English:
“Wojciech Mierzwa: ‘I proudly show at home what I have made!'”
This week, we shine a spotlight on a remarkable career changer: Wojciech Mierzwa, who holds a master’s degree in Physical Education from Poland and now works as a CNC machine programmer and operator. We’ll delve into his journey of building a new life in the Netherlands and the shift in his career.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Wojciech, I’m 30 years old, and I was born in Poland. I’ve been living with my girlfriend in Emmeloord for almost 3 years now. I thoroughly enjoy my work as a CNC operator/programmer at MCM; it’s a wonderful and challenging profession. In my free time, I like to go mountain biking; it’s remarkable how even in such a flat country, there are many beautiful hilly routes! I also enjoy gaming.
How did you end up in the Netherlands?
Almost 5 years ago, my sister was seeking adventure; she wanted to work abroad and start a new life. I had just finished my studies and wasn’t entirely sure of my plans, so I decided to join her in this adventure, and we moved to the Netherlands together.
And then?
We ended up in Lelystad, where I found jobs at a window frame factory and a bicycle factory. It was at the latter where I met my girlfriend; those were good times!
At the window frame factory, I felt a lack of challenge; I was doing the same tasks every day, and I didn’t find it fulfilling. My girlfriend lived in Emmeloord, and I decided to move in with her. Once I was living there, I started looking for a new job with more challenges in the Emmeloord area. That eventually led me to MCM, and I’m still very happy with that choice.
You mention a lot of technical jobs, yet you have a different background. How does that fit together?
In Poland, I completed a master’s degree in Physical Education, which is essentially a study of the human body. It’s called ‘Lichamelijke Opvoeding’ in Poland and is a significant and important field there. During that time, I was very active in sports and thought it would be nice to start a career in that area. I grew up in a technical environment at home, where my father was a sort of local blacksmith. I enjoyed helping him and learned to work with technology. It’s a wonderful profession, just like sports. Though I’m not as sporty as I used to be, haha.
So, this profession suits you well?
Absolutely, I really enjoy creating beautiful things. I often take photos of the products I’ve made and proudly show them at home! The job is truly challenging, especially when it comes to programming. It’s new to me, but I’m doing well. I’m mathematically strong, and that’s coming in handy now. I started with programming on one machine and am now learning to program for a second one. Eventually, I want to be able to set up more and more machines, especially the Hurco; it seems very interesting to learn, but also quite challenging!
“I proudly show at home what I have made!”
You mostly speak English; is that an obstacle in your work?
No, not really. My colleagues in the department also speak good English and accommodate for that. Of course, the conversation is not as rich as it would be in my native language, but I manage fine. I try to speak Dutch, and MCM has offered me a course for that, but it’s not an easy language. Some technical terms I only know in Dutch, which is quite funny. I really appreciate how my colleagues adapt; it gives me a good feeling. The atmosphere among us is very pleasant, which certainly adds to the enjoyment of work!