Swiss certified sales manager training: Experience report by Marco Kern - those who continue their training can also take on more responsibility and management tasks
Can you please briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your advertising campaign?
My name is Marco Kern and I am 32 years old. I grew up and live in Winterthur. I originally completed an apprenticeship as a painter in the construction industry. I then gained professional experience in this role and subsequently completed continuing education, further training as a technical salesman. After graduating, I was able to join the sales force of a large company in Zurich. I am currently in continuing education, further training as a sales manager in order to be able to take the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in sales.
Why did you decide to train as a sales manager?
After seven years in the field, I wanted to develop further. I then discussed my plans for the future and the opportunities with my line manager. He then recommended the sales manager training course. As a result, I took a closer look at the federal sales manager training course and obtained specific information. My goals in completing the sales training course were to further my personal development and to be able to take on more responsibility and management tasks in my career. As I am still young, I was confident that I would be able to acquire this knowledge in a short space of time in order to obtain the federal diploma.
How did you come across the WBA continuing education, further training school?
After deciding to do continuing education, further training as a sales manager, I looked around for schools in Winterthur. I did a Google search on the Internet and came across the WBA continuing education, further training school. The homepage and the continuing education for sales managers appealed to me. The lesson times in particular suited me, as I wanted to continue working full-time on the side. Nevertheless, I wanted to be able to spend my weekends with my family.
Why did you choose WBA as your school for continuing education, further training?
I wanted to talk to the course director and school owner Rolf Schmalz. I wanted to find out exactly how the school is set up, what exactly is behind the program and to what extent you can benefit from the WBA as a student. As a result of this personal conversation, I finally decided to complete my continuing education, further training to become a federally certified sales manager at WBA. In addition to the teaching times, I was also impressed by the small class sizes and the way I was treated as an individual.
What did you like best about the sales manager training at the WBA?
What I like best about the sales manager training at the WBA are the lesson times. Because of the off-peak times, I'm rarely absent from the store, even if I get support from there for this step. I also like the fact that if there are gaps in knowledge, the lessons are adapted with an additional lesson so that you understand everything and everyone can follow the learning content well. In this way, knowledge is consolidated quickly and precisely.
How did you experience the online lessons?
I started the Sales Manager (AFPE) course in 2020 in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. That's why the lessons took place entirely online via Skype. I've never had online lessons in my last 25 years of school and this was a change for me. But it worked very well and easily. I also received good instructions at the beginning of the sales manager training. At first, the online lessons took some getting used to, as you didn't get to know your classmates and lecturers in person, but only online and therefore virtually. However, it also offers various advantages, such as no traveling, learning from home, efficient learning methods and no unnecessary large discussions. I have now got used to this form of teaching and enjoy the speed of learning.
Were there any difficult moments for you during your continuing education, further training as a sales manager?
The difficulty for me in continuing education, further training to become a sales manager was balancing everything - work, family life and learning. Fortunately, I receive full support from my family so that I can devote myself fully to my continuing education, further training. I also receive a lot of support in the business, which makes me very happy.
Can you benefit from the training in your day-to-day work?
Since completing my federal diploma in sales management, I have a different perspective on things and question business decisions more. Professionally, I now walk through life with more self-criticism and self-confidence. I have gained a good reputation on the market as a result. Privately, I have learned to balance work, life and learning even better.
Who would you recommend the AFPE Sales Manager course to?
I would recommend the AFPE Sales Manager course to anyone who has the confidence to undertake such continuing education, further training. In addition to the diploma, I believe that this continuing education, further training can also be used to achieve specific career goals, such as a department manager position.
Were your expectations of the school met?
I believe that training to become a sales manager with a federal diploma was a new experience for everyone in virtual form. This form of teaching certainly has a future. My expectations of the online lessons were exceeded. The flexibility, concentrated learning and quick delivery of the material even meant that the teaching time could be reduced. Despite the interactive lessons, the individual needs of each participant were taken into account, which was certainly also possible thanks to the small class size. In my previous training course, there were 25 people in the class, whereas at the WBA there were only 7. This meant that the sales manager training course also covered many practical examples and there was an active exchange of ideas. The teaching concept was good for me. In adult education, everyone has to provide their own materials, organize themselves and learn the material independently. The continuing education, further training at the WBA was well organized for me.
