Basak, sales manager
What has been your career path?
I have always worked in sales. I started in 1999 with a distributor in the detergents market. Then I worked as a sales manager for a factory that made perfumes, before joining Arkema in 2006. Since then, I have worked in four different business units.
What is your job about?
Above all, my job is about reaching my sales targets!
What is your typical working day like?
I spend a lot of time replying to emails from my various contacts, especially my customers. I am often on the road visiting my customers. I also have to handle a lot of deals over the phone.
What do you like about your job?
I like meeting and talking to new people and developing new projects.
What skills are required for your job?
I think this job requires patience, as some projects can take years to set up. Moreover, it requires strong negotiating skills, and you need to enjoy contact with the customer and keeping up with market trends.
What kind of training is required to prepare for this job?
A knowledge of chemistry is not an absolute necessity, but it is a major plus to understand the technical aspects of the business.
What do you like about Arkema?
I've always liked the team spirit in my department.
Do you live by a motto?
Do the things you love and love the things you do!
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