WOMEN WHO SELL WITH LAUREN WHITEMAN

Women Who Sell is all about showcasing women who sell, and are thriving and challenging stereotypes. We feature real perspectives of what it’s like, the barriers and the breakthroughs.

Here, Lauren Whiteman , Senior Recruitment Consultant at enable recruitment | B Corp? shares her take.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO SALES AND WHAT MAKES IT THE CAREER OF YOUR CHOICE?

A majority of people that I’ve spoken to in sales/recruitment say they “fell into it”, but this wasn’t the case for me. Recruitment was a career I had thought long and hard about for a while before actually making the leap!

My recruitment career finally began in 2019, after a couple of years as a Credit Controller. I realised that I really enjoyed speaking with different people every day, but hated the nature of the calls I was making. I’ve also always been a hard worker, and I used to feel that I was overworked and undervalued.

Recruitment felt like the perfect mix of what I was looking for; a role where I can speak with and help different people every day, and also be rewarded for my hard work! It's been 5 years now, and I haven’t looked back since

ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS YOU HAVE FACED AS A WOMAN WORKING IN SALES, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM?

The barriers really came to light when I fell pregnant with my son, the first thing my boss (at the time) told me and the team was that I “wouldn’t be back, because I’ll end up being a stay-at-home mum”. This couldn’t have been further from the truth, but it made me feel as though he was annoyed at me for becoming a mum, I felt guilty and I worked from home for the remainder of my pregnancy as I felt embarrassed and judged.

“Can I really be a mum and continue to work in sales?” is a question I asked myself every single day.

But the answer is YES, I absolutely can, and I am! If anything, being a mum has given me a new “why”, a new reason to show up every day and give it my all. Is it easy? Not at all. But is it worth it? 100x yes! I love that I am teaching my son that you have to work hard to achieve your goals and enjoy nice things in life, and sales has made all of that possible for us.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT BEING A WOMAN IN SALES?

My sales career has helped me to achieve things for me and my son that definitely wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I love being in control of my earnings and knowing that I get out what I put in, and the only person who can make it happen is me. I’ve met some incredible, like-minded people who will remain friends for life, and when you are working with people who share the same visions and goals as you, you really do feel that fire in your belly!

Being an advocate for women in sales, specifically mums in sales, is important to me as I was made to feel that my sales career was over when I fell pregnant, yet here I am: 25 years old, smashing recruitment with a 2-year-old toddler keeping me in check!

Let’s change the narrative, because if I can do it – anyone can.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR A WOMAN WANTING TO GET INTO SALES AND THOSE WANTING TO ADVANCE?

For anyone wanting to get into sales – just do it.

You will ponder, and you will doubt yourself, but all you need to be successful in sales is the right mindset, which as women, we naturally have and it makes us great salespeople! Speak to other women in sales, listen to their stories and never be afraid to ask questions.

If you’re wanting to advance, I’d say speak up!

Men have a natural tendency to shout about their successes, while as women we tend to fly under the radar. If you want something, make it known! Ask what you need to do to get there, so you know exactly what you are working towards, and if you ever find yourself with a manager who keeps changing the goalpost – leave! There are plenty of businesses who will support your career and vision, and if your current company aren’t one of them, you owe them nothing.