2027 Field Representative Development Program

Career Area:

Sales

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Kickstart Your Global Career With Caterpillar®

At Caterpillar, we do more than build machines — we build the future. When you join us, you become part of a global community of creators, problem‑solvers, and innovators committed to shaping stronger, more sustainable communities around the world.

If you're driven, curious, and ready to make an impact early in your career… this is where your journey begins.

🌍 About the Program

The Field Representative Development Program is your launchpad into a high‑impact career at Caterpillar. Over 1 to 2 years, you’ll get hands‑on experience, world‑class training, and a front‑row seat to how we partner with our Cat® Dealers to serve customers worldwide.

Program Details:

Start Date: February 1st, 2027

Location: Johannesburg

Work Format: Full time (40 hrs / week), onsite 5 days per week

What to Expect / Structure of the Program:

📘 1. Training in a cohort — Your First 3 Months: You’ll kick off your career in an immersive learning experience where you will:

Dive into Caterpillar products, services, and industry strategies

Build influential communication and leadership skills

Connect with a global network of peers + mentors

Visit dealers across the EAME and Central Asia region

Gain a deep understanding of what makes Caterpillar… Caterpillar

🔄 2. Rotational Assignments (12-18 months): Jump into meaningful roles across the organization to:

Learn how our business operates from different angles

Develop a broad technical and commercial skillset

Work on strategic projects that go beyond the classroom

Prepare for a customer‑facing field role

🎯 3. Your Next Step — Field Rep Opportunities: Once you graduate from the program, you’re ready to step into a field‑based role supporting Cat Dealers and customers.

Opportunities at the end of the Program:

1. Product Support Operations Representative: Increasing operational efficiency through the prioritization and execution of projects.

Assist Cat Dealerships in increasing operational efficiency

Focus on improving a dealership's ability to efficiently service customer equipment, manage parts inventory, and leverage digital tools and platforms

Execute the ability to learn about a wide range of technical and business-related topics such as machine repair logistics, IT and digital platforms, logistics, and business finances

Liaise and cultivate trust between Caterpillar and Cat Dealers by helping the dealer prioritize and execute projects

2. Sales Representative: As a Sales Representative you will have responsibility for the support, marketing, and sales of machines or engines throughout the machine/engine sales cycle as well as driving revenue and growth for the aftermarket solutions business in line with industry strategy in the assigned territory. You will counsel dealers to develop and increase their performance, provide guidance on existing and potential customer service issues and improvement measures within an industry as well as assist dealers on forecast, sales strategy planning and sales techniques. You will also support the rollout of new products, analyze and communicate marketplace and competitive activity, and analyze product application, configuration, and utilization.

🌟 Why You’ll Love This Program:

A personalized development plan tailored to your strengths & ambitions

A dedicated coach guiding you throughout your journey

Hands‑on technical, commercial, and soft‑skill training

International exposure + opportunity to live abroad for a rotation

A clear path to impactful roles across the business

A chance to shape the customer experience for one of the world’s most iconic brands

🎓 Who We’re Looking For:

Program Qualifications:

A degree in Marketing, Sales, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field — or equivalent experience

Ability to travel up to 30–70% depending on assignments

Willingness to live abroad for up to 3 months for training/rotation

Fluent in English

Valid passport through August 2027

Skills That Make You Stand Out

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – Ability to analyze complex situations, identify root causes, and develop effective, actionable solutions.

Communication & Stakeholder Management – Skilled at conveying information clearly and building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to ensure alignment and engagement.

Learning Agility & Adaptability – Quick to learn, open to feedback, and able to adapt effectively to changing priorities, environments, and technologies.

Digital & Data Literacy – Ability to leverage digital tools and interpreting data to support decision‑making and drive efficiency. Proficiency in MS Office / O365: Ability to build simple dashboards or visualizations (e.g., Power BI, Excel advanced features) and comfort cleaning, interpreting, or summarizing data sets.

Teamwork & Collaboration – Strong collaborator who fosters trust, contributes to shared goals, and works effectively across diverse teams and functions.

What you might have:

Experience supporting or leading small projects (university, internship, or extracurricular).

Experience studying, working, or volunteering in a multicultural environment or abroad.

Leadership roles in student organizations, tech clubs, community groups, or volunteering.

🎁 What You Gain

Coaching & mentorship from industry experts

A strong peer network you’ll grow with professionally

Access to Caterpillar’s global knowledge and innovation ecosystem

Exposure to strategic projects across the organization

A career path designed for long‑term growth

🧭 Next Steps in the Recruitment Process

We want your candidate experience to be transparent, engaging, and reflective of the skills you'll use at Caterpillar. Here’s what you can expect:

HR Motivational Video Interview - The interview will be held online via Microsoft Teams. This helps us get to know you beyond your CV — your story, mindset, motivation and passion.

Business Interview (Targeted Selection Methodology): If you pass the HR screening, you’ll meet with business leaders for a structured behavioral interview. This interview focuses on real examples of how you’ve demonstrated several skills described in the job advert.

Business Acumen Interview: Finally, you’ll participate in a conversation designed to understand how you think in real time. Expect: On‑the‑spot business case questions, assessing how you prioritize, analyze, and decide. These questions will explore your critical thinking, structure, and reasoning and will provide insight into how you approach ambiguous situations. This is not about having the “perfect answer” — it’s about showing us how you think .

📬 Ready to Build the Future With Us?

• Check your email regularly (including spam folders!) for updates on your application.
• You can also track your progress through your candidate portal anytime.

About Caterpillar:

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer ne