Meet Shashank Bendre, Key Accountant Manager with Swiggy Food Delivery App. This 26-year-old has an impressive profile. He is not only a trained chef, but also a passionate biker. This is what Shashank has to say about his professional journey thus far.
Your journey is like The Road Not Taken. Can you tell a little bit about your journey?
After my 12th grade, I pursued the BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad, which is a private entity affiliated with University of Huddersfield, UK.
The reason I chose the Hotel Industry is because of my attraction towards food. After I graduated from college in 2016, I interned at Aloft Hotel Bangalore. It was here that I got to work on the shop floor and understand the industry. Unlike any organisation, hotels have multiple sectors to operate: Sales, Human Resource, Housekeeping, Engineering, Food and Beverage service, Kitchen, Front office, Security, Purchase, Finance etc. After getting to understand several aspects of the industry, I found my calling in ‘Sales’. Sales in itself is a vast career option, there is no end for opportunities and challenges. In the past four years I have worked in hotel sales (Rooms and Group Sales), Catering sales, and currently working in Ecommerce food sales.
At Swiggy, what are your main responsibilities?
A food delivery app has multiple fronts that need to be managed. My major responsibilities include managing these fronts effectively. These include being able to provide good service, cultivating client relationships, retain the businesses, and grow business along with acquiring new business opportunities, monitoring and managing any purchases that customers make, and developing new partnerships and identifying commercial relationships.
What is a typical day like for you?
My day starts right when the restaurants start their daily operations. A typical day starts at 8 AM, and I generally am available till 11 pm. Since the current profile I hold is a service based in a food delivery industry, the timings are a little odd. Even in hotel sales it would be in a similar manner.
What kind of problems do you most commonly deal with?
It would be prioritization and time management. One needs to overcome procrastination for better productivity. It need not be only professionally but also for personal development.
How does your job/work affect your general lifestyle?
Its all about prioritization, if things are planned and well organized then it is possible to find work life balance. For me things are sailing smoothly and always have been hence the work has only benefited me in terms of personal development.
What do you love the most about your job?
I love the fact that I’m accountable for my actions and being the face of an organisation in the city.
What advice would you give to someone who wishes to follow this path?
One would have to be determined about the decision if chosen this industry as it involves new challenges, enormous interactions, fun, multiple locations to choose, and being cross trained or having a little something of each vertical would come in as an advantage for themselves.
Do you have a long term vision? Where do you see yourself in five years?
I have plans of pursuing a Masters degree in Business and opt for a global career in diverse sectors. My current role and my past exposure is a step by step process which will aid me getting closer to be an entrepreneur.
To know more about Shashank, you can check him out at:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashank-bendre-a13752160
Instagram – shashank_bendre
Nidhi is a 20 year old ambivert who completed her schooling from Nath Valley School, Aurangabad. In 2018, she joined the MIT School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts in Pune to pursue her BFA in Applied Arts and Visual Communication. She has a soft spot for reading, writing, and travel. Helping others find their true passion, is one of her interests. As a writer on Careerfox, she intends to interview professionals from diverse career backgrounds and blog about them. She believes that this would not only nurture her love for writing, but also would help youngsters make more informed career choices.