Klemen: The pros and cons of being a CRM Application Engineer

When and why did you join BE-terna as an Application Engineer, what initially drew you to the company?

I joined BE-terna on the first of April (no joke!) in 2017. The beginning of my career story began a few years prior to that, when I was working as a student at another company where BE-terna had implemented their CRM solution. That was where I gained my first work and CRM experience. When an opportunity for a job at BE-terna arose, I didn’t think twice. The decision was also easier for me, because I already knew some of the people from the team and I admired their knowledge and friendly attitude. That’s what drew me to the company.

What is the job of Application Engineer like at BE-terna? What is a typical day like for you?

I start my day like everyone else. First, coffee, then I check and reply to any unanswered emails. Because I work in the CRM department, my next step is to open our CRM system where I can see the status of all my ongoing tasks. With that in mind, I try to arrange my work throughout the day. Due to BE-terna’s agile methodology, I also have a daily meeting with my team where we discuss what we did the previous day, if there were any issues, and what we hope to accomplish by the end of the day. Of course, there are days when plans change and you end up doing something completely different - but that’s just how our work is. Then I eagerly await lunch with my colleagues 😊. Afternoons are usually dedicated to development and some occasional meetings. 

What are the pros and cons of being an Application Engineer?

The most exciting thing about development is the process of turning an idea into reality. The end solution doesn’t have to be a complicated piece of software, it can be as simple as automating some basic, tedious, everyday tasks. Seeing the end result in action is always interesting. Due to the fact that we are increasingly dependent on technology and software, developers are among the most in-demand tech professionals, which is never a bad thing.

There are times when the solution you have imagined doesn’t work and you have to discard everything and start from scratch, which can be a little depressing until you realize that in spite of all the problems, you have still learned a valuable lesson. Tight deadlines can also cause some stress, so you need to be able to work under pressure.

What does it take to be an Application Engineer?

In a nutshell, you need to have the ability to solve problems. You need to break them down into smaller, manageable problems and design a process that leads to a solution. If you get stuck, don’t be afraid to ask one of your team members for help, or maybe just try discussing the problem with them – you will be surprised how often that can help.

Of course, it is best if you have broad experience of how computers, networks and infrastructures work, but if you have solid knowledge and understanding of core development concepts, you can learn just about anything with a little courage and dedication. 

Who would you recommend BE-terna as an employer to?

I would recommend BE-terna to anyone who is looking to improve their knowledge and wants to work for a dynamic company with some of the most experienced people in the field. Working for a big company offers almost unlimited career options. 

If you could choose 3 adjectives to describe BE-terna's culture, what would they be?

Friendly, open-minded, supportive.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be:

A pilot 😊.