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Working for COWI: Sven Schöbel 

Photo: COWI
Sven Schöbel isn't tied to his desk working as a photogrammetist for COWI.
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Sven Schöbel comes from Gröditz near Leipzig in Germany. After training as a surveyor, he moved to Denmark in March 2006 to join COWI and is kept very busy on mapping projects and performing GPS calculations.
COWI: Why did you become a photogrammetrist?
Sven: Photogrammertry is part of surveying, which I trained in. When I was a boy, I remember seeing surveyors working on the streets using all these strange measuring instruments. It fascinated me. And, also, I realised they worked outside a lot of the time rather than being stuck in an office.

How did you hear about your job with COWI?
A friend attended a COWI recruitment presentation in Germany and told me about them so I sent an unsolicited email. By coincidence, they were advertising for someone with my training at the same time. The pieces just fell into place.

How is Denmark different from Germany?
From a work perspective, Denmark is a very flexible place. I can arrange everthing to suit myself and my timetable. I like that a lot. Living here, I find the Danes to be a little closed and sometimes hard to socialise with. Oh, and the housing. It is so hard to find a flat and so much more expensive than in Germany.

What have you learned by working in Denmark?I've really improved my language skills!

Where else would you like to work?I spent some time in Slovenia as part of a student exchange. The people are very friendly and open, and the weather and mountains are fantastic. The country is developing very quckly and I think it has real potential.

What has surprised you about working in Denmark?
Having to work for one year before you get paid holiday.

What do you think of the food in Denmark?Sometimes it can be a bit boring. And the egg salad - always with curry sauce and not mayonnaise!

What do you miss most about your home country?My car! Having to pay 180% of its value to import it was too much.

What would make your day easier?Tea and coffee is free. Why not mineral water or cola?

What advice would you give to someone who's been offered a job in another country?Try to find somewhere to live before you arrive, if you can. Don't live out of your suitcase in a hotel. I also think one should try to learn the language as fast as possible.

Do you prefer cheese or chocolate?Has to be cheese.

By Martyn Glanville
Published: 14.03.2008

LAST UPDATED: 27.08.2010