Sales Engineer Intern Review

I am based in Warwick at the Volvo Trucks UK and Ireland head office and work within the Product team to deliver information about our product range to our network of dealers, as well as supporting them with developments to our sales systems and total offer. My responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assessing specifications to ensure they are specified correctly, informing the dealer network of product updates and overseeing the central sales system for selling and specifying trucks.

I have been given responsibility in varying forms throughout my placement. I worked on the generation and delivery of training and promotional material to dealers, bodybuilders and customers. I have had the role of managing engineering enquiries through the team mailbox, primarily by assessing specifications and issuing plates for STGO applications with operations exceeding 44 tonnes gross combination weight. I was given the opportunity to present in our quarterly product update, providing information on updates to our battery electric offer. I have also had the benefit of representing the company at various trade shows, conferences and online events.

In terms of role specific skills, I have been able to gain a knowledge of the Volvo Trucks product offer, developed a proficiency in using the central sales system and understanding of the model structure, sought awareness of homologation and legislation to ensure that trucks are legally permitted to fulfil their purpose and realised an increased recognition of the wider industry including our close competitors and how we operate with other organisations.
I have also had the benefit of developing general skills such as verbal and written communication, workload prioritisation, confidence with presenting to and training larger groups and interpersonal networking within the company and meeting with customers. I have improved my ability in several systems, carrying out data analysis within Excel and Power BI, process automation via Mail Merge, formulae and macros and reviewing truck chassis models in CAD software.

I had a good mixture of support in combination with the opportunity for independent work. For immediate support I had the benefit of the Product team which I was within, including regular catch-ups on my progress with my immediate manager. I also had access to guidance from the rest of the organisation and was made well aware of how everyone works and what they are responsible for, thus making it easy to gain relevant support when needed. As mentioned, I also was able to undertake independent projects due to prior support which gave me the confidence and ability to do so.

The company had an inviting culture that made you feel excited to come to work. You were supported well with various employee benefits and provisions for various support services. You were not made to feel overworked or pressured to work outside of your hours, and there was an element of flexibility in work where you could shift your hours from time to time to support your life out of work. There were several events throughout the year where we were able to enjoy social time with colleagues with benefits from the company such as a celebratory dinner. You really felt like the work you put in was appreciated and you were rewarded as such.

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement as it allowed me to develop in many areas, most importantly in the skills I developed, the confidence I gained in a work environment, the friends I was able to make in my team and the wider department, and the overall satisfaction and interest in the work I was carrying out. I look forward to staying in contact with my peers and hope to work with Volvo later on in my career.

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