Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Benjamin and I’m 38 years old. I’ve been working at the Bechtle Group for 13 years now and have experienced quite a bit of the company.
I’m the kind of person you won’t forget very quickly, first of all because I can be a bit of diva and also because of my work and my social and communications skills.
Can you tell us about starting at ARP before the fusion with Bechtle?
I started here 13 years ago—3 days before my 26th birthday!
Back then, there were just 5 of us at the office in Courtabœuf.
I was really lucky to start out with such a cool and friendly team, who helped me become a real salesman and express myself in the right way!
I’ve got a short anecdote I’d like to share. I had my first call with colleagues from Germany and France involving a German quote. In German, the word for quote is Angebot, but I didn’t know what it meant, so I asked a colleague. Unfortunately, I had a few pronunciation problems so it sounded like I was asking what ‘Ange Beau’ means—French for ‘beautiful angel’. We still laugh about that today.
What is your educational background?
I started off in the field of automated system control, which means repairing and programming production lines.
After that I did my diploma on maintenance and then decided that that wasn’t really the job for me!
I need to have some kind of contact with people, and so made the decision to go into sales—or to be more precise the sale of professional IT products.
I gained initial experience at large IT firms such as MisterGoodDeal and Kairos.
What is it that you do exactly?
I have lots of tasks:
- I am a Business Developer Expert, which means that I acquire customer with 500+ IT seats and hand them over to our Large Account Manager.
- Together with Farba, the head of the branch here in Antony, I take care of our two vocational trainees, Lilian and Esteban.
- I’m responsible for all IT issues here at the Antony site as well as in-house orders.
- And I support Farba in some other tasks.
In your opinion, what qualities are essential for the job?
You have to be friendly, respond quickly and know your way around the tools used. You should also have some kind of idea of technology and be up to speed with tech developments.
Have you been able to acquire any new skills since starting at Bechtle?
My English has improved as have my negotiating skills.
I’ve also improved in terms of empathy and am more responsive to those I work with.
What is the next step on the Bechtle career ladder?
I would love to do more with our new hires, to be by their side on their way to becoming Deputy Sales Representatives and to train them in sales.
Which three words would you use to describe Bechtle?
I have two—dream maker.
Why? Because thanks to Bechtle, I've been able to buy a house.
Enough about work... What are your interests?
I love cooking (Creole, Indian, Chinese!) I enjoy cycling and love music quizzes!
How would your friends and family describe you?
Totally mad, and a diva with his heart in the right place.
What film does everyone need to see?
Scream!
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I’m generous and funny and I'll drive you crazy in a way that you won't want to live without. And I love my colleagues!!