From Engineering to Sales at Dotec:
In a remarkable career shift, Rolf Huitema, known as a project engineer at Dotec for 8.5 years, has made the leap to the sales department.
This month, we welcome Rolf as our new International Account Manager in the Sales & Marketing department. Although he is no stranger to the company, his new role offers a fresh start and challenge for Rolf.
How it All Began
Rolf's affinity for general engineering and the automotive industry began at a young age. He completed his mechanical engineering studies at NHL in Leeuwarden and gained his first work experience during a 20-week internship at Dotec when he was just 17 years old. His path led him to a position as a project engineer at Dotec in 2015, thanks to the efforts of his colleague Rogier, a project engineer at the same company.
Rolf looks back on his years as a project engineer with satisfaction. He describes this period as "very beautiful and educational years," where the challenge mainly lay in finding complex solutions. Project ownership and striving for the best applications were at the core of his work.
The Transition to Sales
The decision to transition to sales came from Rolf's experiences during customer visits. He enjoyed being on the road and communicating directly with customers.
Although he still enjoyed his role as a project engineer, he felt the need for change. Rolf emphasizes that he is not leaving Dotec but merely taking a step forward in the process by moving to sales.
When asked about his added value in his new role, Rolf highlights his years of background as a project engineer. He can directly engage with practical situations and quickly assess potential solutions based on his technical insight, saving valuable time.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
That certainly does not apply to Rolf! He will miss his direct colleagues, with whom he will now have less daily contact. He will also have to leave the freedom to design solutions to his engineering colleagues.
He will also miss the collaboration with production and assembly, which he enjoyed as a project engineer, although the physical proximity of all departments will still allow for interaction.
Rolf indicates that he will regularly visit the departments.
On behalf of the entire Dotec team, we wish Rolf much success in his new role as International Account Manager. It is clear that his technical background and experience as a project engineer will be a valuable addition to the sales department.
We look forward to the successes he will achieve in this new phase of his career.