Sharath, Sales Development Representative: Even in failure there is success

Personally, I like to be challenged and help solve unique problems. I enjoy challenges because they force me to use my head and look at things from different perspectives. They often stimulate growth and create experiences that help me navigate future obstacles in the future. Although I may fail, I learn quickly and I love that process.

My challenges are often connected to my WHY because I am passionate about solving problems and helping others with their current situation(these are the challenges I face often). Qualtrics enables me to do all of this because of the nature of the technology and how versatile it can be. It can be applied in a variety of ways within different verticals, and its challenge to me on how to do this effectively & with an impact. With Qualtrics, I have gained an immense amount of experience to understand how I can improve the lives of others in the world, and do this in a creative and meaningful way.

What attracted you to Qualtrics in the first place?   

The people & culture of Qualtrics attracted me to the organization originally, but understanding how robust the platform really is what drove me to want to apply to this amazing organization.

What was the turning point where you knew you 'had to have the job' at Qualtrics?   

I always knew I wanted to be in software sales, but it was always hard for me to find a structured program (that fit my personality) that would teach me the skills I need to be successful. When I found out about Qualtrics' SDR program I was in absolute awe. I really liked how they give you the resources to be successful and slowly give you more responsibilities to become an effective selling machine. It was evident that Qualtrics doesn't let you drown but heavily invests you in as an asset to help grow the company for the future. That really resonated with me.

What does your day look like?   

Most of my day is prospecting, emailing, and calling. Since I am still at the top of the funnel, I am always trying to figure out what the market needs and how Qualtrics can be of value. In this way, I am constantly talking/emailing to understand where we can help, and how to create messaging that my prospects can relate to and want to learn more about.

What is your favorite part of your role?   

Being a "teacher." Being in sales is unique now because we have become advisors to our prospects in our unique verticals to help them become more seamless and efficient with their process. With that said, I am passionate about learning how our technology can help specific businesses and talk through how we have helped others in their space. This naturally becomes more of an advising conversation rather than "selling" because you help others understand how their future could possibly look like, and I just love being able to lead these types of conversations.

We know you moved to Dallas - would you share your story of moving there?   

Moving from Houston to Dallas was not a drastic change. I grew up in/around Houston, so after working in Houston for a year, I knew I wanted to leave. Dallas was the perfect move for me because I'm able to take on more adult responsibilities, but close enough to home that I can drive. It definitely was the perfect choice for me.

Tips for someone in general?   

Fail Quickly. Most of the lessons I have ever learned are from my failures and mistakes (you have heard this so many times). So with that in mind, I always tell people to fail quickly and learn so that they can make tremendous strides in their growth. Your career is a journey, so you will always have areas to learn and grow. Failure can be the best lesson, so fail quick, get up, and learn.

What has surprised you most about working at Qualtrics?   

The culture continuously surprises me. The company & leadership puts a large emphasis on their employees, and it's very evident they care. It always surprises me about the amount of support leadership gives their employees, this is one of the biggest reasons I enjoy being part of this great organization.

What are your aspirations in your career/life?   

This is always a work in progress - but my main goal right now is to invest right. I am still learning a lot on the investing front, but I am hoping to start applying what I learned in the real estate space soon. I also aspire to be an absolute killer account executive. I want to be recognized as one of the best and, hopefully, I can accomplish that in the next year or so.

What 3 words would you use to describe Qualtrics to someone?   

Family, innovative, rewarding.

Qualtrics is growing, and if you're ready to find your "why" at a place like this, you can explore our open opportunities at any time by visiting our career page or by joining our talent community.

Sharath is an alumnus of Texas A&M University and started his career at Sierra Digital Inc. He loves everything and anything to do with photography. In college, he used to help with engagement shoots, as well as graduation pictures. Now, he has a passion for traveling to national parks and capturing moments that represent the experience he is having. He loves the whole process of learning how to take specific pictures in different environments and editing them to create a specific tone that reflects the park artistically.

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