Skilled Trades colleague
“What I like is the variety. When you’re abroad, you could be refurbishing an office or fitting out a new secure area. It could be painting or fitting a door, and you’re constantly using different tools and skills. Then, at the same time, you’re seeing new countries; different places you’d never expect to go.
Plus, because you’re over there anyway, you get to help other trades as well, and you end up being multi-skilled. To me, that’s a really attractive part of the job: you learn so much that you might not otherwise.
You get access to a lot of courses too. There’s so much available in-house, like training in safety overseas, for example, and you’re supported to go on other training modules too. I’ve just done a minor works course, so that I can do some small bits of electrical works while I’m onsite. It’s great to build up your knowledge.
You could be painting or fitting a door, and you’re constantly using different tools and skills.
As a carpenter, it’s surprising how much you get to be involved in organising your own jobs and being part of the management process. You wouldn’t always get that opportunity in the kind of work we do: some companies, the job’s laid out for you and you just go and carry it out. You get more of a say in the way things are run here – the materials you need, the tools you need – which means you get the chance to improve things and have your voice heard as an experienced professional.
As a carpenter, it’s surprising how much you get to be involved in organising your own jobs and being part of the management process.
On that, you also get the chance here to take on new responsibilities. Everyone gets the opportunity to be a team leader and run their own projects. In a recent project in Muscat, for instance, I had the chance to oversee things on my own, and that kind of opportunity gives you the chance to take a step up in your career.”
