Meet Miklas
Production employee
Miklas is taking a gap year after high school. He’s using this year to work as a production employee on the night shift at our factory in Skovsgaard, earning money for his future education. Miklas works as a service operator on our IQF line, where he’s responsible for adding brine and freezing inner fillets, breasts, and sometimes thighs.
What is a typical workday like for me?
I start work at 10:15 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, taking over from the evening shift. First, I pick up tubs of raw materials, which I pour into a large funnel we call “the Giraffe,” which transports the meat to our injector. Then I begin mixing the brine.
There are many fixed tasks that need to be done every hour, so the workday goes by quickly. Once an hour, I take meat samples to adjust the salting process and prepare a new batch of brine. Every other hour, I check the temperature of the meat. I also regularly fetch new tubs of raw materials and refill the Giraffe to ensure it doesn’t run empty. The goal is a minimum of 2 tons per hour, so I need to fetch quite a few tubs from our cold storage to keep the line running. Only ten employees work the night shift, and we each have our own responsibilities. I’m the first step in the production chain, but I can also take over other tasks. For example, I fill in for my colleague who places meat on the conveyor belt when she takes her break.
What do I personally get out of this job?
First and foremost: a good salary. I’m working to save up for future studies, and that’s my main reason for being here. And the pay is great, especially for unskilled night-shift work.
That said, I also feel the job suits me perfectly. I really like working at night. There’s a special vibe. While I work, I mostly keep to myself and listen to the radio, and then during breaks, we enjoy hanging out together. We all know each other well, and the atmosphere is great.
There are several young people at the factory who are also taking gap years. One works the night shift with me, while others are on the day or evening shifts. The shifts overlap a bit, so we get to see each other across teams.
What are the main reasons I chose to spend my gap year at ROSE POULTRY?
I live in Skovsgaard, so it only takes a few minutes for me to get to work. On top of that, the working hours are perfect for me. I can sleep when my friends are at work and hang out with them when they’re off. Before I started here, I had been offered a job in retail, but it was part-time. At ROSE POULTRY, I was offered full-time work, regular shifts, and night work – exactly what I wanted.
I can definitely recommend my job to other young people looking for a gap year job. I know what’s expected of me. I have my own tasks and manage my own time – and I have amazing colleagues.
