Pros
- Learning new things about engineering and engineering projects
- Good pay
Cons
To any woman or young person looking to start their careers with VN Engineers, I encourage you to read this and reconsider.
I worked for VN Engineers throughout the year prior to the pandemic, subcontracted to a specific government rail project. I was hired to be the administrative assistant to that project specifically.
It is only five years later and after moving to a foreign country that I feel safe in sharing my story.
I will be the first to admit that I was not suited for that job. I knew nothing about trains, engineering, or the process of organising and completing a government project and I was not the type of assistant they required. I was not good at my job.
This might have been understandable, even acceptable if I had played along the way I was asked to.
Any training or support I requested was paid with unwelcome physical contact and unprofessional "friendliness". Phone calls asking for more information on how to perform my job were ended with "I love you" and other unwanted pet names. In the end, what I truly learned was how to go without.
In hindsight, I should have run for the hills when upon first meeting my new bosses, they plied me with alcohol and encouraged me to continue drinking for their entertainment. I should have started looking for a new job when hands were put where they do not belong. I should have known I would be shown the door when I refused to let my boss kiss me in front of multiple witnesses.
If you are a young person reading or a woman this, I'll encourage you to look elsewhere before working for VN Engineers. I do not believe it is safe for you here.