From starting an entry-level position remote to being a leader to new employees on his team, Sam has taken this opportunity to grow and succeed in this new role. By being a key factor in decision-making and having a lot of say in what the team does, he has learned a lot more about the team and Common. Keep reading to learn more about his experience at Common, and head to www.common.com/careers to learn more about our company, our values, and how you can join our team.
Hi Sam! Can you describe your day-to-day role at Common?
I am a Sales Development Representative here at Common. My job is to follow up on leads’ interest in our homes and reach to give them more information and hopefully book them a tour to check out our homes! This usually looks like a lot of texting and emailing back and forth with leads to schedule a time to talk or simply just calling and hoping to reach them.
What was your first week at Common like?
My first week at Common was fun and informative! I started mid-pandemic, so all of my training was done remotely. I was one of the very first SDRs to be hired, and we were the first SDRs Common ever had after a restructure of the Sales department. This was a really great opportunity because we have a lot of say in how things are done and the direction we move in, which I don’t think a lot of people can say going into an entry-level position. That week consisted of a ton of google meets with various team members to quickly get a grasp of all of the ins and outs of all our homes. It was sort of a blur, but no one expected us to automatically memorize all of that information of course.
How has your role changed since you started?
Since I began, a lot has changed. We’ve realized that the things that made a lead most qualified are not what we thought they were, and we have implemented a lot of strategies around sending out emails and texts en masse to reach everyone that inquires when we just don’t have enough time in the day to call them all. Also, many SDRs have moved into the Account Executive role and many more SDRs have been hired, so I get to be a leader to my new coworkers. Again, this isn’t an opportunity you could expect in most entry-level roles.
What’s one thing you’ve learned in your current role that you didn’t know before you started at Common?
I’m from Atlanta born and raised, and I have learned just how culturally different every nook and cranny of this country can be. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Atlanta of course, but down south people want to go through an entire routine of asking how your day was, and wishing you well, and chit-chatting, but this is not an overall American trait. Most people up north want you to cut to the chase and they’re okay with a bit blunter conversation, and people out west tend to be a little sweeter, but they still hang up the phone the instant our interests don’t align. None of this is bad of course, but I find it interesting how one can do the wrong thing by trying to be polite as they were raised to be. There’s really never a dull day honestly.
Some fun stuff:
Favorite hobby? I love learning languages! I speak English, Spanish, and French, and I have studied a few others as well. I also do gymnastics and coached it for ten years before starting at Common.
Your favorite team outing/bonding activity (a virtual hang out counts)? I haven’t been here too long, but just seeing everyones’ faces out at a regular old bar or brewery has been a delight every time after seeing their faces digitally for months.
Favorite place? My favorite place is Japan, specifically Tokyo or Osaka. Everything about Japan has intrigued me for as long as I can remember. I went for New Years 2018-19, and no trip will ever top that.
Favorite Common home and why? My favorite Common home has to be Common Aberdeen. Chicago is such a fun city, the amenities are incredible, the lighting is amazing, and the floating bed frames really hooked me.
What did you want to be when you grew up? I never really worried about what I would be when I grew up. It’s strange, but I never had a vision for my future until I was probably 21. Even then, I realized that for me, passions need to be separate from my income, and I need to work for whatever company has the right culture to give me the income I need while allowing me to maintain my mental health and personal life. And that is where Common came in.
Are you looking for the next move in your career? We’re looking for personable people to join our Sales, Member Experience, Property Services, and other teams across the country Head to our Careers page to learn more and apply!