Please introduce yourself briefly.
Hi, my name is Saskia Wynands and I've been working at BYTEC for over a year as a project manager in sales, or as we call it, New Business Development. This is my first job. Before that, I studied biomedical engineering at Aachen University of Applied Sciences.
What does your day-to-day work look like and what are your tasks?
My tasks include preparing quotations and talking to customers, from the initial contact through to handover to our respective project managers. I usually help prepare our trade fairs and am of course also on site. That's why my working day is actually always the same and yet very varied. I start early, check my emails and to-do's and probably have one or two customer meetings to prepare for. But because we have so many different projects, every day is different. Either because I end up throwing my list of priorities overboard because my colleagues need something spontaneously. Then I'm happy to help. Or everything goes according to plan, but the customers and their wishes are so different that it's only partially standardized.
How have you developed in your first year at BYTEC?
I think I have developed a lot. Apart from a practical semester and a few internships, I had no work experience and I was able to learn a lot here, I attended training courses and I think I have also matured through visits to trade fairs and customer contacts. I'm still a bit nervous at first interviews - especially in English - but definitely calmer. I now feel very empowered personally and in what I do.
What do you particularly enjoy about your work?
That it is so varied. As I said before, there are daily tasks, but because of the many changing contacts and new faces, no two days are the same. Then there are also excursions, i.e. visits to trade fairs. A week at the stand is always exhausting, but incredibly exciting.
Sales is a bit of a link between the departments. Could you imagine trying out something different?
That's actually true. I basically have a lot to do with almost all departments. Especially with Development and Production, of course, when it comes to picking up new orders. I think that's great because it means you're very well networked within the company and, of course, you get to know your colleagues well and build up good relationships, even the odd friendship. But I could also imagine trying out something else, for example looking more into project management in development, just to tie in with my technical studies, to learn there and then later apply the knowledge in sales.
What do you do to relax after work?
Generally having time off always helps a lot (laughs). No, I do a lot of sport outside of work; volleyball, horse riding and a bit of endurance training from time to time. I always find it really good to have an office job and then to be able to work out.
But sometimes I also like to switch off with my colleagues. At the summer party or the Christmas party. Sometimes we also do small private events with a few colleagues, like bowling or mini golf, we're always looking for something new.
What would you recommend to potential colleagues or applicants?
Be yourselves, be open, don't be intimidated. We don't bite (laughs). We are very, very open. I'm the same type, I think that got me further in the interview, you always score points with that.
BYTEC is a determined, friendly company that gives you plenty of room to grow. So, as we said after my first trade fair (after three weeks): you're thrown in at the deep end here, but if you're lucky (or really need it), you get water wings first. But that's exactly what I appreciate so much here. The fact that you are given a lot of responsibility after a very short time here because people believe in you.
Saskia Wynands, B.Eng.
