Mark de Wolf Trainee

‘After my thesis subject I was allowed to stay’

"I have been working for Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for approx. 3 months now. In the six months prior to that, I was working on my thesis subject for my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. I was happy that I could stay on. I am presently following a shipbuilding course for higher vocational education one-day a week; on the other days I work in the Proposal department."
 

"During my subject thesis I worked for the same department. I worked on a mooring and retaining system for landing crafts. It is fun to see that the results of my research are actually being used. In our department we work on the proposal process. This, of course, is an extensive field. Think budgets, planning, rough drawings and many calculations for the various installations and systems. We have about 5 people working on one proposal. Everyone has their own expertise; the shipbuilder, the mechanical engineer, the electrician. Eventually, my job will be proposal engineer. In that position I will be responsible for shipbuilding and mechanical engineering."

 

Diversity

 

"It was great that DSNS offered to let me stay on after I completed my study. I initially had plans to work for a machine factory. Now I realise that the activities in that job would be a lot more monotonous. The ships we build are a world in and of themselves. In this job, I am involved in many aspects thereof. Sometimes it may involve engines, other times we are talking about fire safety. And who would have thought that occasionally complete hospitals have to be built on board?! For a technician like myself the variation, in combination with the strong innovative force that DSNS is, makes this job perfect."

 

Future

 

"I grasped the opportunity to continue studying with both hands. I think it is great that my employer invests in me in that way. Naturally it entails that I am expected to stay on for a few years. But, I don't see that as a problem. As far as the work in my department is concerned, I can say that I still have a lot to learn. Moreover, the company offers tremendous career opportunities. It is safe to say that I still have plenty of opportunities here. Right now, I am completely happy with my job; I am really having a good time."

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