From Sales to a Successful Career Path

Ten years ago, I found myself in a challenging situation. I had just called off my wedding, which had been planned for a few months later, and moved from Northern Finland to Helsinki. I didn’t know anyone in Helsinki, and I had no work community or other social network – nothing. I sat alone in my small studio apartment in Töölö, wondering what on earth I was going to do.

I had studied clothing design and marketing at the University of Lapland. I had some idea of what I wanted my future career to look like – I was interested in the advertising agency world, and after moving to Helsinki, I systematically began contacting advertising agencies in the hope of finding a job or at least an internship. However, I quickly realised that the competition was tough, and at the time I had hardly any network in Helsinki or any relevant work experience in marketing. I had to turn to plan B – as long as I could find some kind of job that would allow me to pay the rent.

The solution came unexpectedly. In the spring of 2017, I read an interview in Helsingin Sanomat with Mia Miettinen, who worked in the automotive industry. She was a female leader in a male-dominated industry. I was immediately inspired! I knew absolutely nothing about cars, but for some reason, the article and Miettinen’s example gave me the courage to explore job opportunities in car sales. I decided to apply – and I got the job!

I entered car sales knowing absolutely nothing about cars. I also had very little previous experience in sales, so I had to learn two things at the same time: the sales process, and information about cars and their features. I still vividly remember hearing someone talk about a two-litre engine and having no idea what they meant. Little by little, however, I began to learn, and my confidence grew as I realised that I was succeeding.

At first, I thought car sales would only be a temporary step on my way towards the marketing jobs I had dreamed about. But I quickly realised that I enjoyed sales and that it suited me extremely well. I discovered sides of myself that I didn’t even know existed, such as my competitive nature. I soon realised that sales is an amazing job: I got to help customers find the best solution for their life situation. Buying a car is a significant financial investment for anyone, so choosing the right one is a major decision. It was a great feeling when customers trusted me enough to share their life situations and wishes regarding their cars.

My work in car sales eventually led to a managerial role in the automotive industry, and today I work at Veho, where I am responsible for new car sales at the Veho Herttoniemi location. My working days consist of a million small things – and sometimes decisions need to be made quickly. I really enjoy the fast-paced world of car sales. No two days are quite the same. As a manager, I want to be as present and available as possible for my team. Together, we solve the situations that arise each day. And when the team succeeds, it is also important to remember to recognise their achievements.

I have now worked in car sales for almost ten years, and at the moment, I can hardly imagine doing anything else. Both sales and working as a Sales Manager have completely won me over, and I have enjoyed working in the automotive industry immensely. Cars are fantastic products, and it is rewarding to work with high-quality and impressive products. The automotive industry is constantly evolving, both in terms of the customer journey and developments in vehicle technology and electrification, so there is always something new and interesting to learn. The best part of my job, however, is the people – an incredible team and group of colleagues, as well as absolutely wonderful customers.

I have followed discussions around sales to some extent and noticed that many people have preconceived ideas about sales work and salespeople. Sales is often associated with pushing products onto people, or even deceiving them. I am, however, proud to be a salesperson, and I respect every person who works in sales. Sales is not easy, but it is extremely rewarding. Sales is specifically about helping customers and making everyday life easier for them or their businesses. Sales is one of the most important functions in many companies – without sales, there is no business. No matter how good a product or service is, it rarely sells itself.

Over the past ten years, I have also discussed sales with many of my female friends and acquaintances. Many say directly that they could never imagine working in sales because, in their own words, they are simply not a “salesperson type.” However, I would argue that many women would do extremely well in sales. Many women have the attention to detail, thoroughness, and empathy that are needed in sales.

Women – dare to give sales a try and apply for sales roles. You might surprise yourself with just how far that path can take you.

Milka Asikainen,

Sales Manager

Veho