Student job profile: Wes Davies

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Davies_Wes.jpg” caption=”Wes Davies, a fourth-year student in communication studies, is working as a student parking control officer this summer. Photo by Christine MacLean. “]Wes Davies spends his summer days welcoming visitors to campus and clearing up any confusion they might have about getting around. He also works as a flag person, directing traffic on the construction site of the new Ronald V. Joyce Stadium to keep pedestrians safe and traffic moving smoothly.

If you haven't guessed already, Davies is a student parking control officer.

Davies was interested in the position because it offers several advantages that are important to students, such as good pay and a convenient location. Davies can easily bike or walk to work each day since he lives near campus.

Practicality aside, this position allows him to interact with the McMaster community, improving his interpersonal skills and his ability to act professionally towards a wide range of people.

“I love talking to and greeting the patrons, and I find this job requires you to be very personable and friendly,” says Davies.

Davies's job is usually stress free, a welcome break from the often nerve-wracking school year. During slow periods, he is able to pursue his hobbies, such as reading a novel. He even plays the harmonica at times.

“While directing traffic on the construction site, I played the harmonica for hours while waiting for the concrete and dump trucks to come,” says Davies. “As a matter of fact, one of the drivers stopped and started to play his harmonica with me over his truck radio. I'm sure all the workers appreciated a little music on the job!”

Davies, a fourth-year student in communications studies, hopes to pursue a career more related to his university education, although the experience he gained this summer will serve him well. For now, Davies has been bitten by the travel bug — he wants to travel to Japan for a year and work as an English teacher. Upon returning to Canada, he will pursue a position in international relations.

The student job profile is a weekly series about students working on campus.