What does a typical working day involve for you?
We are a relatively small IT department, so I am involved in lots of different IT functions and therefore my typical working day involves many activities. I manage the MI for the company, so every day I update this for directors/managers, ensuring accurate and reliable reports are available. My job is heavily project based, so I am usually involved in meetings with various stakeholders; implementing software solutions to enable the delivery of high-quality service to our end users. I oversee the change process, while ensuring that key performance indicators are achieved. I also configure and maintain our in-house software system, and provide innovative solutions, to ensure that we deliver the best customer service possible.
How did you get your job?
After I finished a bachelor’s degree in Northern Ireland, I decided to move somewhere new. I contacted recruiters in Jersey, who put me in contact with Islands Insurance. As soon as I finished the interview with my now boss, I knew Islands was where I wanted to work. Organisational culture is very important to me and Islands ticked all the boxes. Although my degree is in Biomedical Engineering, I had contracted as an IT Project Manager during my studies, which I always loved – so it was a perfect fit!
Are there any future skills you will need to learn for your role?
Given the various projects ongoing in Islands, I decided to study Project Management to assist in developing my role. I passed the first exam last month and hope to complete the final qualification by the end of the year. I’d also like to complete a technical IT qualification, because as my role develops this will be useful, and I enjoy learning new skills and challenging myself.
What are the three most important skills required for your role?
First and foremost, I think the most important attribute for any job is a solid work ethic. IT is such an interdisciplinary profession, so being a strong team player is also very important. Analytical and problem solving skills are also imperative in a fast paced environment.
What advice would you give someone interested in a career in your profession?
IT is such an evolving discipline, so always be willing to learn new things and be open to new opportunities. We live in such a technology-driven world, and it is an amazing opportunity to be a part of the journey. At school I was diagnosed with dyslexia, which made school a struggle – but I went on to achieve a 1 st class honours degree in Bio-Medical Engineering at university, so anything is possible!
Tell us a fun fact
I love a good challenge… and nine out of ten times, I’ll smash a Guinness challenge.
Reference: Direction Magazine 2021