It’s time to meet another CI Globe Award winner! This one is special because the Inhouse Champion gets selected directly by our international teams. Everyone can nominate their favourite colleague, the person that makes their day a little easier and helps wherever they can and light up any workplace.
It was inspiring to see all the names that were suggested and the stories that came with them. We are genuinely proud to have so many wonderful people on our team. In the end, the person that received the most votes from their colleagues was Denis Harambasic!
Denis works as an on-site assistant in mechanical erection for our Austrian team. He is always ready to help and shows great dedication to his work. Thank you, Denis, for being so kind and reliable! We are very happy to have you on board.
Of course, we talked with Denis to find out more about him and his role. So, let’s get to know him a little better:
CI: What do you do? What is your role in your team?
I started my career at Christof Industries in January 2019 as a Site Assistant for a Project in Germany in Kehl for one of our long-time customers. During projects, time schedules are often very tight, and it can be challenging to keep up with all the administrative work besides the actual mechanical installation. As a site assistant, I ensure that the site management and supervision are relieved from that kind of work. I take care of typical tasks such as monitoring working hours, handling personnel documents, and keeping track of site-related deliveries.
In my opinion, the site assistant’s role is crucial, especially during long-term projects.
Other than that, a site assistant’s work can vary a lot and depends on the specific requirements of a project. This is great for me because I am very interested in various areas, and I got to develop many new skills very quickly. At this very moment I am also confronted with some work preparations for a mechanical installation which gives me the opportunity to see and understand the whole process from another perspective.
I believe that working as a site assistant is a perfect entry job for young and dedicated people. It gives you great insights into what it is like to work on projects abroad, and you receive an excellent overview of other on-site positions, which helps determine which areas to focus on in the future.
CI: What makes you an Inhouse Champion?
Honestly, when I heard that I had won the award, I was astonished at first.
I am not the type of person that likes to talk loudly about my knowledge or skills. But I am glad my colleagues have a positive impression of me. I always try to be helpful in any matter, regardless of what it is.
Especially when the workers need help, or if there are any language barriers, I always take extra time to help them out. I also think my colleagues appreciate my loyalty and my ambition to keep improving, so I can solve any problem we might encounter in the future.
CI: What skills does a site assistant need to have?
In terms of software-based skills, it is essential to have proper knowledge of MS Office, mainly Excel.
It is also an advantage to have some knowledge in network technology to support the IT in the back office in case network problems occur on-site. Another advantage is a basic understanding of drawings (maybe even the project-based 3D-Models) and mechanical installation. As already mentioned, the more you get involved in every area over time, the more you can support the site.
CI: What’s the most exciting part of your job?
As an on-site assistant, I work in different countries, and I find it exciting to meet new people and explore various cultures.
CI: What are you most proud of in your work?
I am a perfectionist and like to work in a very precise way and that’s why I am glad that I get to incorporate these personal attributes into my everyday work.
It is very satisfying to set up a clean documentation from scratch and take care of a project from beginning to end. One of my favourites is still to document additional works and costs that might come up due to on-site deviations and delays that are beyond of our control. My perfectionism and precision enable me to react quickly and have a clear overview of the situation, which can save us time and money.
CI: What is your most-used productivity hack?
A daily To-Do list and an overview of upcoming events are a must for me. I take notes continuously and set priorities with clear deadlines.
Simple as that.
CI: What is your next big project/plan/goal?
My next step is to get more involved in the project management of mechanical installation. This is the area I have focused on the most since 2019. My experience on site then led to my promotion to a Junior Project Manager in December 2021.
CI: Was there any work-related situation that made you smile or more inspired?
Without a doubt, the positive feedback we receive from our clients. For example, we aim to follow a high HSE standard on projects and keep accidents at zero. Due to our dedication during a project in Bedford, UK, our Christof Industries team was continuously praised as a company with the best HSE performance among all companies on site.
CI: Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
I would say that I don’t have any newsworthy talents. Sometimes it is also quite tricky to connect hobbies with the fact that I am working abroad most of the time. I want to get back to my old hobby which is swimming, and I will try to do it whenever I have the possibility. However, I am grateful for having a chance to incorporate travel into my work and in my free time during projects.
CI: Are you a coffee or tea person?
Definitely a coffee person.
