Career Profile
Sam Carter
Electrical/Instrument Engineer
I joined the company as an apprentice Electrical Technician as soon as I left school, back in 1995. It wasn’t a random decision. While I was still at school, Dow Corning came in to talk about what they did and the various types of careers that were available there. I was impressed: here was a global not to mention profitable company offering excellent prospects. So, naturally, when I saw the apprenticeship advertised in a local paper I jumped at the chance.
My apprenticeship lasted roughly four years, during which time I obtained a professional qualification in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wales. Dow Corning did more than encourage me, they covered the cost of my tuition fees, which, these days, aren’t cheap. Today I’m a fully-fledged Electrical/Instrument Engineer with responsibility for areas of the plant that deal with elastomers and specialty chemicals. A large part of my role entails trouble-shooting and providing frontline support, though I’m also heavily involved in driving change improvements using Six Sigma techniques. No two days are the same and there are always new challenges to get your teeth into, which for me is one of the best things about the job.
I rate Dow Corning very highly for a number of reasons, one of them being that they are more than willing to invest in their people. In my case, I’ve had Green Belt training in Six Sigma and been on various other courses both here and abroad, all of which have proved extremely useful. Another great thing about Dow Corning is that there are no barriers to how far you can progress within the company - they’re very good at helping you to identify your strengths and map out your future. And because the organisational structure is so flat, you really feel as if you’re part of one big team.
Have I ever considered working elsewhere? Of course, but when I look at everything I’ve got here, as well as all the things I can still achieve, I count myself pretty lucky. It’s good to know which side your bread’s buttered.
