Salomé, customer adviser
How did you get to your current position?
I studied French. I joined Arkema straight from college. I am currently a customer adviser for several BUs and different countries.
What is your job about?
The customer adviser is the main intermediary between the customer and the plant, or the headquarters. I work in coordination with the sales representative. My main role is to ensure quality of service for the customer. And from the customer's perspective, the customer adviser is the person who represents Arkema. If the relationship with the customer is not good, we will not manage to sell our products, even if the quality is excellent!
What is your typical working day like?
No two work days are necessarily alike. I start my day by following up the orders-in-progress. Then, I read my emails and reply to them. If there are any phone calls or urgent actions to be taken, I deal with them. There is an administrative side to my work in that I process orders and invoices. The order of the various tasks is determined by whatever takes top priority at the time.
What do you like about your job?
What I like about this job is the cultural aspect and having the chance to speak several languages throughout the day. I like being in contact with people. Also, I like that my days are somewhat unpredictable, in that I have to switch from one case to another very quickly.
What are your qualities with respect to your job?
To do this job well, you have to know how to set your priorities and be able to put yourself in the customer's shoes. I have a sense of diplomacy and I can deal with pressure. Lastly, I like helping my colleagues in the office and those who work at other locations.
What do you like about Arkema?
Arkema is a very open company. Generally speaking, there is a good work atmosphere. Once every two or three years, a "sales meeting" is organized. I like the social side of events like that. Meeting a new colleague face to face—with whom you usually communicate every day on the phone or in emails—is often a way to improve the way you work together.
Do you have a motto in your work or life in general?
"Don't worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."
Sales
The role of the sales teams is to build up a customer portfolio that is sustainable in the long term, by meeting customers' specific requirements with high-quality products