Facts:
Name: Cem
Role: Working student in Business Development and Sales
Conntac in three words, according to Cem: solution-oriented, goal-oriented, and down-to-earth
About Cem
Cem joined Conntac in February 2025 as a working student in the Business Development & Sales department. He is studying Global Business Management at the University of Augsburg and already brings valuable sales experience to the table. After spending a semester abroad in South Korea, he made the decision to enter the B2B SaaS industry and came across Conntac.
In his day-to-day work, he takes on a wide range of tasks: cold calling, product demos, market research, and helping shape the outbound sales strategy. He particularly enjoys cold outreach because it allows him to speak with completely different people every day. No two calls are alike, which makes the work extremely varied. Cem places great importance on building genuine relationships. That’s why, when on the phone, he likes to spontaneously shift to a more personal level to meet his conversation partners at eye level and build trust on a natural foundation.
A True Part of the Mission: Trust from Day 1
Right from the start, Cem realized that his own ideas and experiences really matter at Conntac and that working students are fully integrated from the very beginning:
“During our first conversations, I immediately noticed that at Conntac I wouldn’t just be a working student, but that I’d be allowed to be a true part of the mission and that I’d be given a lot of trust.”
Michael from the sales team also confirms that the chemistry was right from the very first moment:
“Cem immediately stands out because of his open and positive attitude. This allowed us to have a very practical exchange right from the first interviews: He asked a lot of questions and already had a clear idea of how he could support us. So it quickly became clear that he’s a great fit for us and complements us perfectly.”
His Own Style Instead of Rigid Guidelines: Freedom to Explore His Own Ideas
Especially when interacting with customers, Cem values the freedom to develop his own authentic style. Instead of having to slip into a rigid, predefined role, he was able to help tailor the cold-calling script to his own style and bring his own approach to the table. He incorporated fresh trends and ideas that interested him and that he simply wanted to try out. Even though testing new techniques caused some nervousness at first, his courage paid off: The first appointments were quickly booked.
The fact that his own ideas pay off has greatly encouraged him in his work and given him a lot of self-confidence:
“My greatest moment of success was when I got to add the 100th appointment I’d booked to my own list.”
Genuine Conversations at Eye Level in Sales
When interacting with customers, Cem relies on honesty, authenticity, and humor. Since cold calling is usually the first point of contact with a stranger, he avoids pitching a solution right away. It’s much more important to him to build trust first.
Cem explains his approach this way:
“What actually works best for me is simply asking the person I’m talking to how they’re doing right at the start. This almost always leads to good small talk—you have a very natural conversation and sometimes even briefly take the other person away from their stressful workday.”
If a joint project can’t be realized until a later date, Cem has found his own unique way to make a lasting impression:
“What works extremely well for me is asking the person I’m talking to about their favorite dish when a joint project isn’t scheduled for another few months. It’s actually amazing how well you stick in the other person’s memory when you call back after six months and casually mention that their favorite dish is beef roulades.”
A Motivating Team & Being Part of Something Big
Cem finds working at Conntac to be very dynamic and personal. The team is young, flexible, and open to new ideas. Whether it’s Sales, IT, or Marketing, everyone communicates with each other as equals. During lunch breaks or by the coffee machine, there are always good conversations that lighten up the workday.
The fact that, as a working student, you really belong and are right in the thick of things from the very beginning is also evident outside of the normal office routine. A personal highlight for him was the joint appearance at a trade show:
“My coolest moment as a working student so far was when I got to go to ANGA COM in Cologne to support the team on-site at the trade show. Of course, that’s a completely different approach than being on the phone, but I thought it was cool to just strike up conversations with people and get to know new companies.”
When there’s a desire for targeted professional development, Cem finds Conntac to be extremely supportive. When he suggested a mentoring program, the idea was put into practice right away. In regular sessions with his experienced colleague Dario from Sales Development, Cem receives practical tips and expert knowledge to help him continuously improve.
Personal Growth & Looking Ahead
One of Cem’s most important lessons has been learning to deal with rejection, since turn-downs are a natural part of sales.
He finds the team dynamic extremely motivating: Every day, Cem feels that his work is appreciated and that he plays an important role in the team’s overall success.
“At one of our monthly company meetings, I had the opportunity to present my results to the team and received a lot of encouragement. It’s almost impossible to feel more appreciated as a working student.”
Cem has made significant progress, especially in cold calling, since his very first day. He has clear goals for the future:
“My goal is to believe in what I can do while continuing to learn and getting a little better every day. I want to keep trying creative approaches and soak up the knowledge and insights from my teammates like a sponge.”
He sums up his most important advice for all new working students as follows:
“If something’s on your mind or you have a good idea, share it with your managers. You’ll be surprised how well they listen to you and how often they’ll simply let you try things out.”
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