"I would be reluctant to give up the flexibility my job offers"

• We've been wanting to talk to an employee who works remotely with most of their team for a while. Now, we finally have a testimonial from Ferdinand Boeck, Senior Sales Engineer at Kahoot!
• “While I could be on-site for a while, I would eventually want to return to having remote flexibility”, he confesses.

When an employee experiences the benefits of working remotely, they rarely want to go back to the office. If they have to return, they will likely seek opportunities to regain the flexibility that a remote position offers.

This time, we had the opportunity to talk to an employee based in Barcelona, working for the popular company Kahoot!. The company's headquarters are located in Oslo and Copenhagen. German by birth, Ferdinand Boeck is a Senior Sales Engineer who has the privilege of choosing the perfect place for him to work.

Ferdinand has embraced the Spanish way of life, enjoying “the culture, climate, and lifestyle” of the country. Although he sees himself living elsewhere for a while, Spain is always a place he would return to “because it has so much to offer”.

Despite his role requiring constant communication and collaboration between departments, he doesn’t find it difficult to perform his duties remotely. When asked about the main issue he encounters in remote environments, he explained: “One issue can be that you don’t really feel part of a team and more like a freelancer. Therefore, occasional get-togethers with your team and colleagues are essential to foster a sense of belonging.”

We wanted to understand what a remote employee feels if they had to go back to the office one day. Ferdinand replied: “I would reluctantly give up the flexibility my remote job brings. While I could be on-site for a while, I would eventually want to return to having remote flexibility.”

Ferdinand also shared how he builds bonds with his colleagues, highlighting an important social aspect for many employees: ‘Lunch time’. “I’m mostly in Barcelona and usually go in twice a week to have lunch and socialise with colleagues. When I travel to our headquarters in Oslo and Copenhagen, I go to the office every day because I don’t see those colleagues as often as the ones in Barcelona,” he confesses.

Let’s talk to Ferdinand in a friendly and natural way about his experience as an employee who works remotely with most of their team for a large international company.

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Highlights from Ferdinand

• Talents thrive on opportunities to learn, grow, take on new responsibilities, and receive guidance and support.
• Remote job flexibility is highly valued, and while on-site work is possible temporarily, returning to remote work is preferred.
• A common issue is feeling more like a freelancer than part of a team, making occasional team get-togethers essential for fostering belonging.
• Ferdinand sometimes travels to Kahoot!’s headquarters in Oslo and Copenhagen. He confesses he likes to go to the office every day during these days to build bonds. 

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Full Interview

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Who is Ferdinand, briefly introduce yourself? What’s your background? Why did you choose to study software to work in Sales?

I have always been interested in many different subjects, which led me to study history, political science, and education, as well as computer science. During my computer science studies, I also took many business courses.

While I was a student, I worked as a self-employed salesperson, which strengthened my skills in that area. After a stint as an administrator, I decided I wanted to focus more on customer interactions. Pre-sales was a perfect fit, allowing me to combine my technical, commercial, and interpersonal skills, along with my language abilities.

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What drives your desire to be a part of Kahoot!? 

Since Kahoot! is a SaaS company with a strong focus on learning, engagement, and communication, it appeals not only to my technical and sales interests but also to my passion for education. This allows me to leverage a broader range of my background and skills, which is always beneficial.‍

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In your opinion, what drives the best talent in the Sales industry nowadays? What do you value most in a company's culture?

I believe talents are driven by opportunities to constantly learn, grow, take on new responsibilities, and receive guidance and support for their progress. This motivation benefits both the employee and the company.

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As a Senior Sales Engineer, you need to work closely with software engineers and the support department, what skills are crucial for your position? 

As a Sales Engineer, you are an integral part of the sales process, handling technical aspects such as demos, front and backend adaptations, RFI/RFP responses, tenders, and technical questionnaires. You may also be involved in adaptations and the implementation process. 

This role requires collaboration with Sales, customers, and the development team, which includes Product Designers, Front and Backend Developers, and Product Managers. It also touches on project management. You act as a bridge, linking all these elements together, providing guidance and expertise to meet customer requirements to the best of your and the product's ability.‍

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Managing remote work presents its challenges. What are some of the issues you've faced, and how have you addressed them?

One issue can be that you don’t really feel part of a team and more like a freelancer. Therefore, occasional get-togethers with your team and colleagues are essential to foster a sense of belonging. 

However, since you work with customers worldwide whom you rarely see in person, being in the office every day wouldn’t change much, as you wouldn’t see them anyway.‍

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Which countries would you like to work from and why?

I work from Spain because I enjoy the Spanish culture, climate, and lifestyle. However, I am quite adaptable and can acclimate quickly to different environments. I could see myself living somewhere else for a while, but Spain is always a place I would return to because it has so much to offer. Especially within Europe, everything is close by, making it easy to visit other countries.‍

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Now that you have experience with remote work, would you be willing to relocate to another city for an on-site job? What qualities would you look for in such a company?

I would reluctantly give up the flexibility my remote job brings. While I could be on-site for a while, I would eventually want to return to having remote flexibility. My work wouldn’t change if I were on-site all the time, so why would a company need me in the office every day? That said, I do enjoy going to the office on my own terms. 

I’m mostly in Barcelona and usually go in twice a week to have lunch and socialise with colleagues. When I travel to our headquarters in Oslo and Copenhagen, I go to the office every day because I don’t see those colleagues as often as the ones in Barcelona.

If an opportunity arises to work on-site somewhere else, I would consider it. If the opportunity is good, it would be foolish not to take it. However, I would inquire if there’s an option to return to remote or at least hybrid work eventually.

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How does an EOR like Teamed help employees like Ferdinand?

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At Teamed, we understand that top talent wants to feel part of the team, not like freelancers. They seek the full range of benefits that come with being a full-time employee. This sense of belonging is crucial for all employees, especially for those working from home or other countries. Most of our testimonials confirm this point, and it’s no surprise.

Ferdinand highlights that “one issue can be that you don’t really feel part of a team and more like a freelancer.” Similarly, Adam Tully, the headhunter and recruiter, and founder of JIE + Search, emphasized this during his interview “Most top talent prefer employment over contract work.”

‍Teamed addresses this need by offering comprehensive benefits packages that help global employees feel integrated into their companies, while also aligning with the regulations and norms of their home country.

Additionally, our EOR provides dedicated and human support to be beside every remote employee. We stay close to them to address any questions or concerns that might pop up, ensuring that they always feel supported and connected. This personalised support helps bridge the gap between remote employees and their companies, enhancing their overall work experience.

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‍Ready to experience the Team Difference? Let’s chat!

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