Interview: Organized in internal sales

Evelyn on internal changes, working with customers and what she loves about sales.

 

Evelyn, what are your responsibilities as a sales assistant / in internal sales?

My tasks are very diverse. A big part of the job is direct communication with customers – following up on requests or gathering information. I also prepare calculations, create quotations, and send them to the customers.

There are also routine tasks such as maintaining data, filling out forms, forwarding documents, and answering a wide range of customer inquiries. Additionally, I track KPIs and regularly coordinate with colleagues from other departments.

At the moment, I work closely with a colleague and together we manage a specific group of customers. However, we’re currently restructuring our approach, so in the future, my customer base will change somewhat. It's not yet clear to what extent, but some responsibilities will definitely shift.

 

How did you come to work at Elektrosil?

I lived abroad with my family for several years. When we returned, I started looking for a job. A former colleague who was already working at Elektrosil at the time said, “This could be something for you!” So I reached out to the company.

I started in the logistics and supply chain department at the end of 2016 and worked there for several years. During that time, I gained a lot of experience and had close contact with various departments.

Eventually, a position opened up in sales support (the role was structured a bit differently back then). I thought it would be interesting to try something new within the company – to stay at Elektrosil, but take on a different area of responsibility.

 

Evelyn answering clients’ inquiries.

 

What was your experience like switching roles internally?

Thanks to my previous role in logistics, I already had many internal contacts and a solid understanding of how things worked in the company. That was a big advantage when I moved into sales. I knew who was responsible for what and how the processes worked.

I was simply curious to see Elektrosil from another perspective. Even after the switch, I continued to support one of my former logistics customers for a while and still received questions related to my old department.

 

What skills are especially important in your role?

Communication and organizational skills – absolutely essential. Sometimes multiple tasks and requests come in at the same time from different directions, so it’s important to be able to prioritize and stay on top of everything.

Also, every customer is different. You need to be able to adapt to different personalities and communication styles. Everyone requires a slightly different approach – that’s what makes the job both challenging and interesting.

 

What does a typical workday look like for you? Is there a set routine or does it change day to day?

Generally, my days start in a similar way: I check my emails and look at what needs to be done. Which customer has a request? What still needs clarification?

Sometimes I already know in advance what’s on the agenda – maybe I need to follow up with a supplier or create a quotation. Of course, not every day is the same, but there’s a general structure that helps me keep things organized.

 

Evelyn in talk with sales and project management.

 

What do you wish for Elektrosil in the future?

Lots of exciting projects!

What I really love about working in sales – compared to logistics – is being involved in the entire project journey. In logistics, you typically handle products that are already in series production.

In sales, you're there from the very beginning: from the first customer inquiry, through the development phase, tackling challenges, finding solutions, and discovering new topics.

You’re part of the process from the "birth" of the project until it goes into series production. That’s incredibly exciting – and I hope we get to work on many more of those kinds of projects!