In 2023, Laurie Daniel decided it was time to make a 180-degree turn in her life. “I felt like I had seen and done all I possibly could in my line of work. The hectic pace and inconsistent schedules, changes in planning, the difficulty of the job… I wanted to close this chapter of my life on a positive note, before the exhaustion got the better of me.” A hospital nursing auxiliary for over 10 years, Laurie was assigned to patients in palliative care when she decided to make a change. She now works as an onboard electrician.
In her search for a career change, she heard about the Union of metalworking industries and trades (UIMM) and the CQPM to qualify as an electrician. “I was told that my profile was a match. I’ve always liked working with my hands and was thinking about going into robotics. Ultimately, things went really quickly with Naval Group. I went through the job interviews, attended a job dating event and a few weeks later learned that I had been selected!”
Laurie had the opportunity to join the electrical teams as an interim a few weeks before the start of her training and get a better understanding of her future job. “This gave me the opportunity to get my bearings on site, meet my colleagues, familiarise myself with the tools of the trade and get acquainted with the environment. This was a real plus!”
Now with a permanent contract in hand, she looks back at her experience a year down the line, “I'm really happy to be a part of Naval Group after taking this rather radical, but successful career change. The team is great and my tutor, who accompanied me throughout the year, was an indispensable part of my training. I now work in tandem with a colleague. My confidence is boosted on a daily basis and I am now capable of performing various tasks independently. I have absolutely no regrets!”