Are you new to our company and are you being seconded? Thanks to an extensive induction period, you’ll get off to a great start, says mechanical engineer Patrick Boersma (25). “There’s a lot to take in.”
Completed your training, ready to enter the field. But where? Patrick Boersma wasn’t sure yet. “There’s so much to choose from. And what I enjoy most? I hadn’t quite figured that out yet.” It would be good to explore different options first, Patrick thought. So he decided on secondment and quickly chose FMI ImProvia in Drachten. “A lot of things come together here for me as a mechanical engineer. Think of calculating and analyzing structures, but also designing and the link with our production. The combination of all that is interesting; I can learn a lot from it.”
Getting started quickly
Patrick has been working as a mechanical engineer for our company since the beginning of this year. Initially, he received a three-month induction period, during which he worked alongside his new colleagues. Patrick looks back on it with great satisfaction. “An induction period like that is incredibly valuable, especially for someone starting their first job like me. There’s a lot to take in, and the step into the field isn’t taken lightly. So it’s great when your new colleagues show you the ropes. Thanks to those first few months, I have a better feel for the company. For example, we have a monthly get-together in Drachten. It’s easier to go there if you already know the people.”
Knowledge Safeguarding
Patrick now works in Leeuwarden at the SMI Van der Ploeg machine factory. “They’ve been making a lot of products there for a long time. That’s not a problem for production, but what if employees with a lot of knowledge leave? It was time to safeguard the information. So I’m further developing drawings and improving them where necessary. I’m not currently designing new products, but I am literally close to production. How can we make a product even better or cheaper? And how can my design help with that?” I often discuss it with production; I learn a lot from those insights.
Backup from colleagues
At his current client, Patrick was also given plenty of room to settle in. He was able to observe other departments, allowing him to start more relaxed, and is now reaping the benefits. Moreover, there’s still the backup of colleagues at FMI ImProvia, who regularly contact Patrick. “Our company makes it clear that it’s all about you. And rightly so, I think. A project needs to click on both sides, including you. Our company is well aware of that.”
