We are delighted to have recently spoken with Marc Giljohann, one of DMP’s first German employees, who has been with the company for an impressive five years. We couldn’t wait to interview him and learn more about his experiences and insights.
Marc initially applied for a support technician position at DMP, but after his interview with Eric Evers, one of the company’s CEOs, he was offered a sales representative role. Eric was looking for someone who could effectively communicate the benefits of the Commvault product to clients and deliver engaging presentations. Although he had a technical background (Marc and Eric had previously worked together at Commvault), Marc embraced his new role and became the first official sales representative (besides Eric, who also played a significant sales role at the time) covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Over the past five years, Marc has focused on expanding DMP’s support department in Germany, which he considers crucial for the company’s success. Instead of being driven by commissions, Marc considers how much leeway he needs to hire new support staff. He also values the flexibility DMP offers, especially when it comes to granting employees time off for personal situations. In return, he believes employees should be loyal and willing to go the extra mile for the company.
When asked about the differences between Germans and Dutch people, Marc explained that the Dutch tend to approach work more intensely and prioritize work-life balance, while Germans tend to be more rigid regarding working hours. Nevertheless, Marc (and some of his German colleagues) often work late into the night to prepare offers for clients. In Germany, DMP’s focus is on backup and recovery with Commvault, while in the Netherlands, Cohesity and Netapp are also key areas. There is frequent collaboration between the German and Dutch teams, as, for example, the project management team is based in the Netherlands.
As the first field sales representative in Germany, Marc sees himself as a coach and mentor for new colleagues. He is proud of the German sales team’s high scores on the employee engagement tool Officevibe. Although remote work can be challenging, Marc believes that exchanging ideas and providing support can help maintain strong relationships within the team.
To conclude our interview with Marc, we would like to share his inspiring words about DMP: “Working at DMP has been a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, allowing me to pursue the company’s mission without compromising my work-life balance. DMP has provided me with an ideal environment to grow as an individual and think outside the box. I hope to continue working this way for many more years.”
