Every day, he drives his green Gpi bus to client locations in the Netherlands and abroad. Since 2017, Joey van den Berg (25) has been working as a field service technician at Gpi, a job that requires a lot of dedication. What motivates him: “I think there is no job with as much variety as this one.”
As a field service technician, Joey is responsible for placing and installing tanks at the customer’s site. Joey explains: “First, we check if everything arrives well after transportation. Then, we place the tanks securely and anchor them to the foundation. If necessary, we attach cage ladders and secure platforms. Sometimes, we are only asked to supervise during installation, and other times, adjustments to a tank are needed.”
Background
Joey initially followed a graphics course to learn how to make games, but that didn’t turn out to be his thing. He wanted to work with his hands and, after attending open days at the ROC Netherlands and Gpi, he decided on the course for construction worker. This training route is an apprenticeship program (BBL) where you spend 80% of your time working. Joey talks about Gpi as his training company: “Gpi became my training company, and I started immediately as a field service technician. Combining education with fieldwork wasn’t very convenient. On school days, I was often far from home, and I frequently found myself doing homework in a hotel at night. But with flexibility from all parties involved, we made it work.” After completing the 3-year program, Joey expanded his knowledge with training as a technical supervisor, where he learned about leadership, inventory management, and safety: “This knowledge aligns well with my work as a field service technician.”
No day is the same
Joey describes how each day can be different: “Sometimes we install just one tank, and other times it’s a series of fourteen tanks. Some customers are nearby, but we also frequently travel to customers in the UK, Scandinavia, and Germany. For example, we might stay there from Monday to Friday, and occasionally we stay for a few weeks for a large project. So, you have to be flexible. Usually, two of us from Gpi travel together in a van to a job. At Gpi Tanks, we have four field service technicians. Depending on the size of the job and the schedule, we might go with one or two vans.”
What a working day can look like
Here’s how a day as a technician might look like: “I arrive at Gpi at 6:00 AM to gather the necessary equipment, prepare, and start with a cup of coffee. Then, I depart with a colleague to a customer in Groningen. Today, we are installing four tanks. Around 9:00 AM, we arrive, have a coffee with the customer, and arrange the permit describing the work we will perform. Then, we can get started. The tanks have arrived at the customer location by trucks. We inspect for any transport damage. If everything is okay, we, along with the transport and crane companies, place the tanks one by one on the designated foundation. Once the tanks are properly positioned, we drill holes and glue the anchoring. If all tanks are anchored by around 4:00 PM, we pack up our gear and drive back to Lopik. However, this could be a few hours later if the day doesn’t go smoothly.”
A new challenge every day
Joey finds the best part of his job to be the daily emergence of new challenges. He explains, “You’re constantly working with different people, and each company has its own atmosphere. You find yourself in different places every day, never knowing exactly what to expect or what obstacles you might encounter. While some clients’ projects run smoothly, there are times when we’ve had to enlarge a hole in a roof because the tank wouldn’t fit through. We experience a bit of everything. It’s incredibly satisfying when things don’t fit in the morning, and by the end of the day, we’ve solved it all. That’s what makes the job so enjoyable.”
Future
In the coming years, Joey is well-placed at Gpi as a field service technician. He doesn’t deny that the job impacts his personal life: “During the weekdays, I don’t schedule any activities in the evenings, and my girlfriend finds it unpleasant when I’m away for long periods. Recently, we bought a house near her family, which is convenient for her when I’m frequently away from home.” Still, Joey wouldn’t want it any other way at the moment: “Jobs where you work in the same place every day, always have your breaks at the same time, those don’t make me happy. I’m constantly at different locations, working with different people in various sectors, and every day brings new challenges and adventures. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
