About the author
Having joined Xendit in 2021, Sherly Lim is currently part of the Inside Sales Outbound team. She lives in Jakarta and is a gym addict who loves to do BodyCombat and Peloton cycling in her free time.
====
Back when I was little, working as a salesperson never crossed my mind as a dream job. I believe, as kids, most of us wanted to be doctors, policemen, or teachers, right? Personally, I had wanted to be a doctor—just because I liked the smell of hospitals!
But as I grew up, I realized I’m an extrovert who love to interact with people. Those interactions energize me. I started thinking about the kind of jobs that I could really enjoy doing day in and day out, and I found that a sales role suited my personality perfectly.
My first foray into Sales
While I didn’t end up studying to become a doctor, I did end up getting a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, which is a far cry from what I do at work—even in my very first job!
I started my career in tech right away, as a Customer Service Representative at a tech company. Later, I transitioned to a sales role at a SaaS company, where I sold accounting software for SMEs. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people and establish many client connections. From this experience, I realized that I genuinely feel passionate about sales and account management.
My journey as a salesperson was not an easy one, though. In the early days, I had to go around to different shops to offer my products. Rejections from potential customers became my best friend. I wanted to grow into a skilled salesperson, so I committed to becoming better every day, especially in canvassing, negotiating, and eventually sealing the deal.
There were often times when I felt I needed a shoulder to lean on, or a helping hand to help me achieve my target, but I didn’t find it in my previous jobs.
That would change for the better when I joined Xendit.
How I started my journey with Xendit
When I applied to Xendit during the Covid-19 pandemic, it felt like déjà vu, because I had previously met Moses at a Tech in Asia event, and Xendit was already familiar to me.
I was impressed by the diverse backgrounds of Xendit’s employees (we call ourselves Xenpeeps) from all around the world, and I was looking forward to meeting them and practicing my English conversational skills.
Xendit did not disappoint. During my first week at Xendit, the People Team provided clear guidance about my responsibilities, and I fondly recall the warm welcome they extended to us new hires. My colleagues in the Sales division also made sure I had a smooth onboarding process so I started my Xendit journey on the right foot.
A day in the life of Sherly
I’m quite the extrovert, so sometimes working from home can be a tad monotonous. To change things up, I frequently head to a nearby coffee shop to work. My day kicks off with a 30-minute workout, followed by a shower, then I dive into work until evening. In the evenings, I either wind down with some Netflix or spend time studying.
Currently, I’m part of the Inside Sales Outbound team. Our main focus is to start from scratch—prospecting for new potential customers and introducing them to Xendit’s features and benefits. We guide these customers through the onboarding process and support them up to their first live transaction with us.
As time went by, it became clearer that I really enjoy working as a salesperson at Xendit. Here’s what I love about my job:
- I establish new client relationships every day.
- I gain insights into various business use cases from the client’s viewpoint.
- I thrive on having targets; they present an exciting challenge.
On the flip side, while I’m genuinely passionate about what I do, if I had to point out a minor gripe, it’d be that we occasionally have to address urgent customer queries over the weekend.
My favorite things about working at Xendit
Supportive teammates and leaders
Even though we all have our own targets, we never abandon each other. Everyone in the Sales department really cares about other team members.
I remember there was once when I was in danger of missing my target by some 50%, and I was feeling discouraged, afraid that my job would be at risk. I was expecting the leaders to push me hard, but instead, to my surprise, my leaders and colleagues in sales offered to help me figure it out.
Now, whenever I’m having trouble meeting my target, I would have a one-on-one session with my leader to delve into the root causes, blockers, and other issues. She never judges me negatively; instead, she is pragmatic and supportive, helping me devise a new strategy for the upcoming goals.
My colleagues are also considerate, refraining from asking sensitive questions or flaunting their achievements even when they are ahead.
Caring leaders that make us feel heard
At Xendit, all the Sales leaders listen objectively to any difficulties that the Sales team faces. Also, they are always there to lend an ear to listen to our problems, share their wisdom, and support us with practical solutions. That is something that really matters to me—it plays a big role in boosting a team’s morale at work.
Insightful training sessions that help boost our sales skills
So far, Xendit has sent us for training focused on improving our sales skills and teamwork—first in Bali, and then another in Singapore.
Here are my key takeaways from the sessions:
- Great leaders often start from the ground up.
- Making minor mistakes at work is acceptable, as long as you recognize and work towards improvement.
- Achieving the company’s objectives requires collective teamwork.
The Bali training was the first time I met colleagues with whom I typically collaborate online. I was glad to get the opportunity to share insights and gain valuable lessons relevant to my current role, and of course, I was excited to finally get to know my colleagues in person!
My best memory in Xendit so far
In 2022, our company organized a mini-trip to Belitung Island. The location was absolutely beautiful, and its serene nature was perfect for most of my Inbound Sales colleagues, who were introverts. But being the extrovert that I am, I couldn’t just stay put—I was eager to drive into town!
I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the trip, but in the end, I was proven wrong. It turned out that the exciting programs lined up by the organizers, plus the awesome company of my colleagues, made the trip a fun and memorable one. I had a great time with the Xenpeeps!
We’re looking for new teammates—join us!
Do you like what you’re reading about life at Xendit? Check out our job listings for various open roles. Our team consists of almost 30 different nationalities based all over the globe—so no matter where your are, if it sounds like you’ll fit right in, we look forward to hearing from you!
