From student to sales engineer: “I prepare offers for ultrafiltration membranes.”

Inspiration, challenge, and community.

Wetsus, the European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology, is a unique environment to study water technology. Government, industry, and science work literally side by side to develop solutions for water challenges, such as wastewater treatment and blue energy generation, among many others. There are lots of opportunities to connect with professionals during lunch lectures as well as during study trips to wastewater treatment plants and water technology companies. That exposed me to different aspects of the water sector, so I could figure out what I wanted to do next.

Our Thursday get-togethers in the pub: I didn’t miss a single one. It was a chance to connect with other students and researchers. People also talked about their work, and I learned a lot from those firsthand accounts.

At Berghof Membranes, we manufacture tubular ultrafiltration membranes for cleaning industrial wastewater. We sell our membranes to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that design wastewater treatment plants: everything from pre-filtration to post-filtration, including the system that cleans up the wastewater.

My role is to prepare offers, which explain the technical details and costs of our membranes, and tailor them to the customers’ needs. For example, which membrane is most suitable for the wastewater specifications I have received? How many membranes are required? What type of pumps will work with them? I am the connector between the sales and technology departments. On one side, I communicate with the sales managers who are in direct contact with customers, and on the other, I work with the mechanical engineers who provide the detailed technical specifications, such as what type of valve should be used.

The goal of what we do is to make sure industrial wastewater is cleaned to the point it can be safely released without damaging ecosystems. Knowing that I contribute to protecting the environment is what motivates me.

I found the job through my study advisor, right after completing my internship at a big water technology company. During the internship, I built research and development skills alongside awareness of the business aspects of the industry. The role at Berghof Membranes brings the technical and commercial sides together, which is why I chose it.

Analytical thinking is the most valuable skill I have acquired. I problem-solve a technical question in a step-by-step way every single day. The engineering skills also help me see how all the different parameters of wastewater and our membrane technology are linked and what needs adjustment. And, of course, I learned a lot about membranes from experts in the field, and even though it wasn’t about tubular ultrafiltration, which is quite a niche area, it was useful.

I am still learning to prioritise and manage communication across multiple projects. During peak periods, I need to stay in regular contact with customers, sales managers, and engineers while several projects run simultaneously. This is quite different from university, where I had to focus on one project at a time.

I would like to grow into a sales manager role since I really enjoy the sales aspect of my work.

Make the most of studying at Wetsus. It is an incredible opportunity to talk with all those professionals during lunch lectures and events. You will build connections, and this can open many doors later. And don't worry about landing the perfect first job; you are just starting. Follow your interests, believe in yourself, and the right opportunity will come along.