If someone had told Farah Sajwani five years ago that she would end up working in the railway industry she would never have believed them.
However, fast-forward to today and she is a Project Management Assistant at CPMS in an industry she doesn’t just see as a job, but as a lifelong career journey.
Farah has written an article about her life and her journey so far in the rail industry.
“My journey began when I left Oman to pursue an undergraduate degree in Engineering, in Melbourne, Australia. I then moved to Manchester, United Kingdom, where I completed my Postgraduate degree, graduating with Honours in Engineering Project Management. I subsequently moved to London and joined the graduate scheme at CPMS. Landing a job in a railway focused company was very exciting, yet overwhelming, as I came from a country that did not have a single kilometre of rail!
On my first day of work, I was apprehensive, as would any fresh graduate be starting their first job. However, my line manager sat down with me and gave me an introduction to the railway industry. She said I was going to be working on the biggest project in Anglia which made me feel very excited and a little nervous at the same time. I need not be: she explained the project to me, asked me to read several documents and to come back with questions. That itself made me feel very welcomed to the company. It gave me a sense of reassurance that working there would most certainly help me develop my skills and knowledge so that I can become an expert in my field. Working on this project has been an amazing experience. I gained considerable knowledge in how the railway system operates, the governance surrounding it and the documents that are completed at each stage of the project. It also helped me grow in my professional and personal confidence.
As I practiced Ramadan last year (for the first time since I started working in the United Kingdom), I was impressed with the understanding CPMS showed me. The Managing Director would regularly check up on me and ask me how I was coping with the work while fasting. My line manager was flexible with my working hours and my colleagues were very understanding and considerate.
As a Middle Eastern Muslim woman, I never thought I would be working in a company in England that would be fully understanding and inclusive of other cultures and religions. I am used to hearing from friends that the working environment can be tough and that people from a different ethnicity, religion, education and national origin can feel left out in the workplace. This is not the case at CPMS and I think it is quite unique and commendable. Everyone, from the MD, directors, line managers and employees understand and are respectful of other people, no matter their background, religion or personal beliefs. I would say that this culture of openness and understanding is what makes CPMS such a great company to work for. It provides an inclusive working environment where everyone feels that they belong. The focus in on our personal contribution to the business and because everyone feels understood, respected and supported, we all perform to our full potential and feel a huge loyalty to the company.
The Covid-19 outbreak threw a lot of uncertainty in the industry and I was particularly impressed with the way CPMS remained true to its values and committed to the safety and wellbeing of its workforce. In challenging times like these, it was particularly important to me to feel included and supported and it made me realise that working in the railway industry is not just a job. It is a lifelong career journey which I undertake surrounded by friends.”
Farah Sajwani, Project Management Assistant at CPMS, www.cpmsgroup.com/
Photo credit: CPMS Group
