Today, our featured career is ‘IT Sales Professional’. In the fast-paced world of technology, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, it is crucial for businesses to work with customers to meet their data and technology needs. As a sales professional in a technology company, you will work with new and existing customers, building relationships, managing enquiries and making presentations to advertise your services. Additionally, there may be a chance to travel, attending conferences and meetings to engage with customers and potential customers.

Working as an IT Sales Professional, it is particularly important to understand the customer needs, and how the service or product that your technology company provide can meet these needs. This might involve explaining or demonstrating software and keeping yourself up to date with the latest technology developments. Therefore, an understanding of technology, your product or service, and the alternatives available to customers is essential.

Dorota Sakwerda

Current Role: Senior Customer Success Manager, Box

Undergraduate Degree: Modern Languages (French & Spanish) BA, University of Oxford

Brief Biography: After completing her degree in Modern Languages at University of Oxford, Dorota Sakwerda studied a Masters in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at King’s College London. Whilst studying, she worked as a freelance translator and interviewer for Ipsos MORI. After graduating, Dorota Sakwerda spent time as a research analyst, and interned and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.

Following these roles, Dorata Sakwerda specialised in technology customer support, working at Onalytica and Medallia to analyse client relationships, before progressing into management positions. Dorota Sakwerda currently works at Box, which provides a platform for companies to assist with managing content, as a Customer Success Manager.

Software Engineering

There are many roles available in the technology, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning sector. Alongside sales professionals, and other roles which support and run the business aspect of the technology industry, it is essential that there are software engineers. Software engineers (also known as software developers) write or amend computer code – they develop the technology which the business sells or provides as a service to customers.

For today’s activities, you will learn about the history of computer coding, how computers create images such as the graphics in computer games, and have a chance to create your own coding art!

Click here for today’s activities on The Art of Coding!

Want to know more?

To find out more about working in the technology industry, either as an IT sales professional, or as a software engineer, take a look at the following explore-a-career pages:

• Oxford University Careers Service: Technology, Data, Machine Learning and AI
• National Careers Service
  • Sales Representative
  • Software Developer
• PROSPECTS  
  • IT Sales Professional
  • Software Engineer

To explore other career options that might interest you, there are lots of tool available! We recommend starting by exploring job sectors and occupations on the following websites:

• Oxford University Careers Service
• National Careers Service
• PROSPECTS  

Talking to people who are currently doing a role you are interested in, organising some work experience where you can shadow someone doing this role, or reading first-hand accounts from people working in the area you are interested in can all help you find out more about a particular job!

To find out more about studying a subject at University, you can also talk to St John’s Undergraduates on The Ambassador Platform (TAP) by clicking here!