"Courses in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and automatic control in undergraduate classes are beneficial even after joining the company."

by Manager Cho Young-Seok (Saudi Arabia Mazan Gas Processing Plant Facilities Construction Site)

Q1. Please tell us about your job

I am in charge of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) construction at the Mazan Gas Processing Plant in Saudi Arabia. While working in plant facility, I manage the procurement of materials and construction of HVAC systems and water supply, drainage, and firefighting equipment that go inside the building during construction. 

Q2. What competencies do you need most in your job? 

Speaking English is basically essential to work in overseas sites. Not only are emails, drawings, and specifications all written in English, but it's also fundamental for communicating with foreign employees. However, you don't need to feel burdened of having to speak English perfectly. This is because translators are readily available, and foreign employees who have worked with Koreans have a better sense of linguistic understanding.

Q3. How did you prepare for joining the company? 

I believe that taking these three classes - thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and automatic control –in school will not only help you get a job, but also be beneficial once you are hired. The refrigeration cycle in thermodynamics is the basis of HVAC system design, so it's essential to know if you're applying for a position in facilities. The nature of facilities work involves dealing with indoor fluids, so understanding the flow of fluids through fluid mechanics courses will help you answer many problems in the field. Lastly, since it involves controlling temperature, humidity, etc., it will be very helpful to develop skills to interpret drawings through automatic control subjects. In addition, my prior experience of familiarizing with water supply and drainage systems as a water supply officer in the army was very helpful. 

Q4. Is there a corporate culture or system at HDEC that you would like to share? 

I am confident that our culture of listening to employees is better than any other company. No matter how simple a question you have as a new employee, you can get answers based on accurate evidence from senior experts with a lot of construction experience. As long as you are willing to learn, you can quickly mature into a field expert.

There is a "third-country holiday" system that you can enjoy when you work overseas. If you want to travel to places other than Korea during your holidays, you can apply for a third-country vacation and get airfare to the US, Europe, and more. If you love traveling abroad, this is a great way to take advantage of two weeks of vacation time to explore the world.

Q5. Do you have any advice for juniors who want to work at HDEC?

I would say, “Don't be discouraged by failure and keep trying.” I also had failures and wanderings when I was looking for a job. I was one of those people who thought, "I'm not good enough to get the job." However, I was able to emphasize my strengths and passed with flying colors, and I would like to tell my juniors that success can be closer than you think. Never lose faith!