New York Sales Spotlight: Chris Gogatz, from Ironworker to Sr. Sales Consultant

Chris is a New York native who graduated from Hunter College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies.

A collegiate wrestler, Chris is determined and driven, but struggled to find the right career fit after school. He knew he wanted to branch out from the family Ironworking business, but wasn’t quite sure how to take the first step.

A few months after graduating, Chris took a risk and applied for a sales role at HomeAdvisor New York.

Five years later, Chris is a top HomeAdvisor rep at 25 years old, and has turned his sales job into a high-paying career. 

In college, what did you picture your “dream job” to be?

I was a Media Studies major and on the wrestling team at Hunter College in New York. Early on, I definitely wanted to pursue a career in media, thinking I’d work in Journalism, or the music industry.

However, my real goal was to not become an Ironworker; a career that my father, and all of my uncles and cousins followed -- I suppose you could call it a family business.

I knew that a life working in physical labor wasn’t for me, and luckily, my family encouraged me to branch out and find something different.

So when I graduated in 2013, I kept an open mind when I was job searching. 

Why did you end up applying to a sales position at HomeAdvisor? 

After school, I worked as a busser in restaurants and took a few ironwork jobs with my dad to earn extra money while looking for a more professional career. 

I had been out of school for about four months when I applied for a HomeAdvisor sales position I had found on Indeed. I really liked the idea of working for a growing innovative company, which is exactly what HomeAdvisor is.

It also seemed like a place where I wouldn’t just feel like another number – it was very important to me to find a company where I’d feel like part of a team.

A career in sales definitely stood out to me, because you really do get rewarded for your hard work. And I knew my work ethic from my background in wrestling was an advantage for me. 

What were your first few months at HomeAdvisor like? 

My first impressions of HomeAdvisor’s New York office were great. Everyone was so friendly, and they genuinely want you to succeed. Some of my coworkers have become some of my closest friends, and it’s a place where you can really be yourself.

The first few months on the job however, I struggled with sales in a big way. In my training class, I was not only the last person to make a sale, but the last to graduate as well.

It was rough, especially because I hold myself to such a high standard – but I stayed persistent and focused, and really felt dedicated to overcoming my challenges.

The interesting thing is, even when I was struggling, I still looked forward to coming into work. I truly believed that my manager cared about me, and was confident that I could do well.

Eventually, I started ramping up.

I can’t say there was a particular moment when things “clicked” for me, but with the help and encouragement of my manager and coworkers, I began to steadily improve, and I became more efficient in the way that I worked.

Once I hit my stride, I really started having success. I definitely surprised myself.

Biggest challenge?

Getting out of my comfort zone has been my biggest challenge.

I’m definitely a more an introverted person, and it took about three months for me to start feeling comfortable in sales. I’ve been at HomeAdvisor for five years, and there are times I still feel nervous before calling a potential client!

Though it’s still my biggest challenge, I don’t mind getting out of my comfort zone as much as I used to. Doing that is something that keeps this job exciting for me, and something that has helped me tremendously in my personal life – whether I’m touring a new city on vacation, meeting people for the first time or voicing my opinion – I’m much more comfortable when it comes to my “people skills."

Biggest reward?

Because of the opportunity for uncapped commission in my sales role, I’m at a place in my life, financially, that I never thought I’d be able to achieve.

If you’d have told me that I’d be able to become a homeowner in Queens at 25 years old, I would never have believed it – but I am!

The average commission I earn per pay period is incredible. Though my first year was a bit slower, I was still earning enough to live comfortably. By year three, I was earning more than I ever thought possible, and was able to take a pretty amazing European vacation.

While the compensation has been great, the biggest reward has been when I won our HomeAdvisor sales contest in 2016 -- the prize was a trip to Super Bowl 50. I got to bring my dad. It was really an amazing experience.

Interested in learning more about working in sales at HomeAdvisor? Visit homeadvisor.com/careers to chat with a recruiter.