominantly female environment.
But when I landed my role in recruitment, I was one of a small handful of women in a male-dominated environment. And that pattern has continued ever since.
I have been called noisy, bossy, abrasive...
Not once have any of my male colleagues been referred to like this. Many times a male colleague would speak to me about the same topic as another male peer in a completely different way; often to me in a more aggressive or condescending manner.
I have even witnessed male colleagues have the exact same discussion with me to another male in a completely different way. I have missed out on promotions to my male counterparts, as well as multiple put-downs during meetings. It hasn’t just been within my teams; it’s also been from clients.
This kind of bias is everywhere. In recruitment, for example, I would have clients ask for male candidates only. Although I would make it clear that we cannot discriminate in this way, it was still disappointing to hear. It was a symptom of something I could see on a regular basis.
In my previous roles, I and other women in my life have been subject to sexual harassment in the workplace and some of this has led to quite severe trauma. Something I’m sure a lot of women can relate to.
But don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, I still go to work loving my day-to-day. I love the variation sales gives you and the pace — it’s what keeps the job so interesting. No one day is the same and I find myself consistently learning and honing my skills.
Sales is the definition of a rollercoaster ride. When it’s down, it’s the toughest place to be, but when it’s up, it is EXHILARATING!
What do you like the most about being a woman in sales?
It’s only now I’m starting to thrive being the only woman in the room – it’s my superpower!
It’s a shame this power has sort of gone hand-in-hand with my career progression. It’s quite common that we have to prove ourselves in the world of business, but now I realise I don’t need to waste my energy proving I’m good enough! My ability and personality will get me to the places I need to be, and I have to remain confident.
I like being a woman in sales because I can be the different perspective in a lot of the stakeholders’ days. Quite often they’re not engaging with women like me on a daily basis and so I find they are happy to give me the time. I love making people laugh and I think that wins me a lot of relationships (even if they are laughing at me).
I found writing this blog incredibly cathartic. I don’t think I’ve ever had to really think about my journey and the role I play as a woman in sales.
What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into sales and those wanting to advance?
Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle. It’s cheesy I know but it’s what makes you, YOU!
Sales is tough and incredibly target driven, so if you’re a grafter and love the earning potential, it’s perfect. It can be hard to consider sales as a career so if you’re good at talking to people and have a thick skin, then you’re in luck.
I think if you are wanting to advance in your career, persistently voice what is important to you. Make sure you influence the right people around you; you’d be amazed at the power that unexpected people in the business can have. And finally, even when you’re in the post office queue, waiting for a train, having a beer… always be selling.
