What you'll learn from Josef's story
Meet Josef
My name's Josef, but most people call me Joe. I'm 29 years old, and my background is quite international. My mother is Indonesian, and my father is Austrian-Slovenian. I was born in Mexico, lived in Greece, Israel, Australia, Dubai, and the Philippines before moving to Brisbane, Australia for university. I studied business and psychology, and after graduating, I joined a graduate program as a tech consultant.
What I do for work
I joined Prosple two years ago in a business development role. Initially, I was responsible for cold outreach and generating leads. From there I transitioned from business development to full-time account management. I manage around 60 employer accounts, helping them attract students for their graduate programs and internships. My role involves a lot of client interaction, market understanding, profile reviews, and content creation to enhance employer branding and student engagement. My title is graduate attraction consultant, but internally, I'm known as an account manager. I work strictly B2B with predominantly HR managers / recruiters and don’t manage any candidates myself.
How much you can expect to earn in tech sales
Sales roles typically include a base salary plus commission. For example, a business development manager in Australia might have a base salary between $55,000 and $70,000 AUD. With commissions, on-target earnings (OTE) can potentially double this amount. Account managers can earn between $70,000 and $100,000 AUD, with total earnings reaching up to $300,000 AUD, depending on experience and performance.
Unlike many roles where salary increments are based on tenure, sales positions reward performance. In many sales roles, there is no cap on commissions. This means your earning potential is directly tied to your performance, providing an incentive to continuously improve and achieve higher sales targets.
Join me on a typical work day
My typical day starts early. I wake up around 4:30 AM and start my morning with some journaling. By 5 AM, I'm out the door to enjoy the sunrise on the beach. I spend about 30 minutes walking and thinking, followed by a swim. At 6 AM, I head to my favourite coffee spot for an Iced Americano and a chat with friends.
I start work at 7 AM, focusing on client meetings and administrative tasks until about noon.
Lunch is at a local cafe spot called Umm Banh Mi, where I enjoy the same meal daily.
Afternoons are for more admin work, video editing, and content creation. I usually exercise in the early evening, doing calisthenics at a local outdoor gym. My day ends with dinner, some relaxation, and bedtime around 9:30 PM.
Welcome to my “office”
Working remotely has allowed me to live in various places. I've spent time in Vietnam, the Philippines, Bali, Thailand, Korea, Japan, always looking for the best weather. I’m currently living in Danang, Vietnam, which has been fantastic due to its beautiful beaches, affordable cost of living, and vibrant community.
Living costs in Vietnam are significantly lower than in Australia. I share a two-bedroom apartment with a friend, costing us $550aud each per month, including amenities like a rooftop pool and cleaning services twice a week. Overall, I spend about $1,200 to $1,500 AUD per month, which covers rent, food, utilities, and entertainment.
For me, working from my apartment allows me to have a quiet and controlled environment. My role as a graduate attraction consultant involves a lot of client meetings, and I need to be in a space where I can communicate clearly and professionally. Cafes can get pretty noisy, and I find it challenging to conduct my calls there. I get a little bit loud when I'm talking with clients, a little bit excited sometimes when I'm chatting. I just do not feel comfortable doing that in cafes.
I don't think you should be doing that sort of thing in cafes, personally.
Another major reason I prefer working from my apartment is the stable internet connection. My job requires me to be online for video calls, presentations, and constant email communication. I always make sure that the place I choose has strong and reliable Wi-Fi, which is something that's harder to guarantee in public spaces.
When I book a place, I look for places that have a desk and stable Wi-Fi. This setup allows me to have a dedicated workspace where I can keep all my work materials organized. Having my own space helps me maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life, which is crucial for productivity and mental health.
Finding a home away from home
One of the best ways to save money when traveling and living remotely is by using Airbnb strategically. When I started looking for accommodations, I primarily used Airbnb to get an idea of what was available in different locations. Here are a few tips I've found helpful for maximizing savings:
Long-Term Discounts: Many Airbnb hosts offer significant discounts for longer stays. By booking for a month or more, you can often save 20-50% off the nightly rate. I always look for properties that provide these discounts, which make a huge difference in overall costs.
Direct Negotiation: Once I find a property I like on Airbnb, I sometimes contact the host directly. If they have multiple properties or are open to long-term rentals, negotiating directly can help cut out Airbnb’s service fees, which can be substantial for longer stays.
Flexible Dates: Flexibility with travel dates can lead to better deals. Sometimes shifting your stay by a few days can result in lower rates. I use Airbnb’s calendar to spot cheaper dates and adjust my travel plans accordingly.
Researching Local Options: In some cases, I use Airbnb to get in touch with local property managers who have multiple listings. After establishing a connection, I’ve been able to negotiate better rates for subsequent stays or find other properties they manage that aren’t listed on Airbnb.
Challenges of remote working
One of the challenges of remote work is maintaining social connections. Here’s how I’ve managed to build a community and stay socially active:
Living with a Friend: I share my apartment with one of my best friends from Australia. This arrangement helps combat loneliness and provides a built-in social network.
Local Activities: I engage in local activities and hobbies to meet new people. This includes joining a gym, participating in community events, and exploring local attractions.
Expat Communities: In places like Da Nang, there are active expatriate communities. I’ve joined online forums and social media groups to connect with other expatriates, which has led to new friendships and social gatherings.
Regular Meetups: I make an effort to meet up with friends regularly, whether it’s for coffee, a meal, or an outdoor activity. These interactions are essential for maintaining a sense of connection and belonging.
How I got started
Before entering the world of sales, I studied business and psychology at university. After graduating, I joined a graduate program in IT consulting, but I quickly realized that the job wasn't for me. Disliking the corporate world, I eventually quit and decided to caravan around Australia with my Dad for 14 months. I spent some time in Perth during this trip, where a friend suggested I try door-knocking sales. He mentioned people could make decent money doing it, and although it wasn’t a lifelong career path, it was a great entry point into sales.
In Perth, I began door-knocking to sell solar panels. This experience was incredibly tough but invaluable. A typical day involved visiting around 150 houses in a four-hour window, from 2 PM to 6 PM. The challenge was not just selling the product but also convincing people to trust a stranger at their door. I had to handle numerous objections and rejections, which taught me a lot about resilience and persistence. I believe anyone seriously considering a career in sales should try door-knocking at least once to see if they have what it takes.
Initially, I struggled. For the first three weeks, I barely booked any leads, and the rainy weather in Perth didn't help. I decided to give it one more week before calling it quits. In the fourth week, I made several good sales, which boosted my confidence. I continued in Perth for another four months and became a high performer in the company.
After my stint in Perth, I moved back to Brisbane and took up a similar door-knocking job with a sister company. Unfortunately, this company was in shambles. Despite generating leads, the backend execution was poor, leading to frustration. I ended up managing the office there and dealing with the company’s reputation issues was challenging, and eventually, I decided to quit.
The day after I quit, a friend of mine who I met at the gym, Shek, gave me a call and asked if I would be interested in a job opportunity. He had heard me complain about my work multiple times, and on this particular day, he had some good news. He told me about an opportunity at Prosple, the company he works with and asked if I’d like to be put forward for an interview.
I was immediately interested. That same day, I interviewed with one of the managers, Geoff Adams, who was one of the co-founders of Prosple. Geoff and I got along really well during the interview. He saw some potential in me and decided to set up another interview, this time with Grant, the sales manager, scheduled for Friday.
My interview with Grant was also a positive experience. We did a bit of role-playing to simulate potential sales scenarios, which, although brief, went well. They were looking for someone to handle cold outreach, a role they hadn't specifically hired for before. Despite my relatively short stint of seven months in sales, they saw enough promise in me to offer me the job by Monday.
Despite only having seven months of sales experience, I managed to impress them enough to get the job offer by Monday. This opportunity was a significant break for me, and I began working at Prosple, initially focusing on cold calling and outreach.
Starting at the bottom was tough. For the first four months, I made about 100 cold calls a day. Cold outreach can be demoralizing and is not something most people enjoy. However, it builds essential skills and resilience. It’s crucial to put in the reps to get good at it and prove that you can manage accounts.
Within six months, I transitioned to an account manager role. Since then, I’ve accrued a substantial number of accounts and have been a full-time account manager for over a year now.
My message to the world
To anyone aspiring to embrace a remote work lifestyle similar to mine, my advice is to take massive, imperfect action until you figure it out. Many people talk about making a change but feel stuck in their current situations. I've been fortunate with how things have turned out, but it's important to note that I've quit two jobs I didn't like, which eventually led to better opportunities.
It's essential to take action, which forces you to adapt and find new paths. It's crazy to think that two years ago, I was knocking on doors, and now I have the job I wanted, managing accounts in sales, living abroad, and making good money. Happiness comes from taking control of your life and making bold moves.
For me, taking action meant quitting my job. This decision pushed me to pursue other opportunities and led me to where I am today. Networking is also crucial. Many of the jobs I've secured in the past have come through connections. It's important to socialize, be genuinely interested in other people's lives, and offer help without expecting anything in return. Building a strong network can open doors and create opportunities you might not have otherwise encountered.
My plans for the future
When considering my future, both short-term and long-term, I see myself continuing on the path I've carved out in the world of remote work and sales. In the next couple of years, I plan to stay in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, enjoying the lifestyle and work flexibility it offers. The idea of returning to a traditional in-person job doesn't appeal to me right now. The freedom and flexibility of remote work align perfectly with my values.
In the medium term, I'd like to explore opportunities that allow me to work in different time zones, especially in North and South America. Ideally, I hope Prosple expands enough to enable me to manage accounts on that side of the world. This would let me spend significant time in Central and South America, places I've always wanted to explore more thoroughly.
The thought of going back to an in-person job seems unlikely unless it's something I'm incredibly passionate about, the team is exceptional, and the financial incentives are substantial. Even then, the idea of being tied to an office five days a week doesn't appeal to me. The only scenario where I might consider it is if I have a family and need a stable routine. Even then, a full-time office job is not something I envision for myself.
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