We have a number of staff who are actually EDC Returners, who come back to us with new perspectives often after taking time off to travel or work abroad.
Learn why Tom decided to return to EDC.
It is important at EDC what the relationship with our people is something that lasts past the day that someone walks out the door of EDC. This was certainly the case for Tom.
Tom was originally an Electrical Design Engineer in the Cork Office, and after several years away, he’s returned as a Senior Electrical Engineer with new skills and more importantly new perspectives that we can utilise and integrate with our current team.
How was it starting during lockdown?
Starting during lockdown was always going to be challenging, but I found the integration into the company was seamless due to the well-organised onboarding, and also the use of daily team huddles. It really allowed me to hit the ground running with getting to know my colleagues and importantly gaining an in-depth understanding of the projects I was to work on.
EDC has made a point to make everyone feel as though they are still in an office environment even though we are working remotely. The cooperation of colleagues has been fantastic. Any questions I had about company policies or procedures it was just a Teams call way.
What is the biggest change you have found on returning to EDC?
What I have really enjoyed about returning to EDC is the team culture, the use of technology, innovation and the opportunity for career development. EDC has grown even in the 5 years I have been gone and so there is a wide range of opportunities available to me to grow my skill set and move forward in my career.
The biggest change I noticed was the company forums that have been set up with the aid of programmes like Microsoft Teams and Sharepoint. It really brings all the offices together and is a great way of having technical discussions.
"I originally left EDC to pursue my career down the contracting route as I had more experience in this sector at the time. I wanted to learn more about the installation of major projects and gain more experience on commercial projects and increase my project management skills."
"What I have really enjoyed about returning to EDC is the team culture, the use of technology, innovation and the opportunity for career development. EDC has grown even in the 5 years I have been gone and so there is a wide range of opportunities available to me to grow my skill set and move forward in my career."
What is a typical day like for you?
There is always something new that arises within the projects I am working on so that keeps me on my toes, but broadly speaking, as a Senior Engineer my role is to ensure the team is on track with project design (including my own). A large portion of the day would be dedicated to clients whether that be in the form of technical queries on live projects or attending project meetings and overseeing site visits. I have found from my time away from EDC in a contracting capacity that it has honed my skills with regard to client communication and project management. The smoother these 2 pieces run, the better it is for the overall project.
What are your goals over the next 12 to 24 months for yourself?
My aim over the 12-24 months is to complete my masters and continue to upskill in the technical areas of the job such as fire alarm design, emergency lighting design & LV distribution design. These are areas that are of particular interest to me.
What are you looking forward to in the future with EDC?
Coming back into the company from several years away I can really see with fresh eyes how the company is pushing the envelope with its technological databases and infrastructure. I feel it is leading the way in the market and this will only create further opportunities in the future and I want to be a part of this journey.
If you could do any project that your heart desired, what would be your ideal project?
A project that requires a sophisticated access control/security system is definitely up there for a challenge. I also have a keen interest in lighting control systems now that smart building technology advances and is becoming more manageable via building automation software.
If you were to describe EDC and your time with EDC in 3 words, what would they be?
Collaborative, Innovative and Fast-paced
