There are literally thousands of vocational training courses – why did you decide to become a timber engineer, of all things?

I just like wood as a material and I had already gained quite a bit of experience working with it. That is why I definitely wanted to do something with wood for a living! The company Capron is perfect for me – it is based here in my home town of Neustadt in Saxony and enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the region.

What skills are necessary in this job?

Well, you shouldn't be all thumbs; you should have a talent for working with your hands. Computer skills are very helpful when you use the CNC machines. Being good at maths is also an advantage as you have to calculate all sorts of things.

What happens over the three years of the course?

In the first year, you spend some time in each area along the production line. In the second year of the training course, we focus above all on side wall manufacturing and furniture prefabrication. In the third year, we are mainly preparing for our final exams, although we are also actively involved in prefabrication and manufacturing. By the end of the course, we will have acquired a sound knowledge of all areas. I hope that I will pass my exams and will be offered a job here afterwards.

What are the best moments?

I enjoy the cabinet making jobs most; they are really varied. Being trained how to use a new machine is also always quite exciting. I also like the fact that we become actively involved in the manufacturing process at such an early stage, and that the shift leaders take time for the vocational trainees.

What would be your tips for school leavers interested in completing their vocational training with us?

Don't let the fact that you maybe live a long way away stop you. Capron even offers accommodation in shared rooms with a big common room to give young people who live further away the chance of vocational training.