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 My IT career path has not followed the traditional step one: IT degree, step two: IT job, route. I moved to the UK 10 years ago and was considering a career as a social worker or in IT. I love problem solving. My first job, to pay the bills, was as an office manager in a small 10 person company. The manager hated taking care of the computers and I loved it, so they became my responsibility. In my next job I became a one woman IT department for a small company of 30 people. I did everything, upgraded PCs, installed and managed a new sales database, restored mistakenly deleted files from backup tapes. Moving to a large company, while working on the help desk, I had the opportunity to become a real computer geek (a term I am proud of). I had only been working there for a month when I took a support call for a system I had never heard of, from a person I had never heard of. I investigated the problem and called that person back twenty minutes later with an update. That person turned out to be the head of business systems. He was so impressed with my customer service skills and my analysis of the problem that he promptly asked me to join his team. Since then, I’ve built web sites, worked on a large financial system implementation and now I support databases worth £7 million.
Advice for anyone looking for a career in IT:
- First, get your foot in the door and work hard, but know that working hard is not enough. You have to been seen working hard. Get to know the bosses, network, speak at departmental meetings, take on special projects and let everyone know what you are doing and how well you are doing it. Big yourself up and don’t be shy about it (men do it all the time).
- Second, be prepared for a lifetime of learning. IT moves fast. You will have to recognise your own skills gaps and fill them. Over the years I have become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, an Oracle Database Certified Practitioner and completed an MBA, all on my own time. Not because someone told me to, but because I knew where my weaknesses lay. You may have all the technical skills you need but are terrified of giving presentations or have no idea how to network.
- Women in Technology, along with a host of other organisations, offer short courses. You may want to become an IT Director, but have no budgeting experience. Become a volunteer finance director for a charity. Whatever it is, fill the gap!
- Lastly, life isn’t all about work. Think about your dreams and think creatively about how to realise them. My dream was to cycle across Canada, but I never felt I was in a stable enough place financially or within my career to take the risk of a career break. After being in my job for three years I was asked to move offices. I asked if I could take all my holiday at once, followed by a two month leave of absence before the move. The bosses said yes and I fulfilled my dream. You don’t get what you don’t ask for, but choose your timing carefully.
The thing I like best about working in IT is that it is such a diverse field. There are so many opportunities. My one last piece of advice to anyone considering a career in IT: Go for it! It will be an adventure and the potential for personal and professional growth is enormous.
Ms Terry Wongstedt
Oracle Database Administrator
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