Case study 3 – Caterpillar trained heavy equipment mechanic in The Philippines to Caterpillar dealer component rebuild center specialist in Australia
Recruited in August 2008 and deployed to Australia in November 2008 to start work for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar dealers in their CRC.
This is Fulvio’s journey.
Hours worked at Australian Caterpillar Dealer
Commenced employment with Australian Caterpillar Dealer
Date employment ended with Australian Caterpillar Dealer
ROI for Australian Caterpillar Dealer
Where did Fulvio’s journey begin?
We first met Fulvio in June 2008.
Our international recruitment team was tasked to source a large number of Caterpillar trained heavy equipment mechanics for one of the World’s largest Caterpillar dealers, and deploy the mechanics to a component rebuild center in Australia.
Our international recruitment specialist Dennis interviewed Fulvio on a number of occasions in The Philippines and Fulvio also attended various briefing sessions conducted by Dennis in Manila – where all of the candidates were given details of the Caterpillar dealership, the type of work, salary packages and relocation packages being offered and about the progressive path being offered to Australian residency for the mechanics and their partners and children.
Previous working history
Fulvio was a degree qualified engineer. He had previously been working for The Philippines Caterpillar dealer, and also been working for the office of the city engineering.
Dennis built up a good rapport with Fulvio and learned a great deal about how the Philippines Caterpillar dealer approached the fault finding, dis-assembly, repair and specification checking of Caterpillar components.
Fulvio shared his desire to work on the components of the bigger mining gear in Australia, and his long term vision was to eventually obtain Australian residency for him and his family. Fulvio was committed for a long term role with an Australian Caterpillar dealer.
Making the move to Australia
Our international recruitment specialist Dennis completed the background and integrity checks on Fulvio, Dennis pre-checked his level of the English language and arranged an interview with the Australian Caterpillar dealer.
Fulvio was interviewed in The Philippines by four senior managers from the Australian Caterpillar dealer. That team of Caterpillar dealer managers had a combined experience of over 80 years Caterpillar dealership employment.
Fulvio was put through two different interviews and came through both with great feedback from all four of the Caterpillar dealer interviewers. The dealerships comments to Dennis were Fulvio was a great candidate and was just what they were looking for.
Fulvio was presented with a letter of offer to work for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar dealers that was dependent upon Fulvio passing his IELTS to the required standard and passing a medical. He passed all the required tests and was deployed to Australia in November 2008.
Starting work at the Caterpillar dealer in Australia
Fulvio was warmly welcomed at the Australian Caterpillar dealership. He started work at the component rebuild center and quickly fitted right in.
Fulvio was a role model employee, he helped guide and train other less experienced local Australian mechanics, and was a steadying hand with overseas mechanics that arrived after Fulvio.
There was in some senior managers opinions no way that overseas trained mechanics would be able to meet the very high standards that the Caterpillar component rebuild center set and maintained.
However, Fulvio was instrumental in demonstrating not only his class and ability to do the work at such a high level of quality, but also in paving the way for other mechanics recruited from overseas by our international recruiter Dennis to become accepted and part of the world class team at the Cat dealership.
Where is Fulvio now?
Fulvio after 13 years and 9 months left the Australian Caterpillar dealership.
He now works directly for BHP and is an expert with components of large mining and earth moving equipment.
Employed for 13 years and 9 months, Australian resident, involved in the local community with his family, helping with the training of local apprentices and lesser experienced mechanics.
Fulvio surely answers any questions about the return on investment a company might get from internationally recruiting Caterpillar trained heavy equipment mechanics.
Fulvio it has been a pleasure to follow your career and the new life you created in Australia for your family and you.
Congratulations and well done, we told you the effort would be worth it!
Did overseas recruitment of component rebuild mechanics work for one of the world’s largest Caterpillar dealers?
Some like to view success in monetary terms.
Some view success in terms of a person fitting in.
Some view success in terms of how long something lasts.
More than 13 years of service with the dealer.
Helped mentor and train numerous apprentices and less experienced mechanics during his 13 plus years of employment.
Became an Australian Citizen and committed to and heavily involved in mining and the local community.
Regardless how you measure success.
The overseas recruitment of component rebuild center mechanics has been an outstanding success.
Measure of ROI – Substantial