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Transitioning from an apprentice to a professional in the IT industry can be an exciting and rewarding experience. This is the journey of Oliver Ward, who began his career as a technical apprentice, learning the ropes of IT, and has since progressed to a role as a junior consultant and service desk analyst. In this Spotlight On, we'll explore his thoughts on how he developed his skills, overcame challenges, and successfully transitioned into his current role, where he plays a crucial part in supporting clients and solving complex technical problems.
Along the way, we'll delve into the lessons he's learned and his aspirations for the future...
What new skills have you learnt?
I have further developed my scripting skills, particularly in automating processes. Additionally, I've become proficient in creating data reports, including data classification and producing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. I also gained experience in maintaining ADFS servers, focusing on annual certificate renewals. Another skill I've acquired is managing license transitions; for instance, I worked on moving our customer's licenses and Azure plans to a new license provider. Lastly, I was involved in helping our team achieve the Cyber Essentials accreditation.
How would you describe Venture 1 to someone?
Venture 1 is a small team of highly skilled technical professionals who collaborate with other teams to achieve common goals. The environment is supportive, and the focus is on delivering quality solutions for clients.
What are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?
I'm looking forward to taking a holiday to relax and recharge. Beyond that, I'm excited to complete my current consultancy project, which involves restructuring a customer's file-sharing environment and migrating permissions to a more organised groups-based system.
What motivates you to keep learning and improving your skills?
I'm motivated by the desire to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry. I also find that learning new skills brings a sense of accomplishment and opens up opportunities for career advancement. Besides, the more I learn, the better I can serve my clients and team.
Can you describe a project or accomplishment that you're particularly proud of?
One project I'm particularly proud of is migrating public folders to cloud-native shared mailboxes. This project was complex, requiring careful planning and execution, but it resulted in a more efficient and streamlined system for our organisation.
What is your approach to balancing work and personal life?
I strictly separate work from personal time, ensuring I don't bring work-related tasks home with me. Likewise, I keep my personal life separate from work to maintain professionalism.
What is the most valuable lesson you've learned from a colleague or mentor?
The most valuable lesson I've learned is "JFDI" (I'll let you figure out that acronym!). It's a reminder that sometimes you just have to dive in and get things done without overthinking.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone starting in your field?
The best advice I can offer is to embrace the feeling of imposter syndrome and use it as a motivator to learn from others at every opportunity. Everyone feels out of place at times, but that’s part of the growth process. Seek knowledge, be curious, and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Thanks Oliver for participating in another 'Spotlight On'
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