Lucia was placed by Young Foodies and shares her experience of working for a food and drink startup.
What is your current role?
I’m a Sales Executive for a sustainable startup FMCG brand called Milliways.
What’s it like to work in a startup?
At Milliways we're a team of six - so we're very small. But I have personally really appreciated that as it’s enabled me to learn so much so quickly. I'm absorbing everything, listening in on important business calls, getting exposure to the PR and marketing side of things and hearing about some of the big sales going on. I'm really grateful because I feel like in a much bigger team, it would probably take five times as long to learn the things that I've been picking up on.
Did you know you always wanted to work in Sales?
In honesty, I wasn't really expecting to get a Sales role. I knew I wanted to go into the commercial world and I'd been told by a few people that I should be in a job that involves working with people. I consider myself quite persuasive when I am talking about a product or brand or a type of food that I am passionate about, so naturally it made sense! And I'm pleasantly surprised with how well suited to it I am.
What skills do you think make a great Salesperson?
In a Sales role you are always working with people, so you have to be a good communicator with strong people skills and an understanding of how humans work. You need to be confident, but not in an in your face way, just ready to roll with it!
What would you say to someone considering a job in a startup food and drink brand?
If, like me, you are constantly checking out new and innovative brands when shopping in supermarkets and you feel excited about working in a small growing team/business then I think it could be perfect.
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