Base: Rijen, Netherlands.
When I finished my studies in International Business and Management in the Netherlands and the USA, I started my career with a national company in the Netherlands. I soon felt that I missed working in an international environment with different cultures and decided to look for another challenging opportunity. I found a sales traineeship on Ericsson.com, and applied. One week later I had an assessment and the very same day I got a call saying that I could start as Business Development Manager within Services.
The fact that most people within Ericsson have a technical background, and I have a more commercial background might have been the greatest challenge in the beginning. However, I soon learned that all backgrounds are equally important.
The biggest opportunities are all the different job possibilities within Ericsson. In March 2009 I changed position and I am now working as Service Delivery Manager for KPN and Telfort in the Netherlands. This meant switching from a more commercial job to an operational job. My new job gives me the opportunity to gain more experience about the customers' networks and also to get more insight in the internal Ericsson organization. First I sold the Customer Support contracts and now I am responsible for the operational and financial aspect of the contract.
The thing I like the most about Ericsson is the responsibility you get as a young Ericsson employee. When I started I immediately got the assignment to boost the consultancy sales within the Netherlands. Also the colleagues at Ericsson are a very positive aspect, we have an open door policy and all colleagues are always willing to help you!
The telecom industry touches nearly all of us. It is great to see the development of telecom within different parts of the world. Here in the Netherlands you see the growth of mobile internet, IP TV and more and more the convergence of fixed and mobile. Telecom is really one of the most innovative industries in the world.
It is always a surprise what the future will look like within Ericsson. Personally I would like to develop more in Managed Services or maybe try an international assignment…
