Marshall Profiling: Where Metalwork Meets Opportunity
If you love the idea of turning raw steel into real stuff, Marshall Profiling is the place to be! Based in Hamilton, this company is a top steel cutting centres, using high-tech gear like laser cutters, plasma machines, and press brakes to shape metal for all kinds of industries.
But here’s the cool part: Marshall Profiling is part of the JP Marshall family. That means once you’ve got the basics down here – like machine operating, forklift driving or dispact – you could be called up to JP Marshall for an apprenticeship in heavy fabrication, welding, or engineering. It’s like levelling up in your career game!
Just ask Mitchell, who started out in dispatch at Marshall Profiling. He’s learned how to operate machines, earned his forklift qualification, and discovered a passion for working with metal. Now, he’s on track to take his skills further and explore new opportunities in fabrication and engineering…
The FutureForce® Team paid Mitchell a visit to find out more…
Mitchell Rodgers
Dispatch Team Member
Mitchell’s Career Advice
“Have a positive attitude, respect others and maintain a strong work ethic.”
A chat with Mitchell about his role
What do you do for work?
I work in dispatch, where I pack our orders by grabbing the list of orders, finding them, grabbing them, and then wrapping them up to hand to my boss to give to the customer. I’m pretty much the middle point between production and the consumer.
How did you get into this job/career?
I was able to get into Marshall Profiling by applying through Trade Me. From Marshall Profiling, you can get called up to work for JP Marshall and get an apprenticeship with them.
What technical skills have you learnt on the job?
I’ve learnt how to operate the plasma machine, I’ve learnt some of the business side through dispatching, and how to operate a forklift, which Marshall Profiling offers by putting you through a course that earns you an F endorsement forklift qualification.
What was it about this career that interested you?
Operating big machines that cut metal always sounded very interesting to me. The precision and skill involved in working with this kind of equipment I’ve always found appealing, and it is one of the main reasons I was drawn to this trade.
What has been your biggest challenge, and how have you overcome it?
When we get a lot of orders in a week, it can become stressful at times, so just staying focused and level-headed helps a lot to overcome that.
What interpersonal skills have you learnt while working?
Time management and making sure to have open communication with my workmates.
What opportunities/positions can lead on from here?
You can start with an apprenticeship and learn skills like pressing, which can then be applied in other places that use pressing machines. On the laser side, you can become a ‘nester,’ creating the programs that are fed into the machines. Because the work is so varied, there are lots of different career pathways you can follow in this industry.
Mitchell Rodgers
Former Fraser High
School Student
Mitchell’s Top Tips
What kind of person suits work in this industry?
This industry has opportunities for everyone, no matter your strengths or interests; there’s a place where you can contribute and grow.
Do you have any advice for someone considering this pathway?
It’s definitely hard work. The best approach is if you’re asked to do something, get stuck in and give it your best. Accept the tasks you’re given without making excuses, and if you make a mistake, own it, apologise, and move on.
What school subjects are useful to take?
There aren’t any required subjects you need for this job, but I’d recommend taking maths as it’s especially useful.
Is there anything you wish you knew before you left school? What would you tell yourself in high school?
I wish I had known how hard life can be after school; it’s ridiculously tough balancing money, work, and everything else. The advice I’d give my younger self is: don’t drop out of school unless you’re offered a solid apprenticeship or long-term career opportunity. Make the most of school while you have it, because getting your foot in the door later on can be really difficult.
Marshall Profiling: Where sharp ideas are cut!
JP Marshall… is a leading engineering company that builds big steel structures and custom machinery. Marshall Profiling is part of the same team, specialising in cutting and shaping metal using high-tech machines like lasers and plasma cutters. Together, they offer solid career pathways – from entry-level roles to skilled apprenticeships in fabrication and engineering.
Whether you’re fresh out of school or looking for a hands-on trade, Marshall Profiling is a great place to start. You’ll learn real skills, work with a supportive team, and see your work go from raw metal to finished products that help build New Zealand.
What do you love about your job?
I’ve been here for six months now, and I love that I can come to work, and my boss and my co-workers are like my best friends; it’s a very welcoming environment.
Grab a Snapshot of another Marshall Profiling Career Profile
