After 10 years as a sales assistant in clothes shops, Farah Benmihoub, then aged 31, decided one day that it was time to retrain and rediscover her childhood passion: all things electrical. Encouraged by a friend and convinced after a work-study placement, she trained herself and obtained her electrician’s accreditation, then gained her professional competence certification with GRETA-CFA in Brittany.

She then accepted a job with Cegelec Quimper, where she spent two years working on projects, mostly in the medical sector, where she grew in autonomy and confidence. In 2023, feeling the need to spread her wings in the big city, she joined Cegelec Nantes, where she works to this day.

She now deals with fire-safety, power-supply, low-voltage and access-control systems for office projects: a role that demands communication, patience and adaptability. What inspires her about her job is “Creating something that will last and be useful. Flipping the switch in a building and seeing the lights come on is very satisfying, because I know it’s the end result of my efforts.”

In this male-dominated setting where women are still rarely found, she emphasises the importance of measures to tackle gender bias. Before long, the ambitious Farah Benmihoub sees herself stepping up as a team leader, despite some apprehension about managing mostly all-male teams, confident in the support offered by VINCI Energies.

Photo: ©Atypix David Priou