Most sales teams thrive on competition. Coffee’s for closers, right?
But at HomeAdvisor, the sales team doesn’t succeed on competition alone. Instead, department-wide support and camaraderie give the team its edge as the company continues to grow.
And that support starts with the company’s culture. Every new salesperson goes through a robust training program to help them make their first sale, while a sales executive training program prepares employees for leadership roles. According to the company, the programs have both accelerated the career growth of team members and encouraged collaboration.
We spoke with four salespeople at HomeAdvisor about how their teams and the company proper have helped them grow.
FOUNDED: 1998
EMPLOYEES: 3,900 (1,700 local)
WHAT THEY DO: HomeAdvisor provides a digital platform and mobile app that connects homeowners to home service professionals for their home repair and maintenance needs.
WHERE THEY DO IT: Golden, Colorado Springs and Denver
THE PERKS: Members of the sales team have the opportunity to earn extra days off, prizes and trips for hitting their sales target.
MEET THE TEAM: We talked to HomeAdvisor’s engineers about how they stay up to date on the latest technologies to keep the company ahead of the pack. Read more here.
Amylynn Liller, Sales Manager, Golden Office
Amylynn Liller works to ensure her team exceeds company-driven metrics through problem-solving, coaching and motivation. She also builds and maintains an atmosphere that is productive and rewarding.
BEYOND WORK: Amylynn loves boating and wakeboarding with friends and family. She even runs a contest with her team — and takes the winner out on her boat.
How has HomeAdvisor helped you progress in your career since you started six years ago?
I’ve been presented with a new challenge every couple of years since I joined HomeAdvisor. The company has been great at communicating clear expectations of what it takes to be successful here. This helps to ensure you are not feeling complacent and are ready for all opportunities.
My first role was as a sales consultant, where I helped a business go from nearly closing to hiring six employees in a matter of months. Nearly every year since then, I’ve been able to take on new roles and tasks. I was promoted to sales manager, then manager of the national sales account team and then director of sales at mHelpDesk in Fairfax, Virginia after HomeAdvisor purchased the company. At each step, I learned more about the business and how to manage and lead. My husband and I moved back to Colorado in December, and now I manage a sales team aiming to solidify our spot as the top team in the company.
How does the team celebrate when you hit target?
We have great camaraderie on my team. We support each other and celebrate together. I’ve organized team outings like bowling, go-karts and Top Golf. I also run contests based on company initiatives. This month’s winners will get steak and lobster dinner at a local restaurant.
You need to believe in the product you sell, and my team can see and hear firsthand how they are changing lives every day.”
What motivates members of your sales team?
In sales, you need to believe in the product you sell, and my team can see and hear firsthand how they are changing lives every day. There is nothing more rewarding than helping an employer who was a few weeks away from laying off employees or closing their business, and — after working with HomeAdvisor — hear they are hiring more employees and even taking family vacations.
Olivia Rintala, Sales Manager, Lodo Office
Olivia Rintala manages a team of 12 sales consultants who sign home improvement businesses to HomeAdvisor’s platform. She enjoys coaching her team on the ways she found success during her time as a sales consultant.
BEYOND WORK: Olivia enjoys running. She ran track and cross country at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
What attracted you to HomeAdvisor?
The environment, the people and the potential. As a former collegiate athlete I am a very competitive person, so the competitive environment has kept me hungry through my time here. I always want to be better than the person next to me, but always striving to be better than myself each day has helped me grow exponentially.
The people I am surrounded by are my friends and colleagues. There is constantly music playing in the office, snacks, puzzles, ping pong, air hockey and more. Not only is the job awesome, but the commission is uncapped and there are so many leadership opportunities.
How has HomeAdvisor supported your professional development?
The professional development at HomeAdvisor is amazing. I’m part of the sales executive leadership program, where I’ve been learning about what it takes to be a leader and how to become one at HomeAdvisor. I’ve taken different leadership classes and modules to learn what I need to progress my own development, as well as those around me.
After 10 months as a sales consultant, I was promoted to sales manager, and I am currently starting that position. If you put in the effort, the opportunities are there.
That team environment makes everyone feel comfortable, able to ask questions and look to our leaders for advice.”
How would you describe the team’s personality?
Everyone in sales is competitive, but there is never any jealousy. Everyone wants to make sales and make money, but we get excited for each other. When someone is closing a sale, everyone cheers and claps for that person.
After a sale is made, you get a shout out to the whole office and are recognized for your hard work. We are more competitive against other offices than we are against our teams within the office. That team environment makes everyone feel comfortable, able to ask questions and look to our leaders for advice.
Jordan Leazenby, Sales Representative, Golden Office
Jordan Leazenby brings service professionals into HomeAdvisor’s network. His goal is to help those professionals effectively and efficiently grow their businesses — and help his team increase its sales.
BEYOND WORK: Jordan enjoys all forms of exercising, whether that’s hiking, working out in a gym, running, skiing or doing something active.
What is unique about selling at this company?
The product and market present unique opportunities for salespeople. HomeAdvisor is a household name that almost everyone recognizes, which opens up so many opportunities. The amount of clients that can benefit from this company is astonishing. We can help anyone involved in the service industry grow their businesses from any size. For that reason, the number of opportunities for sales reps here are limitless.
What processes are in place to make new salespeople successful?
We have a training team that helps each person succeed. They help each trainee complete the training program and then set them up for success. They give you every tool you need to learn how to sell, from sharing knowledge about the company to providing a sales script that can help even someone brand new to sales learn how to sell professionally.
The sales team helped me learn everything I needed to know and more than I could have imagined in an entry-level sales position.”
Did this role turn out to be what you expected when you first joined?
This role turned out to be way more than I expected when I first joined. Before this job, I had no sales experience. I thought it was going to be very difficult to get into sales, but it turned out to be great once I got to know the company. The sales team helped me learn everything I needed to know and more than I could have imagined in an entry-level sales position. The knowledge I have now has helped me in so many aspects of my life.
Josh Megyeri, Performance Manager, Colorado Springs Office
Josh Megyeri is responsible for running team huddles, coaching sales members and assisting the sales team on the sales floor.
BEYOND WORK: Josh played basketball in college. After his collegiate career, he played on a pro-am team and competed in the USA National Basketball three-on-three tournament.
How has HomeAdvisor helped you grow?
HomeAdvisor has helped me grow tremendously in my year and a half with the company. Working here has polished my professionalism, improved my time management and built my confidence and personality overall. Every morning, I’m excited to wake up and tackle whatever the day has in store. I have built great relationships throughout the office, not only in the sales department but with customer service as well.
Working here has polished my professionalism, improved my time management and built my confidence and personality overall.”
In your opinion, what are the qualities that make a top salesperson successful?
Top salespeople are made by discipline and consistency. They wake up every morning excited to tackle the day with a competitive demeanor and make each call with a genuine intention and purpose. It’s also important to manage pipelines correctly, actively prospect and work smarter, not harder.
