To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Mathilde, Assistant Works Supervisor at IDEC SANTÉ, agreed to answer our questions.
Mathilde is an engineering student specializing in construction and public works at Centrale Nantes. She began her work-study program with GROUPE IDEC at GEDOUIN INGÉNIERIE in September 2020.Since October 2021, she has been working for IDEC SANTÉ and more specifically on the site of a leading name in the pharmaceutical industry in the West of France.
Can you tell us about your job and your main tasks?
In association with the entire works team, I supervise the execution of the works, the schedule, the management of the tasks and sometimes the coordination between the different work packages. For my part, I work on the building envelope, which includes the road system, networks, concrete framework, structural work, roofing and cladding, in other words everything that represents the structure of the building. On the site, we also have assignments regarding the safety of our employees and, more broadly, of all those involved in the project, all in close collaboration with the site’s HSE prevention officer.
What do you like most about your job?
What I was primarily looking for was a job that offered me a variety of assignments, which is exactly what I found at IDEC SANTÉ. My job consists of having two different roles: I work on site to monitor the progress of the work and at the same time I work at the base to ensure that the worksite is running smoothly. I also have an important interpersonal component: I can go out and see people on site, watch them and learn.
The environment in which you work is mostly dominated by men. What differences do you think a woman can make in this environment?
I think the organizational aspect can be different, and so can the methodological aspect. I am pretty well organized, both in terms of performing a task and getting it done, and in terms of trying to think about what it entails or what it might impact.
In some cases, the contact on the ground may also be easier. However, you have to know how to command respect and show that just because you are a woman, it doesn’t mean that you don’t know how to work or that you don’t know the business. This is probably the most difficult part and I’m still learning how to do it. In any case, I remain convinced that being a woman in this field is not an obstacle and I even consider it to be an advantage.
What would you say to women who want to do the same job as you?
I would tell them that the somewhat archaic vision of a predominantly male construction world is completely outdated and that today, there is a whole range of different jobs in the construction industry that give people the opportunity to thrive in this environment. For me, being a woman is an advantage on the site, as relations are easier. So don’t be afraid to go for it. It is a job with a future and today, we are all on the same footing.
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in the workplace?
I think they should not hesitate to ask questions, even if they think they are “stupid questions”. More generally, I think that if ever there is something that doesn’t feel right to us in our job or our duties, then we should talk about it with our superior to find solutions.
To conclude, a word about GROUPE IDEC?
I think that I am lucky to have been in two totally different teams with a different job at GEDOUIN INGÉNIERIE and IDEC SANTÉ. Within GROUPE IDEC, we are also fortunate to join teams that are used to welcoming work-study students. They take the time to explain things and are very approachable when we have questions. The team in the broadest sense, be it the Human Resources department or the accounting department, for example, are friendly, attentive and readily available.