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From Lorry to Lobby & a whole New Way of Life
Dorin Chiorban moved to Ireland in 2013. Almost immediately the versatile Romanian found work in a fish processing plant before he decided to pursue a career as a lorry driver.
“I like driving,” says the 38-year-old. “So I decided to go back home to get my licence for driving lorries and to get a little experience. That took about six months and I started doing some work in Romania because I knew if I wanted to come back and work as a lorry driver in Ireland I would have to get experience. So I worked on the continent for eight months and then came back to Ireland to start working as a truck driver in late 2018.”
Though Dorin enjoyed his work, there were several fundamental problems.
“On the truck, you’re a driver and that’s it. There is no way to take your career further.”
“You have no social life when you’re on the truck,” he explains. “You work very long hours. You’re doing thirteen, fourteen, sometimes fifteen hours a day and you’re doing that five days a week and every second Saturday. There was also no progress. On the truck, you’re a driver and that’s it. There is no way to take your career further.”
As is so often the case, Dorin heard about life at Provincial through a good friend who had been with the company for some time.
“We were talking about work one day and he started telling me about his contract,” he says. “He went through all of his tasks and duties, the people he works with, the management and the environment he works in and it all sounded really great.”
“You have no social life when you’re on the truck. You work very long hours. You’re doing thirteen, fourteen, sometimes fifteen hours a day and you’re doing that five days a week and every second Saturday.”
After three years of long roads and lengthy shifts, the father of one decided it was time for a change. Having already obtained his PSA licence, Dorin applied for the role of Security Officer with Provincial and negotiated his way through the recruitment process. He now works as a Security Officer for one of the company’s best-known international clients in Dublin.
“I have been there for a year,” says Dorin. “The management really looks after you. You can talk to them anytime and they are very flexible. I work four days a week and it suits me perfectly. I get to spend more time with my child as a result and when I need to travel back home, which I need to do quite a lot to see family, they are always very helpful.”
Though Dorin’s take home pay has taken a bit of a dip, his hourly rate has improved. The benefits to his lifestyle are immeasurable. The fact he has more of his own time to spend as he sees fit is the biggest plus.
“It was the right move,” says Dorin. “For my health, mental health and social life. I can say one hundred percent that everything my friend told me about Provincial was true."
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