Q: Describe what you do on a day-to-day basis.
A: On a day-to-day basis, I’m serving as the liaison between manufacturers and my customers. I’m passing along relevant information—pertaining to new product releases, pricing programs, inventory, and more—while fostering relationships with current customers. I am also continuously reaching out to new people to share Connection’s story and value proposition.
Q: How did you become an Account Manager? What attracted you to this job?
A: I come from a long line of sales people, and I knew I was going to be a salesman from a very young age. I honestly never contemplated doing anything else. Growing up, I sold whatever I could get my hands on—like lemonade, gum, and baseball cards. I first learned about Connection at a college job fair, and it was the first job I applied for after graduation. Like most millennials, I have an interest and sound understanding of technology. And there is a lot of opportunity in the industry. I fell in love with Connection the second I stepped onto the sales floor. It was everything I dreamed about as a kid.
Q: What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
A: The most challenging aspect of my job was learning to collaborate. I am a bit of a control freak. I like seeing things through from start to finish. I quickly had to learn that sales is a team effort, and any given order is going to have to go through multiple hands before it gets to the customer. This is where effective communication is key! Everyone at Connection plays a part.
Q: What do you feel is the key skill or attribute needed to succeed in your role?
A: Sales is very much a mental game. The key skill needed to make it here is to be resilient. Things are going to go wrong when you’re dealing with a high sales volume. It’s important to stay positive when you face issues. They happen to everyone—even the veterans.
Q: Any advice for newcomers?
A: My advice to any newcomer would be to put yourself out there. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and attend as many of the interoffice events as you can. Everyone here is very friendly and approachable. You’ll learn a lot from the conversations you have with Connection veterans. If you have a question, always ask! Everyone is willing to help.
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t an Account Manager?
A: If I weren’t an Account Manager, I would like to work here as a Business Development Manager (BDM). I love to travel, and it would be a lot of fun to hit the road and meet with all the Connection customers in person. I would love to have the awesome responsibility of being a face for Connection and acting as the eyes and ears on the streets for the inside reps. BDMs are so important in what we do!
Q: What’s the best part about working at Connection?
A: The best part about working at Connection is the people. I come in every day and get to work with some of my best friends. It’s not something I take for granted. For such a large company, Connection still has a homey, small-office vibe. Everyone knows everyone, and there is a mutual respect between all the different departments.
Are you interested in being a part of the team at Connection? Check out our job openings.
3 thoughts on “A Day in the Life of a Connection Account Manager”
Love this! Thank you for sharing and will direct all the AM’s at our Exton site to tune in. Good Luck in Q2!
Al, great blog! Nice to see that you enjoy what you’re doing, and want to continue your career path with Connection. Let me know if I can assist here in PA or South Jersey!
Need more Nick “Chainsaw” Souris in this article!
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