We met with Hyundai Motor Company sales super rookie deputy Dong-in Kim.

It’s a great feat to be the best in a field. Not only there is the visible performance, but it also proves that there were difficulties to overcome to be the best, unwithering passion, and endless effort. Here’s a man who wishes to become the best in his field of sales where compensation for your abilities are promised but also a great risk otherwise also exists. What’s the life like for a successful automobile salesperson in his 30s? We met with Hyundai Motor Company Namcheon branch deputy Dong-in Kim.

Stumbled into the world of automobile sales

Deputy Dong-in Kim was chosen as a best salesperson 3 years in a row and is building a great career for himself.

Q. We heard you majored in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in college. What made you get into the world of automobile sales?

I wanted to be a salesperson for a long time. I was always outgoing and had a strong will to achieve goals I had set no matter what. I was the vice president of the student body and graduated with high GPA due to such tendencies. So I applied for all major corporate sales position related to my major. Everyone wants to work for Hyundai Motor Company, and as automobiles are machines, I thought it would have something to do with my major. It was too simple a thought to the point of being funny, but this choice turned my life around.

Q. Even if you had begun your work with a simple cause, you have had an outstanding performance since joining the company. First year, you were the super rookie, and the next year, you won the new employee award. There’s no special reason behind all this, really?

I joined the company with a simple thought, but after training, I found out that sales was all about cold competition. You have to have fierce strategy and original sales philosophy. I wasn’t afraid though, because it was stimulating for me as I always welcome challenge. I tried the sales strategies my seniors had taught me as well as any sales tactics I could come up with and thought I should find the right method for me. I gave my name card to merchants in nearby markets and all the neighboring buildings I could see. I made and distributed a pamphlet introducing myself to apartment buildings. As I was just starting out, I just wanted to be well. My seniors helped me out a lot as well, and I was also lucky, I think.

Top Class is a category for salespersons who have sold more than 120 units a year, an honor only given to those with the utmost sales skills in the company.

Q. You won Top Class awards in 2017 and 2018. Of course, one has to have luck, but you must have a secret.

I still have a long way to go in my career, so it feels haste to talk about a secret. I don’t think it’s a secret of my own, but I keep in frequent touch with my clients. It’s a simple and basic rule, but I tried to stick to the basics. As sales is something that takes place between people, it’s important to form networks. So I increased many gatherings like alumni and hometown meetings. If there were processes that were required for me to get to my goal, I did whatever necessary, even if it was something people usually stayed away from. I tried to be at least half a step ahead of others, and that’s how I work now.

Q. As we carry out the interview, it feels like you are truly an icon of hard work. Your daily life must be extraordinary as well.

When you acquire a certain title, it may feel like you would have something special, something better than others, but there’s nothing to it. I just strictly follow my work routine. I have to have much time set aside for the clients, so I complete all office work in the morning and meet people in the afternoon. I stick to the principle of meeting clients in person. Forming trust between people is most important, so meeting in person creates a big difference. I try hard to create rapport with the clients.

Strong belief and conviction that broke people’s prejudice

In March, I took my mother to the Top Class award ceremony where the best salespeople around the country gather (Photography from Deputy Dong-in Kim’s Instagram).

Q. Sales is a field where you are compensated according to your capacity and your efforts are visible but also which requires intense work. Have you ever regretted working in this field?

I was always sure of my choice from the beginning. I believed in the saying ‘those who work hard do not always succeed, but those who succeed always work hard’. Sales felt attractive in that you can get compensation according to how hard you work, and as it suits my personality, there was no reason to not go for it. Once you are adjusted to your work, you can enjoy your leisure time too. Now I am completely content. When I meet my friends, I jokingly tell them that this is a ‘god’s gift of a job’. I worked with the conviction that ‘I will go my way no matter what others say’, and this has not changed since.

Q. What were some of the prejudices you had to face at work, and how did you react to them?

Many thought this was a tough job, that you have to physically suffer. But when I came across such claims, I tried to act humble instead of arguing otherwise. I told them it was true with a smile on my face. Nobody spits on a smiling face, so nothing much came out of it. It’s important that I don’t make a big deal out of things. If I have pride in what I do and am passionate about it, other people will come to think so as well.

Top Class and Rookie award ceremony. He still wears the badge he received then to this day. (Photography from Deputy Dong-in Kim’s Instagram).

Q. Guess firm conviction motivates great performance. You must have had rewarding moments during your work.

Of course, when my efforts lead to results. I remember getting my first corporate client. They had such high security; it was difficult to meet with the automobile purchase person. But I visited once or twice a week to let them know who I was and left my name card with the security for 6 months. The person in charge finally saw how hard I was working and contacted me. I felt so proud that moment. They are still my very reliable client. It’s also very rewarding whenever I come across customers who trust me. When automatic driving system was first introduced, I suggested it as an option in consideration of safety, and many customers contacted me how it prevented many accidents thanks to the system. When they told me they were thankful that I had suggested the option in consideration of their safety, it made me feel more responsible.

Q. it’s always the first thing that stays with you the most. Who was your first customer?

My first customer was me. I purchased my car when I joined the company. I got a loan for it. I needed a motivation as I had gotten myself into this business to go for great performance. The loan became my motivation. When I had good performance, I got confident about my job, and with the money, I was able to improve my personal life satisfactory. And during the process of buying my own car, I had to find out about the financial world and visit the release center; I got to grasp the work process faster than my fellow workers. This also worked for me; recognizing the work quickly which helped with getting great performance.

Questioning is my strength.

What’s important in Deputy Dong-in Kim’s sales is providing actual assistance to the customer according to his/her situation.

Q. Is there a sales philosophy you wish to stick to while you are in this business?

It’s “providing actual assistance to the customer according to his/her situation”. I try to find out what the customer is prioritizing when purchasing a car. And I try to design something for the customer in an optimal manner if the customer him/herself does not know what it is. What’s most important when talking to the customer is being ‘sincere’. When you treat them with sincerity, they realize it and trust me more.

Q. Whatever it is you do, one must pay attention to ‘details’ to be better than others. Are there such details in Dong-in Kim’s sales?

Questions. I tend to ask a lot of questions to the customers. I can gain their trust only after accurately recognizing why they are purchasing a car. I try to find out the personality of my customer through small talk and ask many questions that induce the necessary answers.

Deputy Dong-in Kim says asking many questions to the customers is the most important attitude a salesperson should have.

Q. What are you doing to become the sales king Dong-in Kim in 20 years?

I am trying to be more sensitive, detailed. When I see my senior sales kings, I see how they remember each and every customer they meet. Their personalities, tastes, everything. I really think I should take after this trait. It’s only natural to purchase a car from someone who remembers you and takes care of you in a detailed manner.

Q. After interviewing you, it seems like sticking to the basics and being passionate is more important than having a special knack. How does passion and effort affect your life?

You know how there is a saying that commonplaceness accumulated leads to extraordinariness? I believe I wasn’t particularly different from other people, but the reason I could achieve great performance was because I had passion and I tried my best. Passion and effort got me to Hyundai Motor Company, they got me the title of Top Class, and stable life. As I have joined the group of best people, it is my goal to be the best here. I want to be a salesperson my juniors look up to. When times comes, I may be able to share my sales philosophy. If that happens, I would be very happy.

Photography by Seok-byeong Jeon