Role: Technical Specialist
Company: Capita Managed IT Solutions
Track Record: How long have you worked for the company?
4 years
What does your job entail?
I work as part of the desktop services team; supporting computer users across the UK with IT related issues and building desktops and laptops for clients.
Part of that means creating a ‘core build’ so I’m involved in packaging software and rolling it out to the client’s systems in mass deployments.
I also spend a lot of my time dealing with anti-virus software, maintaining the online defences of large organisations in the utilities and charity sectors.
Is it 9-5?
I usually work from about 8.30am until 5.00pm, but there is an out of hours rota should any serious issues arise at the weekend.
How did you get into this line of work?
I probably have the least traditional entry into the world of IT of any of my colleagues. I was part of the first intake into Capita’s first ever Apprenticeship scheme and started here after working for 6 years as a bricklayer.
After the downturn in the construction sector, I realised that the prospects for my career were severely limited, but I was reading every day about how strong the IT sector was becoming in Northern Ireland.
I started looking into what courses were available and whether I’d have to do A-Levels and a degree which was daunting, to say the least.
A tutor at my local college advised me to not go down the degree path as there were vocational courses which could move me along so much faster.
When I saw the Apprenticeship scheme advertised I went for it straight away and I haven’t looked back.
Outline your career to date?
I left school at 16 and went straight out to work – I really wanted to get started with my life and school seemed to be more focussed on learning ‘about’ things rather than doing them!
I started work as a trainee bricklayer and did well, things were great as the property boom meant new houses couldn’t be built quickly enough but that all changed with the recession.
As well as the prospects declining, myself and many of the guys I had worked with for the past 6 years were having to fight over every little bit of available work.
I was very lucky to be accepted on the Capita Apprenticeship Scheme which was an 18 month contract, with a job at the end of it (if you did well). I’ve stayed with the company ever since.
Tell us about your qualifications/training.
I left school with a few GCSEs and would always have said that studying really wasn’t my thing. When I decided to change careers I’ll admit I was a little bit intimidated at the idea of breaking into a sector which everyone might assume is made up of people who have been top of the class the whole way through their lives!
But when I went to the assessment day for the apprentice scheme I was pleasantly surprised – they really didn’t mind that I didn’t have the best academic record. I had an aptitude for IT and the right attitude and personality for the work. This, in the long run, is more important than the qualifications I came in with.
Since joining Capita I have gained numerous qualifications becoming a Certified Network engineer and a Microsoft Certified IT Professional along the way. This year I will be studying to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
What qualities are required for your job – personal and professional?
Social skills are important in any field, but particularly so in a servicedesk role. You also have to have huge appetite for learning – which is something the 16 year old me would never have said about himself!
Now, I always want to be developing my skills and knowledge.
Capita have been fantastic in this regard, allowing me study leave to gain my qualifications and supporting my learning wherever possible.
What are the biggest challenges and rewards of your work?
The biggest challenge in my own role is staying on top of the constantly shifting online security threats. Viruses have become so advanced and much more difficult to catch and contain.
We’re always working on the latest technologies to combat these threats and that requires a lot of work!
The greatest reward is seeing myself develop in this role and taking full advantage of the opportunities available to me.
I was actually nominated as ‘Apprentice of the Year’ last year in recognition of how quickly I had developed and I’ve continued to work really hard as I’ve finally seen my work being recognised and opening up so many opportunities.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spare time? As the father of 3 kids, I think I’ve forgotten what those words mean! But seriously, I enjoy spending time with my family and when I get a chance I like to have a kick around with my mates.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
When I was younger I had a couple of trials for Leeds F.C. as my dream was to be a professional footballer.
Who has inspired you most in your life?
I consider myself to be extremely self-motivated, anything I’ve achieved I have done because I decided what had to change and made a plan for how I could achieve that.
But I suppose that sort of attitude comes from my upbringing and I’d say my father was the person who taught me the most about being a “self-starter.”