Schneider Electric – Sales Apprentice Programme

Schneider Electric is inviting unemployed South African graduates and early-career professionals to apply for its Sales Apprentice Programme.

The programme provides structured learning and practical experience in sales, customer engagement and business development within Schneider Electric’s Home Solutions business.

Important: Applicants must have completed a relevant commercial or technical National Diploma or undergraduate degree at a registered South African institution. The position is hybrid and requires a willingness to travel.

At a glance

What this opportunity is

The Sales Apprentice Programme is aimed at unemployed graduates and early-career professionals who want to build careers in sales and customer-facing commercial roles.

Participants will combine structured sales training with practical workplace experience. They will learn how to find prospective customers, build relationships, promote Home Solutions products and support Schneider Electric’s channel and retail partners.

The vacancy is classified as an intern position. Although its title uses the word “apprentice,” the official advert does not identify a registered trade, NQF qualification or occupational certificate awarded upon completion.

What participants will learn

• How to prospect for potential customers.
• How to identify new sales opportunities.
• Customer-relationship development.
• Promotion of Schneider Electric Home Solutions products.
• Lead and sales-pipeline generation.
• Product presentations and demonstrations.
• Support for channel and retail partners.
• Management of customer enquiries.
• Use of customer relationship management systems and sales processes.
• Commercial and negotiation skills.

Minimum requirements

• Be a South African citizen.
• Be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Be currently unemployed.
• Not be participating in another learnership or internship programme.
• Have completed a relevant commercial or technical National Diploma or undergraduate degree.
• Have obtained the qualification through a registered institution in South Africa.
• Be willing to travel.
• Have basic Microsoft Office skills.
• Have good verbal and written communication skills.

A valid driver’s licence is advantageous but is not listed as a compulsory requirement.

Relevant fields of study

The advert requires a related commercial or technical qualification but does not provide a definitive list of accepted fields.

Potentially relevant qualifications may include sales, marketing, business management, commerce, electrical engineering or another closely related technical discipline. This is an interpretation of the broad requirement and does not guarantee that every qualification in these fields will be accepted.

Applicants should enter the complete name of their qualification and institution when applying. Do not select or claim a qualification that you have not completed.

Key responsibilities

Prospecting and business development

• Identify and engage potential customers.
• Generate qualified sales leads.
• Conduct cold-calling and customer-outreach activities.
• Build and maintain a sales pipeline.

Customer engagement

• Visit customers and channel partners.
• Understand customer needs.
• Recommend appropriate solutions.
• Deliver product presentations and demonstrations.
• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships.

Sales support

• Assist with quotations and sales proposals.
• Support promotional campaigns and activations.
• Record and track opportunities using CRM tools.
• Follow up on customer enquiries.
• Support channel and retail partners.

Learning and development

• Participate in structured sales training.
• Complete assigned learning activities.
• Apply the knowledge gained during field activities.
• Maintain professional standards.
• Uphold Schneider Electric’s values.

Who Schneider Electric is looking for

The ideal applicant is ambitious, energetic and interested in developing a career in sales. Applicants should enjoy meeting people and feel comfortable initiating conversations with prospective customers.

• Interest in sales, technology and energy-management solutions.
• Confidence when communicating with new people.
• Ability to respond positively to rejection.
• Motivation to achieve results.
• Strong customer focus.
• Willingness and ability to learn.
• Professional conduct.
• Commercial awareness.
• Relationship-building ability.

Work arrangement and travel

The vacancy is listed as hybrid, meaning participants may work through a combination of workplace and remote activities. It should not be treated as a fully remote programme.

Customer and channel-partner visits form part of the responsibilities, and applicants must be willing to travel. A driver’s licence may strengthen an application because of these field-based duties, although the advert lists it only as advantageous.

The advert gives the primary location only as South Africa. It does not identify a particular city, office, travel area or relocation arrangement.

Programme duration and stipend

The official vacancy does not state the programme’s duration, starting date or number of available positions.

It also does not disclose whether participants will receive a stipend, salary, commission, travel allowance or employee benefits. Applicants should confirm the compensation and contractual conditions if shortlisted.

Documents to prepare

• An updated and professional CV.
• A copy of your South African identity document, if requested.
• Your completed National Diploma or degree certificate.
• A complete academic record, if requested.
• A copy of your valid driver’s licence, if applicable.
• Accurate details of previous internships, volunteer work or employment.
• A reliable cellphone number and professional email address.

Your CV should clearly show the complete name of your qualification, the institution where it was obtained and the completion date. Highlight relevant sales, customer-service, technical, computer and presentation experience accurately.

Application checklist

• Confirm that you are a South African citizen.
• Confirm that you are between 18 and 35 years old.
• Confirm that you are currently unemployed.
• Make sure you are not enrolled in another internship or learnership.
• Check that your qualification is commercial, technical or closely related.
• Show the exact qualification title on your CV.
• Mention your Microsoft Office skills.
• Include relevant customer-service or sales exposure.
• Add your driver’s licence details if you have one.
• Confirm that you are willing to travel.
• Check that your cellphone number and email address are correct.
• Complete the official online application fully.

Need assistance preparing your CV or application documents? Visit our Learnership Resources and Guides.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is an international energy-technology company specialising in electrification, automation and digitisation. Its solutions support the efficient and sustainable management of energy in homes, buildings, data centres, infrastructure and industrial operations.

Learn more through the official Schneider Electric South Africa website.

Quick tips for applicants

• Apply as soon as possible because the vacancy is open until filled.
• Tailor your CV towards sales, customer engagement and business development.
• Highlight relevant commercial or technical modules.
• Mention presentations, projects or activities involving customer interaction.
• Include any experience using Microsoft Office or CRM systems.
• Show that you are comfortable speaking to new customers.
• Do not claim professional sales experience if you do not have it.
• Keep confirmation of your submitted application.

Common application mistakes

• Applying without a completed National Diploma or undergraduate degree.
• Failing to state the complete qualification name.
• Applying while participating in another internship or learnership.
• Assuming that the programme is fully remote.
• Failing to mention willingness to travel.
• Uploading an outdated or incomplete CV.
• Leaving required sections of the online profile incomplete.
• Waiting for a fixed closing date when the position is open until filled.

Scam warning

Apply only through Schneider Electric’s official careers platform.

• Do not pay anyone for an application, interview, assessment or programme placement.
• Do not share banking PINs, passwords or one-time PINs.
• Do not trust anyone who guarantees selection in exchange for money.
• Confirm that the programme title is Sales Apprentice Program.
• Confirm that the official job ID is 2026-130580.
• Upload identity and qualification documents only through a secure official application process.
• Be cautious of messages sent from unofficial email addresses or social-media accounts.

How this opportunity was verified

This opportunity was verified using Schneider Electric’s official careers listing for the Sales Apprentice Program, job ID 2026-130580.

The official listing confirmed the South African location, hybrid work model, age criteria, citizenship requirement, unemployment requirement, qualification criteria, travel requirement and programme responsibilities.

The vacancy does not state a fixed closing date, programme duration, stipend, start date, exact office location, number of positions or qualification awarded after completion.

Read more about our process on the How We Verify Listings page.

How to apply

1. Open the official Schneider Electric application page below.
2. Confirm that the title is Sales Apprentice Program.
3. Confirm that the job ID is 2026-130580.
4. Read the complete official job description.
5. Select the option to apply.
6. Create a candidate profile or sign in to an existing profile.
7. Enter your personal and contact information accurately.
8. Add your completed commercial or technical qualification.
9. Upload your updated CV and any requested supporting documents.
10. Answer all eligibility questions honestly.
11. Review the application before submitting it.
12. Keep a copy or screenshot of the submission confirmation.

Application closing date

No fixed closing date is provided. Schneider Electric states that the position will remain posted until it is filled.

Eligible applicants should apply as soon as their CV and qualification documents are ready. The vacancy may be removed once Schneider Electric has identified sufficient suitable candidates.