Introducing Janssen, Our Newest Team Member
Three months ago, I hired a new full-time engineer. Right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well I thought it was the middle! Victorians, you wish!
Why wait until now to tell you all? He was on probation of course. He may have been terrible, and I’d have just gotten rid of him and quietly cleaned up our mess!
But he wasn’t terrible, in fact he’s pretty damn good, so we’re another step closer to being Perth’s best bunch of structural engineers (and I reckon, the ones your company needs!)
What was hiring like in the pandemic times, I hear you ask?
It was pretty easy I have to say. We’ve done Zoom interviews before, and the only difference was Janssen showed up at home to start work.
It meant we had to have our onboarding process up to scratch, and our systems clear and easy to follow. Thanks mainly to my trusty assistant Francis, we were pretty sorted and Janssen was on his way to making me a dollar or two! In fact, straight from the start, he spent two weeks up at Telfer doing a whole-plant structural audit.
Remote working meant it was six weeks before I got to meet Janssen in real life. Until then, I’d only seen his head and shoulders!
Now that things are better in the West, and the pubs have re-opened, we all gather every 4 weeks to have a few drinks, and talk about stuff other than work.
I got Janssen to choose the last location, since he’s actually brand new to Perth. We met at a small bar called the Mechanics Institute in Northbridge. Cold, yet cosy, and highly recommended.
But first, we met here, at The Royal in East Perth. Where will it be next?
(That’s David taking the selfie, and Shawn behind him).
Q&A Session
I asked Francis to interview Janssen for this newsletter/blog.
Here’s what they talked about…
How did you find out about Yenem - The most sought after mining structure specialists in WA?
I have learned that my friend, David, is working in Yenem. I looked on the company’s website and I found that Yenem’s portfolio is quite fascinating. Considering my structural design experience in mining and petrochemical facilities, I found interest in being a part of Yenem and I’m glad I did! 😀
When you submitted an application to join us, we knew definitely that you would be joining us. But did John & Dave play that "hard to get" game?
Yes. I was definitely challenged to earn my spot here in Yenem. 😂
Being new to WA, what was your experience flying to site with such short notice? Did you know it was an initiation task? Haha!
I didn’t know that was an initiation task. 😂 That site experience was quite challenging. Imagine telling you on a Friday that you are leaving on Monday going to a mine site (2 hours flight from Perth) for a 14-day structural inspection. Not to mention the site inductions and medical tests you need to fulfil before leaving. Talk about short notice. 😂 But, I definitely enjoyed that experience because it gave me site exposure and I learned a lot of new stuff. 😊
What energizes you outside of work?
Spending time with my wife, Maylene.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Usually after work, Maylene and I go outside to have a run. It somehow helps me to relieve stress from a busy day.
What led you to your civil/structural engineering career?
I was fascinated with how structures are designed and constructed, and it led me to take up civil engineering.
What’s your most hated household chore?
It’s not that I hate it, but I think my least desired chore is cooking. Good thing my wife compliments me on that aspect. 😊
What trend do you hope makes a comeback after this pandemic?
Hanging-out with friends
If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?
1. Messenger – to communicate with my family and friends
2. Spotify – for music
3. Google tasks – used as to-do list
2020 has been kinda tough, but what would you say is your favorite memory so far?
Being in one of the safest places in the world and, at the same time, being employed in Yenem have made this year unforgettable for me.
Cheers Francis & Janssen!
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