“I’ve had part-time jobs in the restaurant industry since I was twelve and eventually trained to become an independent chef. I continued working at the restaurant where I did my apprenticeship for eight years afterward.” She enjoyed the work, but the hours were becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Even switching to a kitchen with more regular hours didn’t completely solve the problem. “I wanted to get away from working evenings and weekends. My boyfriend works during the day, and when I had to work on the weekends, we often missed each other. That’s when I started thinking: what do I really want?”
Technology continued to attract
A vacancy at MCAP rekindled an old interest of hers. “I’ve always liked technology, but since I was already working in the hospitality industry and enjoyed that too, I ended up becoming a chef. Still, that interest in technology has always stayed with me.”
Neal quickly discovered the similarities between the two worlds. “I’m the kind of person who likes to be busy with my hands. Don’t make me sit in front of a computer all day. In the kitchen, I worked with my hands, and here I’m doing that again. Of course, it’s a completely different kind of work, but it just suits me.”
Every day is different
The first period at MCAP was intense. Cables, contacts, connectors, tools, and technical drawings were all new. By watching and doing things step by step, that unfamiliar world became increasingly familiar. “Looking back now, I am sometimes amazed at how much I have already learned. One day you are working on small contacts and really fiddling around, the next day you have a much larger cable in front of you. I really enjoy that variety.”
With larger series, Neal sometimes deliberately seeks out that variation. According to her, performing the same action for a long time comes at the expense of concentration. That is why, for example, she alternates attaching contacts with stripping or assembling wires.
Fine soldering, in particular, presented a nice challenge. “In the beginning, I sometimes thought: how am I ever going to do this? Recently, I had a connector with very fine soldering work. I told Efrie that I wanted to give it a try. In the end, I succeeded. That makes you feel quite proud.”
A warm family business
Neal was also struck by the atmosphere at MCAP. “It feels like a warm family here. During breaks, we all sit together comfortably, and the owners just join in. Attention is also paid to birthdays, and at Christmas, for example, there is an elaborate lunch. Those are small things, but I find them special.”
In the coming years, Neal wants to further develop herself. “I am now also learning to test and package cables, so that I can support Efrie and Patricia. I really enjoy working at MCAP and can still learn a lot here, so I would like to continue working here for years to come.”
Are you handy, precise, and curious about technology? Then get in touch with MCAP, because you don't even need a special education to come work here.
