Mark's Profile

What's the best thing for you about being on the scheme?

The best thing about being on the scheme for me has been the early responsibility that I have enjoyed for various projects from an early stage in my career. For me this has been very important and from day one I feel I have been doing a worthwhile job and making a real difference within the business and the projects that I have worked on. In my opinion this is also the best method of learning and progressing, and because of it I am sure I have developed the necessary skills much quicker.

What skills has the scheme helped you develop?

Since joining the scheme I have been in a predominantly technical role, so my skills in this area have developed quickly, especially following on from a technical degree subject. Perhaps one of the more important skills I feel I have developed on the scheme though is how best to apply these skills to an actual job rather than in an exam hall! This involves many different skills that are required everyday in my role, and I imagine most jobs I will ever do, including the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written, and to work efficiently in a team. Looking back since I first joined the scheme though my confidence has increased enormously and I am sure this is due to the responsibility I have been granted.

Have you achieved anything you’re particularly proud of since working here?

I am pleased with the contribution I have made since joining Sembcorp in October 2005, and working in an important role has given me a real sense of achievement. Rather than picking out one particular activity, I am most proud of the overall contribution I have made and knowing you are making a difference and earning the respect of your colleagues makes a genuine difference to me.

How would you like to see your career developing over the next few years – and where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Achieving chartered engineer status with the IChemE is an important milestone for me, and this involves gaining four years experience in a technical role. Therefore, in the next few years I would see myself staying in a predominantly technical role, but hopefully gaining exposure to other areas of the business while developing management and leadership skills. This should then stand me in good stead to pursue more of a management type role in five years time.

Which areas of the business have you gained experience in?

On a day-to-day basis I am a process engineer within the projects group, so generally do work of a technical nature. More recently though, I have had greater exposure to the commercial side of the business and have been involved with the contract placement stage of a project. I have also regularly been involved in client and vendor meetings. This has been excellent experience and has provided me with a much a greater insight into the commercial aspects of project work.

How has the training on the scheme helped you?

The training, which comes in various different forms, has helped to improve my confidence within my role no end. Whether it is talking with more experienced colleagues, attending in-house training days or going on external courses the training has helped me develop new skills and become a much more effective member of staff. The most important person, when it comes to highlighting areas for improvement, is yourself, and if you think you need specific training Sembcorp will always be willing to help.

What skills do you need to do your job?

Technical knowledge obviously plays a significant part in my role, so it is therefore important to have good mathematical skills and a sound technical degree. Often though problems extend beyond my current knowledge so problem solving skills and knowing how to tackle a tough question are equally vital. People skills and good communication abilities should not be underestimated though and I find that these are required everyday to succeed at Sembcorp.

Has Sembcorp met with your expectations?

In most aspects of my job Sembcorp has both met and exceeded my expectations. When I first joined the company I would never have imagined I would be given the level of responsibility that I have after only one year, but all that shows is; if you are good enough and prove your competency you will be able to take as much responsibility as you feel you’re comfortable with. I always receive the supervision and guidance from more experienced colleagues. Working for Sembcorp has also provided me with varied work, whether it’s working on commissioning a plant or writing scope documents for a new project, there is always a new challenge around the corner!

How would you describe the people you work with?

I have been fortunate enough to act as lead process engineer on a £5 million pound project since joining the company, which has been a great experience, and a steep learning curve! I have also had significant responsibilities on other, even larger projects, and am currently playing a key role in the contract placement of a further multi-million pound project.