Hello VOX Readers, how are you? I hope all is well with everyone! Last week, I caught up with Bethany Lang. Did you see her #LifeAtVeritas interview? Today, I’d like to introduce my latest Veritas employee interview with Sam Eastwood, he recently joined the Veritas Early Career Programme as an Associate Sales Representative. Take 5 minutes to read Sam’s interview below.
Sam: First of all, I’d just like to say thanks for inviting me to do this interview. I chose to join the Veritas Early Career Programme because of the people I talked with during the assessment centre, and that I knew I would be working with them when I joined. They made such an amazing impression on me with their incredibly friendly, welcoming, and supportive attitude. I also saw an unbelievable opportunity to develop myself in an organisation that is not only unbelievably successful but also strongly believes in corporate responsibility and making a positive impact in the world.
Zoe: Sam, why should people choose to join the Veritas graduate programme?
Sam: Great question; I think one of the biggest reasons is that Veritas feels like a family. Everyone supports and takes care of each other, and honestly, it feels incredible to be a part of something like that. If you have the drive to be successful and want to be part of a fantastic team of people, Veritas should be your first choice.
Zoe: Can you share a summary of a day in the life of a Sales Associate on the Veritas Early Career Programme?
Sam: My day normally starts with a training session, which has been insightful and interesting. These sessions focus on being an effective salesperson, learning about the technology we are selling, and improving our networking skills. After that, I would usually log my activities in the system for the apprenticeship and catch up on my emails. Some days I have shadowing sessions in the gaps where there’s no training, which is brilliant because that gives me some valuable insight into the field and shows me how the information I’m learning during the training is applied in the real world. The programme has taught me so much already and I’m so excited to learn more.
Zoe: Sam, what career advice would you give graduates on how to secure an apprenticeship role?
Sam: My first tip is one that I was often quite suspicious of but I've found that it is one of the most important things to bear in mind, and that is to be yourself. I can’t stress enough how much difference it can make to let your personality shine through. Your potential employers want to see who you are and what you can bring to the workplace, facades never work, but a smile and a laugh can go a long way. The other thing I would say is to show your interest and your passion for the job; there can never be too many questions.
Zoe: To some extent, we have been influenced in our personal and work lives by others. Who are your role models and influencers? And why?
Sam: I have always been a big fan of football, and Liverpool FC in particular. I look up to is James Milner; he’s very funny, dedicated to his sport, job, fitness, and has a positive attitude. Those are qualities that I always do my best to integrate into my own life, and seeing someone do well is inspiring to me. The other thing I like about him is that he never feels the need to be the centre of attention. He’s often referred to as “boring James Milner” on social media (as a bit of a joke), and I think something he’s taught me is that you don’t have to be flashy and loud to be successful or good at what you do. He’s respected within the team and among fans because he is reliable and good at what he does. I aspire to be the same.
Zoe: Sam, what motivates you?
Sam: Great question! I would say that my biggest motivating factor is to positively impact the lives of others around me and the world. That could be anything, like cheering up a friend on a bad day, inspiring people I know to go to university, or working in a company that has such strong and pronounced ethical values. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t also motivated by a desire for some financial freedom, but at Veritas, I feel like both of those motivations can continue to drive my success.
Zoe: What’s your favourite Veritas solution or product?
Sam: I think they are all fantastic, but if I had to choose, I would say that NetBackup is my favourite; this best in class backup and recovery software does an incredible job of protecting data and ensuring that it’s recoverable under any circumstance. It’s tried and tested, reliable, and Veritas is always making improvements to protect against future threats.
Zoe: Sam, what do you like to do in your free time?
Sam: I have many hobbies; I love going to the gym and working out, it’s my way of clearing my mind after a busy day. I’m a big fan of cooking, especially healthy dishes with a lot of vegetables (believe it or not I like Brussel sprouts). I do a lot of hiking too; having grown up in Wales, I’ve hiked up so many mountains throughout my life, and still enjoy going back. I think the best hike I’ve ever done was in the Austrian Alps, where I climbed up to 3500m, and the view was something you can’t find elsewhere. I also enjoy snowboarding because it’s so thrilling and gives me such a rush; a great way to blow off steam. Finally, I think I mentioned this earlier; I am a huge Liverpool fan and watch a lot of football.
Zoe: Finally, what technology can’t you live without?
Sam: Can I say NetBackup? If not, then I’d have to say my sound systems. I have a genuine love for music and listen to it everywhere, all the time, and I don’t think I could live without it. It’s so incredible that we can have a soundtrack for pretty much our whole lives these days, and I find that it makes everything more interesting and enjoyable. There’s something for every weather, every mood, and living in a time where that is so accessible is amazing.
Thank you, Sam, for sharing your thoughts and experiences at Veritas. I love your tip on securing a job by being yourself; it reminds me of a quote by Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” All the best in your apprenticeship, I’m sure you’ll be a great success.
If you enjoyed this Life at Veritas blog post with Sam Eastwood, then do stay tuned as there will be more interview-style posts coming soon. And if this has inspired you to join our team, check out our job vacancies on LinkedIn and apply here.
Stay safe everyone!
