Syeda Tahera shares her experience of working, learning, and growing at Swiggy.
Syeda Tahera entered the Swiggy office with a sense of awe, excitement, and a determination to create an impact. Her proactive-ness and drive to go above and beyond have left quite an impression on everyone she works with.
We sat down with her for a deep-dive into her experience.
1. Describe your journey of joining Swiggy.
I submitted my application in Sept 2023. And before I knew it, I was called for an online interview. We had a friendly conversation about my academics and professional goals. They even took time to get to know me as a person. Though the interview went well, I was a bit anxious as I really wanted to work with this company. I was over the moon when the HR informed me that I’ve been selected. I joined Swiggy as an intern in October 2023. Becoming a member of the Swiggy team felt like a dream come true.
2. How did you feel on your first day at Swiggy?
On my first day, I remember feeling a mix of happiness and nervousness on my way to the Swiggy office. The HR team made my first day incredibly smooth. It set a positive and enthusiastic tone for my internship.
3. What was your perception about Swiggy before joining the company? And how has it changed after joining?
Earlier, I saw Swiggy as a fast and innovative food delivery company. I knew its wide reach and popularity among customers, as I myself am an avid user of the platform.
After joining the company, I discovered the work that goes into being fast and innovative. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of its culture, values, and operations.
My perception of Swiggy has evolved from seeing it as a food delivery platform to experiencing it as a dynamic and socially responsible organisation striving to make a positive impact.
4. As a sales intern at Swiggy, what does a typical day look like for you?
My job is to support the sales team in acquiring new restaurant partners and maintaining relationships with existing ones. I also help in maintaining product descriptions and discount comparisons.
My day usually starts with a team meeting where we discuss our tasks for the day and share updates or challenges. These meetings help us stay aligned and focused on our goals.
After that, I get busy updating product descriptions, menus, and discount comparisons. My job has helped sharpen my skills and has given me a deeper understanding of the food and technology industry.
5. Walk us through the training and learning opportunities that have helped you understand the sales domain better.
The training I’m getting at Swiggy has greatly improved my knowledge and skills like sales effective communication, negotiation skills and building long-term customer relationships. I’ve also learnt how to stay up to date with the market trends such as real time discount, product description, menu updating, which are crucial in the sales domain.
6. Was there an instance where you felt challenged by a task?
During my initial days, I was assigned the task of managing an extensive Excel sheet comprising more than two lakh products and their descriptions. I used this challenge to motivate myself. I did the required research, sought the input of my colleagues, and expanded my Excel skills to work with large data. As a result, I managed to successfully complete the task in the given timeframe.
7. Going forward, how do you see your role evolving within Swiggy?
As I continue to work at Swiggy, I see myself learning more from my colleagues and gaining first-hand knowledge about sales, business and technology. My time here will allow me to interact with veterans from various industries and build a strong network. I’m sure this will help me not just in my current role, but also in future endeavours.
8. What’s one Swiggy value you resonate the most with and why?
‘Customer Comes First’ is the value I resonate the most with; it is the most relevant for me as a sales person. It emphasises the importance of putting the consumer at the centre of decision making, product development, and customer service.
9. What aspects of Swiggy’s work culture have stood out for you while working as a sales intern?
The work culture here is a perfect blend of inclusivity, collaboration, learning, results orientation, and supportive management.
10. What distinguishes Swiggy from other organisations?
Swiggy’s focus on values is one of the things that differentiates Swiggy from other organisations. Here, values are not just a buzzword, but are reflected even in the minutest of actions.
Alongside, diverse services like Instamart, Dineout, Genie, Minis also sets Swiggy apart from other businesses. Additionally, features like the Guiltfree, Gourmet, and PocketHero makes it one of the most customer-centric organisations.
11. Based on your experience, what advice would you give other interns at Swiggy?
Swiggy is a constantly evolving company where you will be exposed to a variety of different projects and tasks. This exposure will help you develop new skills and gain a better understanding of the company’s operations. If you make the most of the opportunities at Swiggy, as an intern, it will be the best launchpad for your career.
