Former hobby, now WorldSkills

Interview with the Swedish painter Wilma Engelbrektsson

The Swedish painter Wilma Engelbrektsson
Wilma Engelbrektsson
Painter
Sweden

How did you choose your profession?

When I applied for secondary school, I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but I knew that I couldn't sit still and study without also working physically. That's how I ended up choosing a degree programme in civil engineering with a specialisation in painting.

How did you decide to take part in WorldSkills?

My teacher at high school saw the potential in me and a classmate, and together with him we decided to qualify for the Swedish championship in the profession. I won this championship and was then asked to take part in WorldSkills in Lyon.

Where did your interest in painting come from?

It just suited me, I didn't know before high school if it was something I would like or be good at.

Of all the projects you've had the chance to work on, which is your favourite?

The Swedish Championships and WorldSkills were both very fun and educational, but my favourite experience was probably working with our sponsors. There we looked for new ways to do things with new tools to prepare ourselves as well as possible.

What are your visions/goals for your career?

At the moment, I'm taking it a little lightly, but the aim has always been to go all out and show others that they too can achieve exactly what they want.

Which is your favourite Festool product?

We used Festool sanders in training and competitions and I really like them.

What is your favourite part of being a painter?

My favourite part of the painting job is probably plastering because you can see such a big difference from start to finish. I also really enjoy wallpapering because wallpaper can make such a big difference to a room.

How did you train and prepare for WorldSkills?

Volume training, volume training, volume training ... we tested everything many times under different conditions to achieve the best possible result.

Who has supported you the most during your WorldSkills adventure?

Everyone close to me has supported me, but my coach Leila has been my biggest support. We really embarked on this journey together as a team.

What did you enjoy most about WorldSkills?

Meeting people who are so incredibly talented and dedicated to their professions.

Do you have any advice/tips for other young people who dream of becoming as talented as you?

Go for it! Find something you enjoy and are good at and learn as much as you can about it.

How old were you when you started painting?

I was 16 when I started high school.
Painting for the WordSkills in Lyon

Do you have any other hobbies?

At the moment, painting is just a hobby, as I'm not currently working full-time as a painter.

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