Company: Sage
Function: Sales
Location: Midrand / Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Opportunity Type: Structured Graduate Internship Programme
Duration: 12 Months (Fixed Term)
Program Start Date: 1 October 2026
Closing Date: Immediate / Ongoing Screening
About Sage & The Early Careers Mission
Sage is a global market leader in cloud business management technology, providing millions of small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide with robust accounting, financial, HR, and payroll software solutions. Built on a foundational commitment to innovation, customer success, and absolute inclusivity, Sage empowers local businesses to thrive in a digital economy.
The Sage Sales & Early Careers Division is launching its high-impact, structured 12-Month Intern Program based out of the Midrand corporate campus. This specialized Retention & Renewals Internship is designed to provide entry-level graduates with an experience like no other. Integrated directly into a dynamic commercial sales team, interns will learn how to defend corporate recurring revenue, navigate modern customer relationship databases, and execute premium customer service across various corporate lines of business.
Commercial Scope & Key Responsibilities
Operating as a Trainee Renewals Advisor, the intern will be trained to maintain core company revenue, drive customer retention, and achieve key operational performance indicators (KPIs) across several areas:
1. Customer Communications & System Logging
- Omnichannel Interaction: Execute professional, accurate verbal and written interactions with active clients across email and telephonic communication channels.
- System Tracking: Ensure all client interactions, retention negotiations, and feedback metrics are systematically captured and updated within internal software databases.
- Product Advisory: Communicate live product updates, feature developments, and tech enhancements to existing customers, channeling potential up-selling leads directly to relevant sales departments.
2. Incident Escalation & Timeline Management
- Incident Resolution: Track, manage, and resolve customer service inquiries, account disputes, and service escalations.
- KPI Alignment: Adhere strictly to departmental turnaround times and stipulated resolution timelines outlined in the service desk KPIs.
3. Retention Architecture & Data Administration
- Cancellation Categorization: Capture and audit client cancellation categories accurately, aligning datasets directly with Sage departmental retention guidelines.
- Data Governance: Comply with internal administrative and software data mandates—verifying that service downgrade forms are correctly submitted, re-invoice requests are executed, and active digital contracts are accepted.
- Channel Renewals: Assist senior sales consultants with the annual channel renewal cycles to hit or exceed designated corporate retention rates.
Candidate Profile & Baseline Eligibility Criteria
To satisfy Sage’s strict compliance and audit parameters for entry-level talent, applicants must strictly match the following profile:
- Basic Education: A valid Grade 12 / Matric certificate.
- Tertiary Qualification: A completed National Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Management, or a closely related commercial academic discipline.
- Experience Baseline: ⚠️ Pure Graduate Filter: Must have no prior working experience and must never have completed a previous internship or corporate graduate programme.
- Background Screening: Must possess a clear criminal record.
- Software Competency: Practical ability to work within the Microsoft Office suite. Foundational knowledge of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software systems is highly advantageous.
Required Behavioral & Cognitive Competencies
- Analytical Execution: Exceptional attention to detail combined with a strong customer service ethic and troubleshooting capabilities.
- Resilience Under Pressure: Deadline-driven with the distinct emotional capability to work independently under minimal supervision inside a fast-paced environment.
- Growth Mindset: Teachable, genuinely hungry for professional knowledge, and highly adaptable to rapid organizational shifts.
The Sage Multi-Stage Selection Process
Sage utilizes a science-backed, bias-free recruitment funnel. Applicants should prepare to navigate the following milestones:
[ Step 1: Online Application via CV ]
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[ Step 2: Harver Gamified Science Assessment ]
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[ Step 3: Automated Video Interview Record ]
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[ Step 4: Live On-Site Assessment Centre ]
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[ Step 5: Formal Offer & Onboarding (1 Oct 2026) ]
- The Harver Assessment: Once your CV is logged, you will receive an invitation to complete a gamified, science-driven behavioral assessment via Harver. This evaluates value alignment while completely removing unconscious bias from the screening loop.
- Video Interview Phase: If your cognitive profile matches, you will be invited to record a digital video interview responding to key customer scenarios.
- The Assessment Centre: Successful video applicants will be invited to a final, collaborative on-site Assessment Centre with Sage sales leaders.
Career Advice for Sage Applicants
- Prepare for the Gamified Assessment: The Harver phase evaluates behavioral traits like cooperation, willingness, and problem-solving. Find a quiet space with zero distractions, read the rules of each mini-game carefully, and don’t rush—it tracks your natural decision-making style.
- Highlight Your Customer Service Ethic: Since this is a retention role, use your CV’s personal summary or varsity project descriptions to prove you understand customer centricity. Mentioning student leadership, retail part-time jobs, or varsity club admin work is highly effective.
- Showcase Your Hybrid Capabilities: Because Sage operates a hybrid office model, emphasize your self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision while staying aligned with team targets via digital communication platforms.
Sample Interview Preparation Questions
Commercial Sourcing & Revenue Preservation Questions
- Question (Handling Account Cancellations): “A long-term business customer contacts the renewals desk requesting a total cancellation of their accounting software subscription because they find it too expensive. Walk us through how you would handle this call, investigate their usage data, and offer alternative options like a product downgrade before accepting the cancellation.”
- Question (Data Logging Accuracy): “The job description mentions correctly capturing cancellation categories and system documentation. Why is it vital for a cloud software company like Sage to have 100% accurate system records for why clients choose to downgrade or leave?”
Behavioral & Selection Process Questions
- Question (Thriving in an Assessment Centre): “If your video interview is successful, you will attend a group Assessment Centre. How do you plan to demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and operate as an active team player when solving a fast-paced business case study alongside other candidates?”
- Question (Managing Deadline Pressure): “As a Renewals Intern, you will be tracking monthly targets while handling sudden client escalations. Can you share an example of a high-pressure situation during your tertiary studies where you had to prioritize multiple urgent tasks under tight deadlines without dropping the quality of your work?”
How to Apply
To secure an invitation to the Sage early careers recruitment track before the 1 October 2026 launch window, submit your digital portfolio immediately.
Compile your Comprehensive CV and Certified Qualifications into a single, high-contrast PDF document, and log your file through the official Sage global career terminal or your integrated platform portal.