What You Do Is Who You Are

Erwin Goliath decided to become a full-time joiner after he completed Grade 10 but did not get the required marks to go to university. He acquired his skills through doing odd jobs with his brother until he landed a job with Howard’s Joiners in 2009. He says he has fallen in love with what he does. Here is his how he describes his job.

What does a joiner do?

We basically fit in all kinds of cupboards in offices and at residences. The fit ranges from kitchen cupboards, living room cabinets, office drawers, tables and office cabinets. We even do wooden ceilings. Sometimes you are also required to fix broken cupboards and so on.

Briefly describe your normal day at work

I work for a big company that does many jobs and depending on where we work for the day, I go with what I am instructed to do for that day. Sometimes I work on fitting cupboards at a house or I do fit-ins at an office. At the moment we have a project to furnish new flats with kitchen cupboards and we also do built-in bedroom cupboards.

What personality skills do you need to become a joiner?

There are not much, really, but you must obviously be hard working. Sometimes you work odd hours and at times until late in the evening. You must also be precise in what you do because clients need a job done well. If you are installing new cupboards, for example, you must be careful not to break any items or parts, maybe through drilling or so. So, you must be careful and you should always be alert.

What are the major challenges in your job?

Sometimes we deal with big jobs, especially when you have to fit in cupboards in flats or residential houses. There is always a question of deadlines and time being of the essence and in my view that is a challenge. Sticking to deadlines and getting the work done according to specifications is a challenge for every joiner and that is what makes it interesting too.

What tools or equipment do you use on a daily basis?

I mostly use a measuring tape, a screw machine, jigsaw, safety glasses, a helmet at times and some concrete for stoppages. We use nails and hammers too.

Is your job rewarding?

It is rewarding because I learn new things every day. The fact that we work on various sites and sometimes deal with complex situations makes it rewarding. The reason is that you get home knowing that you did a good job for the client, especially when they see the final product and express satisfaction.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I can’t really say because I am very happy with what I do and I am satisfied with what I get for working here. It will take a bit of time before I maybe consider my own business, but for now, I am still young and have a long way to go. So, I will see what the future holds.

Would you recommend this job to anyone?

Yes, it is a good trade and in Namibia such people are needed. The young people must consider it because you just need to use your hands a lot and you don’t have to work indoors all the times. You can also do this type of job at home in your free time because you just need the basic tools to do it.

Did you study for this?

I did not really get formal training, but I used to do a lot of work with my brother who taught me so much. At least it is not a difficult field and anybody can do it, even the ladies.

click to enlarge Erwin Goliath © Corry Ihuhua

click to enlarge