Dom's Story: No job, no clue, world’s worst interview (6/8)

I’d just finished my Siemens apprenticeship. One of the first of its kind in the UK.

To be fair, a lot of it wasn’t really set up for what we actually needed offshore. The college part was a mix of random modules - I remember wiring up domestic sockets when what we really needed was proper industrial training.

Still, I’d spent three solid years offshore by the end. Travelling the country, working on turbines, grafting alongside some top lads, and learning on the job.

The only problem? When the apprenticeship ended, there was no guaranteed job.

The interview that floored me

So I started applying, and landed an interview with Senvion. 💪

I walked in feeling alright about it. Honestly, I thought it would be simple. They’d probably ask: “Have you worked on turbines? Have you done this, done that?” I’d say yes. Great, you’ve got the job.

That was what I expected.

Instead, they sat me down at a table. Handed me a few components and a wiring diagram.

My mind went completely blank.

They asked me about symbols, how the circuit worked, what the components did. Basic questions really. And I couldn’t answer a single one. Not one.

I could feel my face burning. I could see them glancing at each other, giving each other that look. The one that says: “Is this really the standard of Siemens apprentices?”

It was painful. I honestly think they cut the interview short because they felt embarrassed for me.

When it wrapped up, they gave me the line everyone dreads:

Yeah, right.

I walked out mortified. Gutted. Asking myself, what have I actually learned in four years?

The truth is, I had learned. I just hadn’t been taught in a way that tied it all together. There’s a massive difference between following instructions offshore and actually understanding how systems work.

A second chance with Siemens

A few months later, Siemens offered me a role as a travelling tech.

That’s where I realised offshore isn’t just about what you know. It’s about character.

• Can people trust you?

• Can you do the job safely?

• Can you adapt to constant changes: teams, sites, weather?

I spent a few months on the road, bouncing from site to site. I was desperate to build my technical knowledge, take on more responsibility, and prove I was competent.

But it wasn’t easy. Constant travel meant I never stayed anywhere long enough to really dig into the details. The Siemens Level 5 course was the best training I’d had so far, but even then, I still felt like I needed more.

At the same time, my priorities were shifting. I was playing rugby at a decent level, but with all the travel, I couldn’t hold my place in the starting XV. Something had to give.

A chance conversation that changed everything

Not long after, I was back at the training centre refreshing my safety tickets.

I was chatting with one of the trainers I knew well - by then, after four years with Siemens, I had a decent relationship with most of them.

He said:

The Senvion interview was still fresh in my mind. I didn’t think I was capable of training people if I couldn’t even answer a wiring diagram myself.

Then he said something that probably changed my life:

That hit home. I thought about rugby, mentoring younger players, guiding them. I thought about new techs on site who I’d shown the ropes. I knew I could do that. And, more importantly, I enjoyed doing that.

Taking the leap

So I put my name forward.

I interviewed with the training centre managers. And I got the job.

Later, I found out there’d been some debate about taking me on. I clearly wasn’t the most technical or the most experienced. But I could connect with people. I could help them. And they could see that.

So I stepped into my role as a trainer at the Siemens centre in Newcastle.

And with that came a whole new challenge.

Next week: "None of this was planned - Part 7/8: Finding my passion." How stepping into training went from “not for me” to the thing that’s shaped everything since.