Carpenter

Photo: ScandinavianStockPhoto, Inger Anne Hulbækdal.

Interview with Jan, who is a carpenter and runs his own business

What kind of education do you have?

I went to technical school where I took the Carpentry, and was an apprentice at a business before I took my qualifying examination. Afterwards I worked at a tinsmith's workshop for two years to learn that trade in addition to Carpentry.

What kind of business do you run?

I started the business together with a friend. I’m a carpenter, and my friend is an electrician. We do repairs, work on new buildings and renovate old houses. We have bought a few old houses, renovated them and sold them. We have a lot to do, so we have hired two carpenters and a painter. We work closely together with an engineer, a plumber and a bricklayer, so all our work is carried out by professionals.

What does your work as a carpenter involve?

My work involves mostly construction and interior fittings as well as renovation. I also lay roofs and install new windows. It’s important to be able to understand working drawings and to make sure that the workers are doing their jobs correctly. I must make sure that the requirements in laws, regulations and standards are being followed in the technical, safety and environmental areas. There is a lot to take into consideration. We often find major defects when we renovate old houses.

Do you like your job?

Oh, yes – absolutely. I have a great variety of tasks. Running a firm is full of challenges, so I need to be independent and creative in order to find good solutions. I also have a lot of responsibility for my employees. The workplace must be safe. I must make sure I can find enough work for them so we don’t have to lay anyone off. Up to now it has gone well.