Behind the Everyday

As WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 came to a close, Competitors, Experts, partners and sponsors, friends, and families, packed their bags, hugged their team mates and new friends, and looked forward not only to sleep but also to getting back to home and daily life. The Competition experience has likely changed them, bringing new self-confidence, opening new avenues of learning and career, making new connections, and - we hope -  inspiring commitment to continuing engagement in the WorldSkills movement. The end of the Competition is often the prompt for reviewing and renewing what we do with our skills; it can be the beginning of an exciting future based upon skill excellence. But, reality does intrude, and our everyday life resumes.

WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 has given many of us the chance to look behind what we might take for granted on an everyday basis. As we go about our day, there are millions of individuals who build and repair our buildings and roads, who design and repair our transport, who help us with personal and hospitality services. These individuals have developed and tuned their skills to a level of excellence such that we may not realize all that goes in to making our world work day in and day out.

Whether it’s fine dining or a quick, casual meal in your neighbourhood café, the Restaurant Service practitioner provides high quality food and drink service, with excellent communication and attention to customer care. Often, what builds and sustains a restaurant reputation is as much due to the quality of service as to the food. “WorldSkills is important, especially for Restaurant Service as it brings awareness that this is a skill young people work hard to develop - not just something to fill the gap between studies and a real job. The Competition is amazing in this way, seeing young people have a passion for a skill and profession that is often underestimated,” said Thomas Overberck, South Africa (ZA) Expert in Restaurant Service.

Restaurant dining is recognized as an activity that most often involves us in active engagement - booking a table, ordering a meal, enjoying the evening and our company. Perhaps less understood is Graphic Design Technology. “People don’t really know what graphic design is all about. They forget that graphic design is all around them, and it’s the kind of skill you see every day,” said Nuno Viana, Expert, Graphic Design Technology. Greeting cards, publications, advertising, posters, print and digital media are the working world for trained graphic designers. Careers in graphic design incorporate a broad range of skills that can open opportunity to pursue many careers we may see, but not fully recognize each and every day.

For all of us who shared the unique experience of WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 - whatever our role - we have gained insight, recognition, respect, and appreciation for all it takes to keep our lives healthy and productive, and to keep our world working.