Understanding this job ad: Agent care officer

BURN is looking for an Agent Care Officer to join their team. This role is about supporting people, building strong agent networks, and ensuring every agent feels seen, supported, and set up for success. 

Let’s unpack the job ad and help you prepare a strong application

Who is BURN? If you haven’t already, take some time to research BURN. They’re a clean energy company with a strong presence across Africa, known for their energy-efficient cookstoves and commitment to sustainability and innovation. Knowing their mission and products will help you connect your skills with what they stand for, especially since this role directly supports their sales agents in the field. 

Let’s talk about qualifications and experience: 

• A university degree in business administration, marketing, international development, economics, or a related sales-focused area. Does your background match one of these or something close? great. If not, think about any equivalent experience or short courses you’ve taken in these areas. 

• At least one year of work experience in sales. Have you worked in a sales role before? Maybe you supported a sales team, trained others, or worked directly with customers. Pull out that experience and highlight it clearly on your CV. 

Now, let’s look at the core skills they’re asking for and how to reflect them in your application: 

• Communication: You’ll be on daily calls with agents, giving performance feedback, training, and mentoring. Show that you’re a strong communicator. Do you give clear instructions? Can you handle feedback conversations? Mention this. 

• Advanced Excel skills: This is essential. Think pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and being confident working with large datasets. If you're not there yet, consider a quick online refresher course. 

• Planning and organisation: You’ll be managing agent schedules, planning trade activities, and helping agents hit sales targets. Your ability to keep things organised, meet deadlines, and juggle multiple tasks will be important. 

• Teamwork and leadership: You’ll work with Territory Sales Managers, Team Leads, and agents, so being collaborative is key. If you've ever helped onboard someone, trained a new hire, or led a small project, be sure to mention it. 

• Problem-solving and decision-making: Whether it's managing agent performance or solving ticket issues, your ability to troubleshoot and make smart decisions quickly is key. 

• The heart of this role is supporting the agent network. You’re not just doing admin, you’re actively helping agents succeed. If you’ve ever worked in a field-based or sales support role, this is your time to shine. Use examples from your past where you’ve helped others succeed or solved problems on the fly. 

A few final tips: 

• Tailor your CV and cover letter to show how your experience supports agent success, not just your own achievements. 

• Highlight your tech skills, especially in Excel. 

• Mention your interest in BURN’s clean energy work. This shows you’re aligned with their mission. 

• Don’t forget to talk about soft skills like ethics, creativity, and teamwork, they listed them for a reason. 

Lastly, if you’re a woman considering this role, BURN encourages qualified female candidates to apply. If you’re on the fence, take this as a sign. Your perspective and leadership are valued here. 

Guide to job posting in the clean energy sector

Are you interested in sustainability and want to put the skills you’ve learned into practice? Below are some job listings for you to explore. All the best.

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