For my TOKTW day, I went to BC Hydro with my dad. In this workplace I was unable to take a picture for security reasons. This facility is able to control all of the power in BC, so they don’t want any information out whatsoever about the location of the building or what is inside the building that can be done with a picture. I am sorry but there was nothing that I could do to get a picture, it was against company rules.

Name of your host: John Marusenko Relationship to you: Father

The Interview: (ask your host these questions)
1. What is your job title?
System Control Manager
2. What is your job description?
I manage the safety and reliability of the power system in British Columbia.
3. What are the duties and/or tasks you perform at your job? I manage a team of operators who optimize the operation power system utilizing advanced application and through remote data acquisition.
4. What qualifications do you have for this job in the following areas:
a) training?
I have ongoing training in monthly seminars which focus on our tools and processes.
b) education?
For this job I have to have a Bachelor of science in electrical engineering.
c) experience?
You need 6-10 years experience. I have 25 years of experience in the electrical utility industry. I have held my position of increasing responsibility leading up to my current role.
d) skills and attributes (personal qualities)?
The role I currently hold requires both technical and people skills. I manage a team of up to 20 operators and use coaching and mentoring skills to motivate the team.
5. What are some of the things you like about the job?
The job requires decisions to be made under time critical constraints. It is very satisfying to know our work has lead to increased public and worker safety.
6. What are some of the things you dislike about this job?
It is not fun to discipline a member of my team for poor performance. It is also a very stressful job because of the different scenarios it brings and how fast you have to act because in some scenarios there are peoples lives on the line.
7. How do you anticipate this job changing in the next 5 years or so?
The industry is changing with new technologies such as solar generations and electric vehicles. It will change the expectation of how our customers use electricity.
8. (My question) how has this job helped your skills as a person
I utilize the training and skills that I have developed in my everyday life. For example the people skills I have developed through coaching and mentoring I use with my son and daughter.

Student Reflections:
1. Give three reasons why you would like this job (be specific):
a)I would like this job because it is a job that does not involve physical labor and you use your brain. For my future job, i would like to use my brain and not my body.
b) In this job, there are always new positions to move up in the company. I like this because if you work really hard, you will get a higher position.
c)I like how in this job, you are constantly getting trained by other people. This will help a lot in this job as there are many new different problems coming up.
2. Give three reasons why you would not like this job (be specific):
a) This job can be very stressful because at times peoples lives are in danger and you have to act really fast. For example, if there is a power line on a car with a family in it, you need to react in minutes to know how to shut off that line.
b)This is a job where everybody is constantly working together. I don’t like working together in groups because if one person messes up, he whole group gets blamed.
c) There are two offices for BC Hydro, so if there is a meeting you must attend, it is a big hassle for the drive there because it is pretty far away.
3. Is this job for you? Why or why not?
BC Hydro seems like a pretty good job. I like the working conditions and how everyone is treated. I think for me, I prefer to do something that involves a little less technology because I am not very good with technology and everyone that works there has at least 5 monitors in front of them. I do not think that this is a job for me and I will continue to look for one that I will find enjoyable.
4. Explain the value of the TOKTW experience in relation to your ideas about your post secondary (after high school) plans (education?, training?, travel?, work?).
This experience has made my mind up for what I want to do after high school. I would like to get into a university right after high school and then get a good job somewhere. This experience made me realized that I have to start thinking of what I want to be now and don’t leave it to after high school. TOKTW has open my eyes about future employments and I am grateful to have had this experience.