One of our fundamental beliefs revolves around the notion that “If we have the passion to learn, we can expand creativity to navigate the future”. At Dassault Systèmes, we prioritize the sharing of knowledge and expertise, considering it as our primary asset, and we are committed to continuous learning throughout our careers. This commitment led Rainer Hofmann, EUROCENTRAL Sales Academy Senior Sales Director at Dassault Systèmes, to establish our Sales Academy in 2022. This marked the beginning of a new approach to training our sales professionals. Reflecting on his motivation, Rainer himself remarks:
“It has been a unique opportunity, to combine the experience of many long-time sales reps and successful sales leaders to define an attractive trainee program, a clear road to take over a customer, part of an industry or a brand after the traineeship.”
The Dassault Systèmes Sales Academy is a 15-month structured trainee program that commences every October. With this program, we aim to lay the foundation for the next generation of sales executives. The trainees will primarily drive their own projects and take on responsibility, with guidance from experienced sales managers. This hands-on experience will be complemented by a series of workshops aimed at reinforcing skills and knowledge.
Our trainee program spans across Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
What Can You Expect?
From day one, you will dive into exciting sales projects and explore various areas in sales. Working closely with experienced professionals, you will gain hands-on experience in industries such as Healthcare, Transportation & Mobility and High-Tech, working with renowned Dassault Systèmes brands such as SOLIDWORKS, CATIA and SIMULIA.
Rainer comments on the approach:
“We do not want to have sales laser-focused on a single product. As Dassault Systèmes, we offer solutions across a wide range of industries and domains. Our trainee program covers all the major industries and brands we operate in, from designing sustainable products to unlocking new potential with analytics and artificial intelligence.”
The Sales Academy places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, which means that you will be deeply involved in real-world sales scenarios, accompanying clients on local and international visits, and actively participating in contract negotiations. In addition, our program offers numerous networking opportunities and regular workshops to help you deepen your knowledge and refine your skills further.
Therefore, Rainer concludes that our trainee program is a perfect mix of theoretical knowledge, necessary trainings and a lot of practical experience in an international team.
Comments from our trainees:
“Taking part in the Sales Academy was the best decision of my life! Both professionally and personally. The experience I have gained here so far is priceless.”
Mehmet Simsek, former Sales Academy Trainee, now Sales Executive at Dassault Systèmes
“The Sales Academy gave me a good overview of the many opportunities for a sales career at Dassault Systèmes. The opportunity to live in Paris for a few months and work directly with one of our partners was a valuable experience – both professionally and personally.”
Lydia Hildebrandt, former Sales Academy Trainee, now Strategic Account Manager at Dassault Systèmes
“The Sales Academy not only gave me the opportunity to gain insights into companies from different sectors, but also to get to know colleagues from different areas within the company. This enabled me to build up a large network and find out which area in sales suits me best.”
Kim Ferentiuk, former Sales Academy Trainee, now Robotics Strategic Account Manager at Dassault Systèmes
Is This Program Right For You?
If you have a technical or business degree and possess a natural talent for selling, the Sales Academy is for you! You should enjoy negotiating and be fluent in both German and English. If you want to master the art of persuasive communication and have a confident demeanor, the Sales Academy is the perfect place to start your career.
If you are interested in joining the program or would like more information, please send a brief email to ECAL.talents@3ds.com and we can discuss the next steps.
