Volker is a proud day oner - here since our doors first opened in January 1996. That in itself is an incredible feat! But what’s special about Volker is his openness. People come up to him to chat about anything, and over the years, he had built some great relationships with SKYCITY employees and customers.
Briefly describe your current role:
With supervising tables, you’ve got lots of customer service to do. You've got to build relationships with your customers and gain a mutual respect, especially with our VIP customers.
What roles have you held at SKYCITY?
I’ve always been a Table Games Supervisor. I briefly held a role as a Pit Manager, but I went back to being a Table Games Supervisor.
What did you do before you joined SKYCITY?
Before I joined SKYCITY I worked in a bakehouse in Germany. I also worked as a picture framer and I cleaned private houses when I first arrived in New Zealand - that’s what I was doing back in Germany. I had work experiences in hotels, plumbing and central heating but I had to start a new career and that was with SKYCITY. I actually had another interview the day before my interview with SKYCITY, but I was offered a position here and that’s how it started.
What do you enjoy most about working at SKYCITY?
It’s the people, that’s for sure! I enjoy the family aspect here, walking into the staff cafeteria for example, I exchange greetings with a lot of people. I like the general understanding that we’re here for each other.
What challenges do you get with your role?
The customers are the biggest aspect of this role, so I encounter challenges when they’re unhappy. In certain situations, I have to create quick decisions for the team and some may be difficult, but those challenges we face are what creates bond for the team.
What would you say to anyone considering joining SKYCITY?
You’ve got to be open to everyone, you have to earn your respect from everyone and you do need to be willing to learn.
Which of SKYCITY’s employee benefits do you enjoy most?
It’s very hard to say when you’ve been here for twenty-one years, but definitely the health insurance benefit.
Is there anything about SKYCITY that makes it different to other work places?
What I’m doing now, I can’t find anywhere else. It’s a totally different catalogue of customer service and that’s what I enjoy about it.
What do you like to do do outside of work?
I like working on my veggie garden if the weather allows me to work outside. I also try and go to the gym everyday to feel good!
Thank you for sharing your story Volker!
