It is very important to us to encourage and support our employees at CWS Hygiene. Our employee Volkan Kar took the leap from service vehicle to sales and shows how further development can be successful at CWS. His story shows that at CWS, development is not only possible, but is supported with genuine backing and a willingness to give people opportunities. In this interview, Volkan talks to us about his career path, what drives him, what he learned from his time in service, why he now comes to work every morning with genuine enthusiasm, and how courage, motivation, and support have changed everything for him.
Volkan, you have had a rather special career development at CWS. How did you come to CWS and what attracted you to the job?What happened next for you and how did you find the transition?Why the Hunter position?You now know both sides: How does your time in service help you in sales today?What motivates you personally to go to work every day with so much energy?Your story will certainly encourage others. What advice would you give to colleagues who want to develop their careers at CWS?
I used to work in social services and as a personal trainer, but I was longing for something more suitable and stable. It was important to me to have contact with people and to work in the transport sector, but not for a parcel service, rather for a company with structure and values. CWS Hygiene caught my attention because of its brand. My first day and trial period were great, and I immediately noticed that it's not just the product that counts here, but the people behind it.
After my very structured four-week induction, I didn't feel just like a driver but part of the team and took on a fixed route and moved to the depot in Neuss. I look back fondly on my two and a half years there. Apart from my always supportive depot manager, Franco Cassataro, my accumulated customer experience and daily product use are particularly valuable to me now.
The transition was intense, but incredibly helpful. Five weeks of onboarding and three weeks of intensive support from my team leader prepared me perfectly for the Hunter position and made me strong. At the time, it was great to see that people believed in me and invested in me. This enabled me to achieve a lot, and it didn't take long for the first sales successes to come. Thanks to the good training, a supportive team, and enjoyment of my work, I have reached a point where I can sometimes achieve my monthly targets by the middle of the month.
I had always had an eye on sales, but when I saw a flyer about an open Hunter position, it seemed like a sign to me that it was finally time to take action. I was at a point where I thought to myself: I know the products, the customers, and their problems—the only thing missing is my application. Three great conversations with the works council and my sales manager later, I found myself on my first day as a Hunter in February.
A lot. I know the products, the customers, and also the difficult moments. In addition, I can assess the importance of service very well. I'm still in touch with my fellow drivers and sometimes I accompany them on initial deliveries. We're like a well-coordinated team: my colleagues can concentrate on their work while I clarify everything with the customers. Working with the internal and technical services also helps me to communicate in a timely manner and ensure that everything runs smoothly.
One moment that made me and our team very proud was when a customer wanted a delivery the very next day after signing the contract due to high demand. The team in Solingen made it happen within 24 hours. We presented ourselves as a great CWS Hygiene team and the customer was also very enthusiastic.
Right from the start, I realized that I could achieve something at CWS Hygiene, and this has been confirmed. This development step at CWS Hygiene is really very important to me. I really enjoy coming to work and I feel very well looked after. Even today, I still talk on the phone almost every day with my supervisor from my training period, which makes me feel good and valued and gives me motivation. I look forward to my tasks, to every single signature and to every working day.
Be brave! You have to show yourself, be open, take the first step. If you are motivated, you will receive a lot of support and a real opportunity here. I am the perfect example of this.