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Describe your background and how you got into IT
I started off by studying IT at GCSE and initially didn’t think about taking it as an A-level straight away (although I can’t explain why). Instead I was considering taking Health and Social Care. However, after attending the introductory session on Health and Social care I didn’t like the look of it, so decided to study IT. And I am really glad that I did! I then started to get involved with teaching parents and grandparents of the students at my school, after school. At first I was assisting the trainer (my IT teacher) and eventually began running some of the sessions. Topics included an introductory session on PowerPoint and Word. Biology and IT were my two favourite A-Level subjects although IT came more naturally as such I went on to study Business Information Systems at the University of Brighton.
What is your current position / situation
Currently I work at Microsoft as a Technical Account Manager in the Public Sector. I am on the two-year Microsoft Academy for College Hire (MACH) scheme. TAMs are considered to be trusted business advisors to their Microsoft Premier Support customers. They provide valuable guidance around operations and optimisation of their IT infrastructure. Responsibilities include managing customer’s technical support issues by working with the appropriate support engineers, escalating where appropriate to resolution. You are expected to work with customers to understand skills gaps amongst their staff and arrange delivery of workshops, training and events, as well as developing and maintaining a good working knowledge of current and future Microsoft products and technologies.
What do you like best about working in IT?
It is a fast-paced industry so you are forever learning about new technologies and gadgets.
Why did you choose a career in IT in the first place?
I guess it was a natural progression, it was one of my stronger subjects at school and ultimately the subject I enjoyed the most. Looking back, it was either IT or medicine :)
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
The travel has been amazing. In just over one year I have had the opportunity to travel to the USA twice, Prague and Malta. I will also get to travel to the USA next year and another destination in Europe in the summer.
What are your career aspirations?
I still feel very new to my job so in the short term I am very eager to learn and develop in my job and learn to do it well. Thinking more long term, the fortunate thing is that there is a clear promotional path that I intend to work up.
What are your tips for success?
Probably to be yourself and never pretend you know something, instead be honest. This is particularly so during interviews, remember – the people interviewing you are probably experts in their fields so will be able to spot a waffler.
For undergraduates, my advice would be to do a placement year. There are some great placement programs out there. I did an internship at Microsoft during my third year at University. Doing a placement year is such a great spring board opportunity. It provided me with a wealth of knowledge about the IT industry and had the added benefit of helping me with my final year. It is the best of both worlds as you get an academic backing topped off with invaluable work experience. It also gave me real world work related examples to refer to during my graduate interview.
Can you share a few words of wisdom for those people who are thinking about pursuing a career in IT?
IT isn’t all about programming till 2am in the morning, fixing servers or having the ability to troubleshoot a desktop. IT extends well beyond that and there are a wealth of IT related jobs out there, which do not require you to be purely technical. Marketing, sales and Service Delivery Managers to name a few. I think that a lot of people (including me) assume that the IT industry is about how technical you are, I have learnt that this is indeed not the case. My job for example is very much based on relationship management and building a rapport with my customers.
How important do think your education or background has been in influencing your career choices?
I think my education has been key. If I hadn’t studied IT at university, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do a year’s work experience at Microsoft. In turn, I strongly believe that if I hadn’t taken the year out I would have struggled to find a graduate job as I would have lacked relevant work experience and wouldn’t be where I am today.
Do you think it might have been a different story, of "how you got to where you are now", if you'd been a man?
Not at all. When I compare myself to my male friends at university I think I am doing as well, if not better than some of them. I think being a woman is an advantage. We have the ‘built-in’ academic capability to study hard which in itself stands you in good stead. I also get the impression that businesses believe there to be a lack of women in IT so are really keen to take more women on (this may however have its disadvantages, see my penultimate point).
Tell us a little about your life outside of work
I play badminton with the Microsoft team once a week after work. I also enjoy shopping, going to the cinema and socialising with friends.
Do you think that there are obvious differences between what men and women have to offer an IT department?
Not especially. I think men are probably perceived to be more technical than most women although there are technical engineers that are women within Microsoft so that squashes that theory. The two genders may provide different perspectives on something. A woman for example may take a more sensitive approach to an issue or problem whereas a man may take a more logical and programmatic approach. Both of which will have its own benefits.
Are you aware of any preconceptions or stereotypes of women in IT, and if so what do you think of them?
To be honest, this is not something that I really ever have to contend with and am beginning to wonder whether this has something to do with my generation. It is becoming increasingly more acceptable for women to be at work and believe that this culture change is stamping out any preconceptions or stereotypes that might exist about women.
What do you think could be done to actively encourage more women to join the technology market place in general?
I simply would have benefited from understanding the jobs that are available in the industry a little earlier on. Fortunately, I got this exposure during my placement year and was then able to find a job that matched my skills. Perhaps a focus ought to be on educating young women of the various jobs that are available which do not require you to be massively technical.
Do you think enough is currently being done to counterbalance what has become an obvious lack of women in technology?
I’m not really sure that there is an obvious lack of women in IT. When I sit and think about the more technical departments within our business I can think of women that work in that department. If women are interested in IT, they will find their way. I do however think that recruiters need to think carefully about the ‘counterbalancing’ efforts that they take. I would hate to see the development of the perception that women land a job, simply because they are female as this would undo the hard work of those obtaining jobs through their own merit.
If you could give young women looking for a position in the IT market place a single piece of advice what would it be?
Do your research and apply!! :) | 