What does a service and installation technician do at GEZE, Mr Goldenstein?
Shadi Goldenstein was born in Syria, but chats just like a native of Hamburg. One reason for this is that he moved to Germany with his parents back in 1999. Certainly, another reason is that he is in contact with a lot of customers everyday in his job at the Hamburg branch of GEZE Service – and that he always tries to have personal conversations with them.
Always on the road serving GEZE's customers
“Building personal rapport with my customers is very important to me. Of course, above all they expect reliable on-site service from us – but the first few times you visit a customer determine the basis of your collaboration in the future.” He might engage in multiple discussions in one day, checking to ensure GEZE systems are working properly in both Buxtehude and Büsum on the same day – after all, GEZE's Hamburg branch serves a large territory. “Our day-to-day work is never dull, never boring. The dispatcher can call you and send you anywhere. That's the best thing – the most exciting thing about my job. The situation is always changing: different customers, different doors, different applications.” You have to enjoy that kind of work, and as a service technician it is what you expect.
The initial contact with the customer is really important: it's when you determine how you value and accept each another – which serves as the basis for future collaboration.
Shadi Goldenstein, Service and installation technician at GEZE Service GmbHA good start and work/life balance
"I was warmly welcomed right from my very first day. There are short decision-making pathways, lots of freedom, and employees’ needs are taken seriously." © GEZE GmbH
However, for the 38-year-old trained “Industrial mechanic in machinery and systems engineering”, family always comes before career. “My family means everything to me. My two young daughters and my wife need me, and I want to fulfil my role as a father and husband, in addition to my role at work.” Flexible working options at GEZE Service help him achieve that goal. “Things here are really great. I was warmly welcomed right from my very first day, and coordination with my supervisors and the dispatchers is extremely flexible. There are short decision-making pathways, lots of freedom, and employees’ needs are taken seriously.” For instance, when his second daughter was born he agreed that he would not take any early assignments at first, so that he could fully focus on his two girls in the mornings.
At GEZE, you are not measured simply by your performance; instead you are appreciated unconditionally as a person. We feel that every day here, and we are all glad to be part of the GEZE family. I am thankful for that.
Shadi Goldenstein, Service and installation technician at GEZE Service GmbH
He spends around three quarters of his working hours alone at customers’ sites with his installation trolley. Colleagues from installation engineering join him the rest of the time. © GEZE GmbH
Why choose GEZE
For Goldenstein, a dedicated father who joined GEZE two years ago, the advantages of working here are clear: “GEZE is a family business through and through. You can tell that by how they treat every colleague who works here. No matter who you are dealing with from the organisation, no matter their level in the hierarchy, everyone here feels like they are on the same team. You get a sense of respect and appreciation on all sides.”For Shadi Goldenstein, this culture of appreciation makes a difference, as it “allows me to identify with the company 100 percent – and customers can tell that I have lots of fun at my job, despite all its challenges.”
As a service technician, you have to love delivering service and be very well organised ... as I see it, we are independent workers in an employee relationship.
Shadi Goldenstein, Service and installation technician at GEZE Service GmbH
When Shadi Goldenstein isn’t on the road or taking care of his family, he enjoys boxing. Boxing is his passion and as a trainer, he has been teaching his skills to young boxers for many years. © GEZE GmbH
A sympathetic ear - always
When we asked him what we could do better here at GEZE, he could not think of much – except for when it comes to onboarding service technicians from another field. As in many other careers, the service technician area is also suffering from a shortage of trained professionals. “We have many colleagues here who came to us from other industries or other disciplines. However, the whole team is always ready to help them if they have problems or questions.” Of course, there is a regulated onboarding process for the maintenance and installation of GEZE products, but there is still much to do in this area. An experienced technician like Shadi Goldenstein can, of course, help with a sympathetic ear, a helping hand, and an important tip for newcomers: “It’s all about give and take. I think it's important to be enthusiastic about GEZE products. You have to be committed to your own products to convey that excitement to your customers.”
What are some key requirements for working as a service technician at GEZE?
- Enjoy service
- Technical expertise
- Ability to work independent and autonomously
- Well-organised
- Enjoy communicating, working with people, and addressing their needs
- The ability to think outside the box
