Testimonial: A graduate from KEDGE, Hadrien currently works with HILTI

Hello Hadrien, can you briefly tell us about your time at KEDGE?

I started KEDGE BS in 2013 in a work-study programme at Onet Propreté et Services doing Major Accounts and National Markets. Before that, I had thermal engineering and energy technical training courses (IUT), followed by a licence in Management and Maintenance of Energy Installations (work-study at GrDF Marseille).

After three years of working on getting my IUT + licence, I wanted to focus on business / business management training with commercial elements, which I was able to get at KEDGE BS.

I really appreciated the solid approach, with emphasis put on case studies and business creations by the business engineers programme, but also the updated commercial / marketing / management part of the programme, which I found to be very complete for a two-year programme.

After you graduated, you decided to move to Australia. Why did you make this choice and what did you gain from the experience?

I've always been attracted by the international arena, which is why I decided to get my master degree at KEDGE BS, and because of its tightly-knit network and reputation in both France and abroad. I also wanted to improve my English, and to discover other ways of working and different economic circles, which I’ve been able to get in Australia. I was able to vastly improve my English and am now bilingual, which has helped me a lot in my job search and in my taking the position at HILTI.

When you returned to France, you were head-hunted by HILTI, KEDGE's partner. Tell us how this contact came about and what your current job consists of.

When I got back (after three years in Australia), I decided to take the time to look for a job I’d like, and not "jump” at the first offer. So I asked around about which companies that were a "Good Place to Work", which in this case turned out to be a "Great Place to Work. HILTI was one of them. I was looking for a job related to my academic background as a business developer / technical salesperson, ideally in the construction industry in which I had done a lot of work in Australia. HILTI contacted me via LinkedIn.

Right now I’m in charge of the Marseille sector and its surroundings in the plumbing & HVAC section (corresponding to my background). I maintain a portfolio of "VIP & Key Accounts" clients and develop the sector with new clients.

HILTI knows how to understand, motivate, and remunerate its staff at their fair value, which pushes me to invest myself in the company every day. The job of a Business Developer is very jam-packed and no two days are the same. We manage all the activities related to a company like a company manager would do, our accounting, supply logistics, development of existing accounts, prospecting, pricing, and many other aspects.

Currently, almost 80 graduates work for the HILTI Group. Why do you think HITLI attracts so much talent? Do you have any contact with former KEDGE students within the company?

Like KEDGE BS, HILTI is a recognised company with an international dimension and is present in more than 122 countries. It’s a company that combines state-of-the-art technology in its field of activity - a pioneer in many sectors and international trade.

What’s more, as mentioned previously, HILTI knows how to motivate and pay its staff. Internal promotions occur regularly, in France or abroad (almost 80% of internal promotions in France), which shows that the prospects for growth are never very far away. I have three former KEDGE students in my team in Marseille, which has also favoured our integration, there is a strong camaraderie between the various business managers and very good internal relationships, which reminds me of my time at business school.

If you had to give advice to a young Kedger who wants to work for HILTI, what would it be? And more generally, what career advice would you give him or her?

It’s a company that has a high potential for career advancement and is well established in France and abroad, where it’s good to live. Submit your application. HILTI offers "Partner Tour" days where business managers present jobs in their sectors to interested and pre-selected candidates, so they can find out what a typical day is like before taking the plunge.

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