What's your job about?

Prysmian is the largest cable inventor and manufacturer in the world; we produce and sell all range of cables from house using electrical wires to big marine cables connecting continents together

I am currently working as a Commercial Sales Coordinator, responsible for servicing the major utility customers in NSW.

Normally, I will help customer to identify their need and recommend suitable cables. Once I have confirmed the purchase with my customer, I will become a mini project coordinator. I need to coordinate with planning, factory, testing and despatching departments, monitor the progress of production and delivery to make sure they can receive the cable on time.

Besides that, I also need to deal with after sales service, both compliments and complaints, to ensure our customers value our product and service.

The busiest time will be the days we tender for different utility or infrastructure projects. During this period, I will discuss with sales manager, legal, technical, and production departments, to ensure we can win the contract which is worth millions of dollars.

What's your background?

I grew up in China and went to study in Singapore for 3 years, after that I came to Australia to study at ANU in Canberra. It is quite a good experience to stay in different countries to live and study, I have chance to taste difference culture and understand what I really need.

In the year 2012, just after I finished my engineering honour degree in ANU and furthered my study for a master of financial management, I had the honour to receive Prysmian graduate offer. It was a quite difficult decision at that stage, as I was not sure if I should finish my study first. However, the design of the graduate programme just attracted me and I decided to quit my study and accept the offer. In the year 2015, after joining Prysmian for 3 years, I picked up my studies again and finished my master of engineering management in UTS with an average of distinction. To be honest, I am so happy to make this decision, as all my work experience helps me understand my studies better. Moreover, during 4 years of work in Prysmian, I can see the company is investing in us and expecting the growth of our graduates.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes!!! I am actually an engineer, and I am doing well in this sales position. From my experience, as long as you are open-minded, organised and willing to learn, and also good communication skills to convince both your customers and your colleagues, it will be a piece of cake for you!!

What's the coolest thing about your job?

Accept new challenges every day, and by resolving all these issues, it helps me understand cross-functional areas and gain different knowledge, I am gaining knowledge of this industry.

What are the limitations of your job?

We don’t need to work on weekends, but when you are busy, you have to have the ability to handle multiple tasks and fulfil the requirements from different sources. My job is sales but not engineering, so engineering graduates should understand this change.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

1. Always ready to accept new changes and challenges.
2. Understand what your interest is and go after it.
3. Good communication skills are always helpful.