Luke Schaenzel
- Age: 24 years
Competitor in Skill: Manufacturing Team Challenge
Country: Australia
How did you get interested in your skill?
I have always known I would have a trade as a career. As a young boy, I was always pulling my toys apart seeing how it all worked and fit together. My Year 9 Career Day was probably the day I decided that I wanted to be an electrician – I just couldn’t walk past the electrician trade station!
Where did you do your training for your skill?
TAFE QLD
How did you first find out about your Member organization and its programs?
My apprenticeship field officer first introduced me to the WorldSkills Australia’s competitions. I was very interested in competing as I enjoy challenging myself and my abilities, and my field officer kept me informed on upcoming events and assisted me with further training and relevant information.
Who influenced you to pursue your skill as a career?
No one really influenced me. I have always been interested where power comes from and how it is used in our lives every day. I had amazing encouragement and support from my family to pursue my dream career and the electrical career path way the one that interested me the most. If you do a job you love you will never work a day in your life and so far that seems true. I love being an electrician.
What is your experience in participating with your Member organization?
My experience has been great in all aspects.
Describe your most memorable moment so far with WorldSkills?
The closing ceremony was probably the most memorable, the atmosphere was fantastic everyone was happy with the results we had all achieved and happy to have made it to the next stage.
Describe what your experience has been since your involvement with WorldSkills
It has been a full on experience, amazing but full on. There is a lot of work involved but it is all worth it. The world skills experience of meeting new people, learning a lot of new skills and being able to travel.
Did participating in the skills competitions and training for WorldSkills help you progress in your skill? Please describe.
I have been able to learn new skills within my trade as well as other trades relating to my field of work. Competing has also helped me with being able to plan operations better, and I have learned how to better my time management skills.
What do you currently do? Where do you work?
I am currently employed full time as a maintenance electrician/ instrumentation technician at Alphapharm pharmaceuticals. I service and maintain the equipment.
What are your future career aspirations?
My current short term goal is to keep learning my trade and gather as much knowledge of the industry as I can. I would also like to apply and gain my contractor’s licence and eventually own my own electrical business. I also hope to gain another qualification relating to my current trade. I am unsure as to where my career path will lead, but perhaps a qualification in data control or distribution.