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Entering the Remote Workforce
Welcome to our series highlighting the transformative career paths of individuals who found their (sometimes first) remote job with the guidance of Balkan Hire. At Balkan Hire, we focus on connecting talented professionals with dynamic roles in growing international companies, facilitating smooth transitions into remote work.
In this series, we delve into the real-life stories of those who’ve successfully adapted to remote roles, discussing how they’ve integrated into new work cultures and advanced their careers. Our goal is to provide an honest insight into the path to securing a remote job, from the firsthand experiences of those who’ve thrived in them.
Today, we focus on Nemanja’s story with Balkan Hire and how we supported his entry into the world of B2B sales, marking his first foray into sales remote jobs and opening new doors for his professional growth.
The Transition to a Remote B2B Sales Role
Nemanja, a seasoned sales professional with five years of experience in the financial sector, was craving a change. He was done with spending 2+ hours a day commuting to the office just to pass most of his work day in virtual meetings. Getting a remote job was a way for him to get control over his day and free time.
Recently, he transitioned to his first sales remote job with assistance from BalkanHire. His journey into the remote workforce marks a significant shift, also driven by his quest for transparent communication and substantial growth opportunities—qualities he found lacking in previous roles. Nemanja’s calm demeanor and readiness to assist not only make him a valuable team member but also underscore his potential in any sales environment.
Could you please introduce yourself and briefly describe your professional background?
My name is Nemanja Ciganović, and I have been working in sales for about 5 years. I mainly worked in the B2C space in finance, and now I have transitioned to B2B sales.
What initially attracted you to the role you were successfully hired for?
It was mainly the opportunity to work in B2B aspect of sales development and to work from home.
How did you get interested in remote work/working from home? What has been your experience working remotely?
I was intrigued mainly because I could cut out my commute to work and back and ultimately have more time in the day.
How did you find the recruitment process for this role? Anything that stood out?
It was pretty smooth and well-organized. The transparent job description attracted me to apply.
What were the skills that you believe helped you ‘’make the cut’’?
I believe it was humility, acknowledging what one doesn’t know, and a willingness to always learn and improve.
Tell us a bit more about your current position. How would you summarize it and what are the main benefits and learnings?
My current position is of an SDR for a sales development company that supports SaaS and tech companies in their sales campaigns. We’re almost solely working with the US market. The job primarily involves generating and nurturing leads and organizing pitch meetings between clients, companies, and leads. The main benefits for me are being able to work on something new that I didn’t do before and learn new things.
What skills have you improved the most?
I think the skill I improved the most would be setting meetings with the right prospects.
What was the biggest challenge when transitioning to this role?
The biggest challenge was learning how to approach prospects in the right way in this space.
Based on your work experience, what would you say to the companies or entrepreneurs looking to hire in the Balkan region? What makes talents from the Balkans stand out?
Sales is in our genes, we put in the work, rarely complain, and can’t go wrong with people from the Balkans!
