Why does training in commercial engineering make a difference?

With their dual technical and commercial expertise, which is highly valued by recruiters, sales engineers are true orchestrators, with specialized and varied responsibilities. To enter this rich and exciting profession with a strong human dimension, specialized training makes all the difference. Sales engineering requires key skills that can only be validated by recognized and reputable degrees. Let's take a closer look at the advantages of training in sales engineering!   

Training in commercial engineering allows you to develop a key dual profile.

The sales engineer, also known as a business engineer, is primarily responsible for selling the products and services of the company for which they work. Their strength? Their dual business and technical expertise. These two key skills enable them to offer products tailored to the needs of client companies, explain their advantages, and negotiate prices, as well as translate those needs to engineers and monitor projects/construction sites, production, etc., taking technical constraints into account. They work exclusively in a B2B environment: industrial companies, construction, aeronautics, telecommunications, IT, etc. These can be large companies or small startups. 

The sales engineer wears two hats to carry out their daily tasks, which include:  

• Customer prospecting: identifying players in the target market, communication (emails, calls), meetings (events, trade shows), product demonstrations to identified targets or known customers.
• High-end sales: needs analysis (specifications), responding to calls for tenders, presentations to clients, negotiating prices, terms of sale, or contracts. 
• Project design and monitoring: monitoring customer requests/technical support, monitoring design and production, developing new products/customized solutions.

This dual profile, which is so specific to the profession, is developed through training in commercial engineering, combining theory and practice. 

Training in commercial engineering to acquire sought-after skills

The commercial engineering program enables students who wish to pursue a career as a commercial engineer to acquire skills that are sought after and valued by companies in the sector: 

• Technical expertise 
• A keen business sense 

• Manage any type of project, even complex ones
• Develop a business strategy tailored to each client
• Knowing how to offer tailored and innovative solutions
• Mastering technological developments in your market
• Satisfying customers
• Building customer loyalty
• Lead and manage teams.

Beyond technical skills, sales engineers must possess qualities that are essential to this people-oriented profession:

• Being a good communicator 
• Demonstrate alertness and innovation
• Be curious and creative
• Be completely independent
• Knowing how to persuade and negotiate
• Have excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate a high degree of adaptability, flexibility, and mobility
• Knowing how to manage stress.

After completing a sales engineering program, graduates are equipped to stand out in the job market and thrive in the competitive world of sales engineering. 

A degree in engineering sales offers a variety of career opportunities.

To work as a sales engineer, a master's degree or specialized MBA, equivalent to five years of higher education, is required. This degree can be obtained at business schools, major universities, or specialized schools. 

Training in sales engineering opens the door to a career as a sales engineer, but that's not all. You can also work as (the list is not exhaustive):

• Business developer. Their mission? To develop a company's revenue in a sustainable manner by deploying B2B and B2C solutions.
• Export sales representative. Their mission? Travel the world to develop the company's market share, sign new contracts, etc.
• Key account manager. Their mission? To manage a portfolio of key accounts with significant turnover. 

Depending on your goals, you can climb the career ladder and move into management positions, become an entrepreneur, or simply specialize in high-demand niches.

Training in commercial engineering enables you to attain a high level of responsibility.

As a sales engineer, you are the "driving force" behind the company in that you bring in customers and business. You have a lot of responsibility... and the salaries reflect that. These salaries generally consist of a fixed portion and commissions and bonuses based on sales. Entry-level sales engineers can expect a gross annual salary of around €40,000 to €50,000, excluding bonuses. 

Depending on your aspirations, you can advance quickly in your career by specializing in sought-after sectors or entering international markets, which can significantly increase your income.

What training should you pursue to work in sales engineering?

To work in commercial engineering and acquire a solid knowledge base, a five-year engineering degree is required. In France, there are many specialized programs in this field. However, the best ones stand out for their curriculum based on theory and practice. This is in order to develop a rich culture and professional reflexes that are essential to the profession. Recruiters favor two types of schools: business schools and engineering schools. 

Auraco is a responsible business and marketing school located on The Land campus in Rennes. It offers several training programs, including the MBA in Ethical and Responsible Sales Engineering, which provides access to careers in sales engineering. This program is accessible through competitive entrance exams for those with a bachelor's degree. 

What makes this program so unique? Through a rich and professional program taught by experts in their field, students are trained in commercial engineering with a focus on responsibility. In a world marked by environmental, social, and societal challenges, this "ethical and sustainable" specialization is a real added value in today's and tomorrow's market. Another strength of the Auraco school in Rennes is its emphasis on theory (fundamentals) AND practice (concrete, socially responsible projects that expose you to real-world situations).

Among the opportunities offered by the school Auracoare:  

• Ethical and responsible sales engineer
• Business manager in charge
• Consultant in ethical and responsible business development.

Depending on your expectations, you can of course develop your career, work for different types of companies, in France or abroad, or even specialize in a specific branch of commerce.

In conclusion, training in sales engineering allows you to acquire the skills and dual role that are essential to the sales engineer profession, which are its strength and uniqueness. The Auraco school offers training in this exciting profession, adding an ethical dimension to your skill set.