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Travis, Account Executive at Route: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from mechanical engineering to podcasting to a thriving Account Executive role at Route showcases remarkable adaptability.
The interview reveals a day-in-the-life balancing cold calling, relationship building with diverse e-commerce clients, and managing a substantial book of business.
Success in this field, the interviewee emphasizes, requires strong interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and the ability to navigate emotional highs and lows.
Entry-level opportunities abound, ranging from sales development roles to customer support positions with high growth potential.
A key lesson shared is the importance of reframing setbacks as opportunities, a perspective gained through unexpected career pivots.
The interview highlights a dynamic e-commerce industry ripe with opportunities for those with dedication and a willingness to embrace challenges.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Travis Robinson
Account Executive
Route
Brigham Young University- Idaho
n/a
Engineering - Mechanical
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Pell Grant Recipient
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Career Path of an Account Executive at Route
Travis's career path demonstrates a willingness to pivot; after studying mechanical engineering at BYU Idaho and interning at Gravitate, the decision to leave a master's program and pursue a podcasting career, which ultimately led to a sales role at Route, showcases an adaptability that resulted in career advancement to Account Executive. The journey highlights how unexpected experiences, even a "podcast, uh, similar to this kind of format," can inform future career decisions.
Main Responsibilities Of An Account Executive At Route
Travis's main responsibilities as an Account Executive at Route center on "generating revenue," achieved through a mix of "cold calling, emailing, and giving demos." A significant portion of the role involves maintaining and expanding their extensive book of business—a "thousand plus accounts"—by consistently identifying and contacting new e-commerce websites.
A Day In The Life Of An Account Executive At Route
Travis's day as an Account Executive at Route is flexible, starting around 9:00 AM with emails and connecting with colleagues, then transitioning to "cold calling" and prospecting new accounts from 10:00 AM until the afternoon. The workday concludes between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, with demos interspersed throughout the day, demonstrating a balance between established accounts and new business development.
Most Important Skills for an Account Executive at Route
Travis, an Account Executive at Route, highlights the importance of strong interpersonal skills and active listening, contrary to the stereotype of a "super crazy outgoing" salesperson. The job also demands excellent organizational skills to manage numerous accounts at varying stages, and the ability to self-motivate is crucial given the independent nature of the role, requiring "cold calling and cold emailing all day long."
Favorite Parts of Being an Account Executive at Route
Travis, an Account Executive at Route, most enjoys "building those relationships" with diverse e-commerce clients, ranging from a "mom selling beads out of her basement" to high-level executives, finding the variety and industry insights fascinating. The flexibility of the role, with freedom over schedule contingent on meeting sales goals, is another significant benefit.
Biggest Challenges Faced By An Account Executive At Route
Travis's biggest challenge as an Account Executive at Route is maintaining emotional equilibrium, avoiding the pitfalls of "happy years" where excitement leads to complacency, and preventing "frantic" responses to setbacks. The first half of the year presented a steep learning curve, requiring Travis to "stay levelheaded" and consistently apply effective strategies to ultimately overcome a period of low performance and avoid job loss.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The E-commerce Industry As An Account Executive
Travis enjoys the e-commerce industry's youth and the resulting "a lot of opportunity," finding it exciting to be part of a space where "anyone can be in it," from large brands to small businesses like "the mom in the basement shipping beads." This dynamism, coupled with the constant evolution of best practices and technologies, makes the field engaging and rewarding for Travis.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Sales According To An Account Executive At Route
Travis, an Account Executive at Route, finds that success in the sales industry hinges on "self-motivated" individuals with a drive for self-improvement, demonstrated by colleagues' entrepreneurial pursuits like e-commerce ventures or rental properties. Further, effective salespeople are "simple explainers" who prioritize clear communication, active listening, and concise product demonstrations.
What An Account Executive At Route Wishes They Had Known Before Entering Sales
Before entering the sales industry, Travis mistakenly envisioned "door-to-door, summer sales bros," but discovered a diverse group of professionals committed to long-term careers, exemplified by the welcoming and helpful nature of their Route colleagues: "every single person was like, 'Hey man, like, nice to meet you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.'"
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Account Executives at Route
Entry-level sales roles such as "sales development representative" or "business development representative" are great starting points, even without a bachelor's degree, and involve "cold calling, emailing," setting demos for senior roles. Alternatively, customer support roles at tech companies offer significant upward mobility, as illustrated by a colleague who progressed from earning "$16, $17 an hour" to over $150,000 annually within three years.
Significant Career Lesson From An Account Executive At Route
Travis's most significant career lesson is to avoid labeling situations as inherently "good" or "bad," citing examples like leaving a fully funded master's program to pursue podcasting, which ultimately led to their current successful sales role, and not getting a promotion that saved them from subsequent layoffs. This philosophy helps Travis approach setbacks with a growth mindset, believing that even seemingly negative events can unexpectedly create positive opportunities.
College Experiences That Helped An Account Executive At Route Succeed
Travis, an Account Executive at Route, credits hard work as the key to their success, noting that a rigorous mechanical engineering degree and a demanding part-time job requiring 16-18 hour days on campus "proved to [them] that [they] were able to work hard". This dedication, the interviewee believes, will continue to pay dividends throughout their career.
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