Martin Grabner, MSc
My job at AMES is very exciting and varied. I get to know many interesting people and companies and have the chance to travel to exotic countries. Studying has broadened my horizon and provides me with the opportunity and knowledge to work in all sectors of the aviation industry. We'll see what the future holds.
Key data
Job description: Director Customer Support
Company: AMES GmbH, Peggau, Styria
I've worked here since: 2006
What I do
Marketing and sales
- Preparing offers based on customer requests
- Customer acquisition, sales meetings and negotiations
- Supporting new and existing customers
- Organising participation in trade fairs, social media contributions etc.
Project management of international cabin refurbishment projects
- Coordination of internal and external resources
- Milestone planning
- Customer service
- Coordination with suppliers
- Participation in milestone meetings
- Support during refurbishment.
CVE activities
- Independent verification and approval of EASA Part-21J compliance documentation for certification of electrical/avionics modifications
Why I love my job
- I get the chance to travel to exotic countries and meet many interesting people.
- I appreciate the diverse activities from project management or marketing & sales to design and certification.
- Of course I also love the great feeling of seeing a refurbished airplane take off with a modern cabin and some of our products on board.
What I don’t like so much about my job
- Always having to be available.
Important skills in my job
- Enthusiasm and fascination for aviation
- Sound technical knowledge
- Being a team player
My greatest success so far
I had the pleasure to be in close contact with the top management of an airline which experienced phenomenal growth from 100 employees in 2008, the year it was founded, to around 11,000 in less than six years. The most remarkable thing about this story for me is that the top managers have remained down to earth and meet their staff and suppliers at eye level, a good example for other organisations to follow.
How I found my current job
It was not spectacular, really. I was without a job because the airline for which I worked at that time went bankrupt. I learned about the job at AMES through a newspaper advert and luckily I was accepted.
What I learned for this job during my studies
My studies gave me an insight into many other interesting areas of aviation. This knowledge allows me to better assess the strategic decisions made by our customers and substantiate my own decisions and courses of action. I also think that when studying part-time you benefit a lot from the knowledge of your fellow students, because each of them is already an expert in his or her field in a way and can share much of their knowledge.
Job prospects in my field
The aviation sector is a rapidly growing market. Companies like AMES are constantly on the lookout for trained and motivated employees. Therefore it's safe to say that graduates have great career prospects in any area of the aviation industry.
I am
- a doer, not a talker
- open-minded and can deal well with people
- motivated and eager to learn (even after 15 years in the profession)
About my job
My job is very exciting and varied. I get to know many interesting people and companies and have the chance to travel to exotic countries. Studying has broadened my horizon and provides me with the opportunity and knowledge to work in all sectors of the aviation industry. We'll see what the future holds.
“No matter how good you think you are at something, you never stop learning. So keep your eyes and ears open and absorb all the knowledge you can – some day you will need it.”