Product knowledge and customer satisfaction are key in the dynamic world of the HORECA sector, so we place great emphasis on the selection of our colleagues. Gergely started as a transport driver but now represents our company in a sales position. His inspiring career path is not only about personal dedication and perseverance, but also about how to use practical experience and in-depth knowledge of the sector as a springboard.
When and how did you join the Matusz-Vad team?
My wife and I lived in Austria for a long time, but we decided we wanted to start a family here. We finally moved back home in 2019, a good friend recommended the company because he said it was a decent, registered job with a livable salary and good company. I was contacted a month after I applied and started work almost the next day as a goods driver. It was just icing on the cake that a few weeks later my wife was admitted to the telesales-are. I only had a category B licence at the time, but the following year, thanks to the company's flexibility, I was able to do category C, so I could drive a truck up to 40 tonnes. Thanks to my proximity to Győr and my German language skills, I was able to start with the Graz round and then, when that ended, the Vienna round.
What made you think about the idea of becoming a regional representative?
When the epidemic hit and everything came to a standstill, I was put on Matusz's ‘employed ambulance” programme, so we were on standby in exchange for reduced pay. I was behind the wheel immediately after my lay-offs and that's when I started thinking about moving up. It wasn't long before I applied regional representative, but then they found someone else more suitable. However, following a change of manager, my application came up again and I was asked if I was still interested. Of course I immediately said yes, so from June 2023 I will be an Austrian business group I became a member.
What attracted you to the sales job?
I was simply tempted by the opportunity to move up within the company. Plus with 7 years of experience abroad I had a pretty strong command of German, so I thought why not give it a go. Obviously, the fact that over the years I have also gained a confident product knowledge has also boosted my confidence. Besides, my parents are also in the retail business, so I had some superficial insight into what sales is all about. I'll never forget when I was little, I once told my mum that I wanted a job where I had to dress up and do errands, so I finally managed to make my dream come true," says Gergely with a laugh.
Is there anything that might be missing from the delivery of goods?
You can't compare the two because they are completely different, you have to be good at different things. Perhaps the only thing that is essential for both jobs is good communication. As a salesman and as a driver, you are immediately identified with the company, so in both cases it is important to have a positive outlook and a direct but professional tone, as well as a tendency to solve problems quickly. Drivers are also perhaps a little more direct with partners, telling them more quickly if they have had a negative experience - which is why it's good to be in constant contact with drivers.
What does an average day look like?
I arrive at the Győr site in the morning and the day begins. Otherwise, the week is based on a pre-designed plan, so it's easy to schedule. In the morning, I have meetings, which I finish by the end of the working day and then I go home to my family. The phone rings a lot during the day, so it's important to prioritise my tasks.
What were/are the advantages of being a freight forwarder before?
There are many, but perhaps the most important is that everyone already knew me and I knew everyone. The HR, the warehouse staff, the telesales, which was a huge help, because I knew immediately who to contact with any questions or problems. If there was a complaint about a product, I could decide if it was legitimate. But it's also true for the other side, so it's great that I wasn't a stranger to the partners. I had worked with many of them for years, so when I found out that I was going to be their representative, they greeted me with “oh, good, it's you!” And, as I mentioned, the product knowledge has been a huge benefit.
What difficulties did you encounter in your new job, what skills did you need to learn to succeed?
Perhaps the difficulty has been how to do the sales in big letters, but this is helped a lot by the various in-house training courses and the team leader. The other thing that I think you can't really learn is the communication nuances. In the Hungarian market it is probably easier, but in Austria there are a lot of people with different cultures and religions, so the conversations and negotiations with them are different. This also determines the product offering and sales, because they have very different needs, so it's a complex task, but I think I've got a pretty good idea of who has what preferences. But because of this, there is a challenge every day and the work is never boring.
How are you informed about market trends?
Every week - every two weeks on Thursday we have a meeting with colleagues and our line manager. We discuss our strengths, weaknesses and problems in our work and help each other with ideas and solutions. They are also useful because sometimes a need comes from one of the districts and after 2-3 weeks it will be felt in my district and I am already prepared. But it also happens that the partner tells me about what he has eaten or seen abroad and how nice it would be if we could have it here, so it's very mixed. Sites like Chef Inspiration or professional exhibitions are also worth following.
What advice would you give to drivers who are thinking about moving forward? Who would you recommend and who not so much?
You have to try, you can't lose. At the same time, you have to go through a lot of gates to get there, because, as I said before, you have to represent a company. It is important to think in the long term, because that is what success brings. During the training, we are with direct sales colleagues throughout the first month, where we gain insight into all the processes. This is also a very good time to find out whether you really feel like you are in the job. It's no use being successful in interviews, on routine “paper”, if you fall apart in the field, in a live situation. Having said that, I would recommend anyone who feels the drive and motivation to go for it, because the opportunity is there!
