Dirk van Lieshout, Field Sales Representative

1. Tell us about your career at Algeco

At the beginning of 2022, I started my current role as a Field Sales representative in the Moerdijk office to pursue my career goals to work with a more complex product. In this role, I am responsible for maintaining and expanding the customer base in Limburg and Noord-Brabant. By now, I enjoy working in this role as it gives me a nice challenge and pushes my professional development.

2. How would you best describe your job?

My job includes a variety of tasks starting from market research and cold calling (which I really like by the way, I always have a list of prospecting companies and never miss a good opportunity to give a call) to meeting with clients and preparation of the quotes. But this is a very brief explanation, of course.

If you dive into the nuances of the work, Sales Representative in the temporary housing business has to have a no-nonsense mindset and be technically savvy to be able to perform the initial technical assessment of the area where units or containers will be placed, discuss practical details with the client (for example, water and electricity connections) and prepare the sketch for technical specialists so they could make a detailed drawing in AutoCAD.

Sometimes, our clients want to have the things we don’t have in our 360 portfolio, and therefore, I have to find a suitable supplier to be able to offer the best possible solution. Never a dull moment.

3. What qualifications do you think are needed to do the job well?

The ability to listen to what your customer wants to determine the problem accurately is key!

Further goes the ability to translate customers’ needs and wishes into a practical case, which is affordable and most suited for the customer.

Creativity is one of the ‘must-have’ qualities for Sales. No single project is the same; therefore, there are no ready answers to the client’s requests immediately. If the customer wants to have a green roof and we don’t have it in our portfolio – it’s my job to find ways to make it possible. Plants on the roof might serve two goals in one project – eye-catching appearance, but also better protection (against heat and rain). So going this extra mile can bring extra benefits too. Or hydropower generators: Algeco has to offer a range of sustainable 360 items (like solar panels) but if the customer asks for more, I am on a hunt to find the most convenient power generators.

4. What motivates you in your daily work?

Talking to customers. Luckily I have enough of this in my daily work. Sometimes I make 50 calls and meet personally a few customers in the course of one week.

Coming up with the best solutions for the customer to be able to fulfill the customer’s needs.

Being successful in what I do. It’s nice to hear a simple ‘thank you’ for your work, and even more satisfying when the customer comes back and becomes a repetitive customer. This is the highest compliment to me and the direct indicator of success.

5. What do you like most about your work?

Variety in work. Sometimes you really like to keep focusing on details and numbers. Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. My work combines both. In my role, I often visit clients and therefore get to change scenery often, this keeps every week interesting and exhilarating. Even our very own offices and depots stay exciting with the various colleagues and new various projects coming up every week.

And of course, my colleagues deserve a special tribute. It’s very important to have nice colleagues around to discuss the project details and also to have a nice and friendly chat over a cup of coffee.