Be a champion today
By: Veon Careers
Tags: Technology, Social Media, Marketing, Music

2. Hike like you’re in Ahaggar National Park

When you hike through Ahaggar National Park in Algeria, each step builds off the last. Great views will come into your vision. And, if you’re in the right place, you’ll catch a sunset behind Mount Tahat.

Your career should resemble such a wonderful hike. Or, perhaps your career is a wonderful hike if you’re lucky enough to be a pro hiker. Anyway, everything you’re doing should be working towards a beautiful peak or finish. If you ask Kamel about his career, you get this feeling.

Having started with Djezzy in 2006, Kamel first worked as a call center advisor, learning a lot from his direct communications with customers. Then, he took a position as a copywriter for the company before working in advertising management. This eventually led to his role as a Brand & Communications Director today.

Kamel and the team

“Each position has been a step to the next one,” notes Kamel. “I completely understand the vision Djezzy has and I’m getting better and better at fulfilling that vision for this awesome company.”

For Kamel, success hinges on continuous improvement and a willingness to learn and try new things. If you ask him what advice he would give his childhood self, he echoes similar sentiments.

“I would tell myself: Never give up. Learn from your mistakes. Always work on getting better. And be open and listen to others”

Read Kamel’s last tidbit of advice to his childhood self (about listening to others). It brings us to this point: If you are to be a champion, you can’t do it all alone (it’s best to hike through the Ahaggar Mountains with partners, too).

“Reaching your highest potential goes beyond just improving your skills and self-confidence,” asserts Kamel. “You must understand teamwork and know how to work with others to get to where you want to be. That’s why at Djezzy I’m constantly working on building team spirit.”

The new recruitment space at Djezzy

3. Airport signs say “welcome” in all sorts of languages

You’ve probably seen those signs in the international airport that say “welcome” in many of the world’s languages. Kudos to you if you can read all or most of them.

Anyway, the lesson here is that you have to speak to your customers in their language.

Kamel recognized the importance of this while managing copywriting campaigns for Djezzy. That’s because there is a unique mix of languages and dialects used in Algeria.

Throughout Algeria, Berber languages and dialects are spoken. In the north and northeast, you’ll commonly hear Kabyle; in the east, Chaoui is used; in the Algerian Sahara, it’s Tuareg. Arabic is a standard language in Algeria and is the mother tongue for many in the country, which means it’s heard everywhere. French is also used in commerce, government, and education, and is frequently encountered in major cities. In the west, there is even an influence from Spanish.

In many regions, Algerians blend words from other languages with their native tongue, creating their own dialect. This is part of what makes Algeria so magical. But it also makes work as a copywriter more complex.

“We had to use language people were using in their daily lives — because Djezzy is all about connecting to the person,” says Kamel. “We found ways to write customized copy for each region, while maintaining our unifying campaign theme.”

Kamel and the team

To make sure such copywriting campaigns work, Kamel believes in testing and looking at the data. Because you have to speak to the customer on their level.

“For instance, we found out from our Facebook interactions that many users wanted Arabic subtitles for our French press conferences,” describes Kamel. “So now we’re doing that for all our videos.”

So, if you want to succeed with your customers, find the right language and words to reach them. As you make your pitch to them, listen to your customer’s reactions — and adjust accordingly.

4. Cook something special for your customers (literally and figuratively)

“Djezzy wants to connect to Algerians’ lives,” exclaims Kamel. “We have a show called Djezzy CLYC on our YouTube channel. This is where we talk about new product launches, new offers, and more. We’ve also sponsored MasterChef Algeria — a show all about making great food!”

Like Kamel has stated, culinary art is one of the pillars of Djezzy’s brand development. Djezzy sponsors MasterChef so that the company can align its brand with Algerian culture. That means being there when it comes time to discover culinary arts (we want to be there for the delicious meal, too!).

Before you go check out the MasterChef show, which will make you super hungry by the way, understand the deeper meaning here. It’s that you must prepare something special for your customers.

To satisfy your customers, you must give them something they would like. After all, you wouldn’t cook a dish for guests if they hate that dish. This is why Kamel is always looking at the data: He wants to know what his customers like.

The idea here is simple: You cook the flavors your guests prefer (i.e. your customers). If you ignore their tastes, you risk a meal going to waste. Make a dish they like, and you’ll be a champion.

5. Some experts are saying even robots need sleep

Even if you’re actually a robot, you still need sleep. You can’t go at full blast all the time; you’ll burn out before becoming a champion. In fact, some experts are saying that robots do need sleep to function better. So don’t feel bad for taking a break.

“I love spending time with my family and having meals with them,” says Kamel. “I like to play video games, like FIFA. I like to play football with friends and also with my son!”

Again, we’re back at football. We wonder how good robots will be at football. Anyway, you get the point here. If you want to be a champion, take time for rest and fun along the journey. It’s the only way you can reach the pinnacle of excellence.

Keep on pushing towards the top

Kamel has given you his tips on how to be a champion. Now, your mission is to just do it. As you go on your journey, remember the value of persistence — a value Kamel’s team members say he’s instilled in them. Persistence is what will get you to that beautiful destination (well, that and culinary art and football).