Jonas, from thesis student to sales engineer: opportunities and growth at Contour

“My adventure at Contour Covering Technology began while I was completing my thesis project at our sister company Contour Advanced Systems,” Jonas kicks off. “The general manager saw potential in me and my work. That led to a talk and eventually to a great job here. As a young HBO (university of applied sciences) graduate, finding a suitable job in Germany was a challenge, because companies often look for experienced people. So I am enormously grateful to Contour for this opportunity and the room to develop.”

A warm welcome and part of the team right away

Jonas is enthusiastic about his start: “My introduction was great! In the beginning I spent time in most departments and everyone was perfectly prepared for my arrival. From day one I felt part of the team, not an unknown newcomer. It was nice that colleagues knew me right away and knew what they could come to me for. That made the threshold for approaching someone, and the other way around, a lot lower right away. The atmosphere is open and everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful. And that I did not (yet) speak Dutch? No problem at all, many colleagues speak German too.”

Challenge, responsibility and a ‘feel’ for the product

Jonas gets the freedom for challenging work and has a firm grip on his role: “I work on the costing of existing quotes, but from the sales stage on, I also assess whether we can make new, innovative products. For that I dive into the capacity of our machines and software. I work in a structured way, because a product only goes into production when we are sure it can be made. That is a considerable responsibility!”

“To really assess that manufacturability, I look for the connection with the production floor,” he continues. “I want to spend a lot of time on the shop floor. A 2D or 3D drawing is one thing, but I want to feel the material, see the product at full size. That is what gives you a real ‘feel’ for what we make. Convincing production employees with good arguments and making sure everyone understands why something can be done better in a certain way is crucial. In the beginning I had to build that trust, step by step. Now, after a number of years, people know that when I propose something, it is well thought out. That investment in trust pays off many times over, and I would tell everyone that.”

Jonas, sales engineer at Contour

The bridge between customer, engineering and production

Jonas really likes the versatility of his work: “I think that variety is great! I have contact with production, but also a lot with customers. Solving customers’ technical questions so that we arrive at an accurate costing is part of that too. And the engineering side, where I bridge the customer’s wishes and Contour’s possibilities, is very satisfying. We like to try new things and I keep going until a solution is found to make the product.”

Golden tips for new colleagues

What does Jonas want to tell future Contour employees? “Self-confidence and independence are key. Especially in production, a solid technical background helps you enormously. Because we often work with small series at Contour and things regularly have to be adjusted, thinking ahead is essential. Be critical of the product you make, ask questions: is what it says correct? And above all: speak up when you have doubts. Your input and expertise are truly valuable here!”