SPIE INTERVIEW EN

1. At the age of 34, after previously working in the banking sector and later as an executive assistant,
Anaïs Ollivier is moving towards the job of electrician. She now has a work/study contract
at SPIE Ouest-Centre, near Nantes in western France, and studies Electrical Engineering.
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INTERVIEWS
WITHOURSO SPIEPEOPLE
“I’m in the process
of retraining!”
Tell us about your career path.
Anaïs Ollivier: I originally graduated in Asset Management and worked in the banking sector,
and I then became an executive assistant. But one day, I decided I wanted a more technical
profession. I got fascinated by the idea of being an electrician when my apartment was being
renovated. I had a skills assessment and did a couple of internships and I was hooked! Since
August 2017, I’ve been studying Electrical Engineering with a work/study contract at SPIE
Ouest-Centre.
What are your duties?
A.O.:I’vebeenassignedtoashipyardwhereI’mworkingonnewsubmarines.Myworkconsists
of routing cables, connecting up wiring in the electrical cabinets, welding the connectors,
and so on. In this profession, you need a good team spirit, and you have to be inquiring,
rigorous and meticulous. We have very demanding customers and the quality of the work
has to meet their expectations.
What support have you received during your apprenticeship?
A.O.: My tutor is a Business Manager, but it’s the Worksite Manager who offers me support
with accomplishing my tasks. The whole team made me very welcome and everybody’s playing
a part in my training. To the extent that my colleagues are encouraging me to pursue my
studies in Industrial Control and Automatic Regulation in order to increase my skills.