Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Melbourne, where I attended Nossal High School in Berwick, and completed the VCE in 2014. I then went on to study Mechatronics Engineering and Finance at Monash University, while working as a private maths tutor for five years, and as a casual at Big W for four years. I also joined the Formula Student team at Monash as an Electric Powertrain Engineer for a year, before graduating at the end of 2020.
How did you get to your current job position?
I believe that my passion for technology and learning new things lead me to my current job position, however it was a gruelling process of applying for work during the height of the pandemic. Initially I was rejected for many jobs, including the graduate program at DXC Technology, but rather than be disheartened, I expressed great interest in the possibility of joining the team in the future. A few days later I heard back saying a new position was available and that they wanted me – and I’m glad to say it has now been five months since becoming a graduate!
How did you choose your specialisation?
As an engineer, learning about the latest technologies excites me. I wanted a role that allowed me to work on the forefront of innovation and gain invaluable skills that would be highly sought-after in the future. I was weighing up between cyber security and cloud computing, and to my pleasant surprise ended up with a role that utilised both.
What was your interview process like?
The interview process was done entirely online, but was otherwise what one would expect of an assessment centre, where we would engage in several activities as individuals and in groups. During my one-on-one interviews, I was asked behavioural-style questions that assessed how I handled issues in the workplace, managed impending deadlines, or my methodology to solving complex problems. The great thing about the interviews I remember however, was that they were structured more like a “lets get to know each other” type of conversation, and so I didn’t feel pressured to be overly formal and could instead be myself – which is what I believe the recruiters really wanted to see.
What does your employer do?
DXC Technology delivers IT services to help companies thrive in a world where technology is constantly evolving, and innovation is essential. We mainly do this by modernising outdated IT systems, or by eliminating the need for the company to manage their IT infrastructure entirely, by helping them transition to the cloud. When companies “go digital”, it’s more cost-effective, their data is far more secure, and their services can be accessed globally by their employees and customers.
What are your areas of responsibility?
As an Associate Professional System Engineer, I get to dive into the deep end and get my hands dirty working on the deployment of cloud infrastructure and the building of applications for our customers.
Can you describe a typical work day?
My day starts off with a daily meeting to update the team on what I’m currently working on and how it’s going. I then spend the day working on my assigned tasks, with more meetings throughout the day to cover different agendas. The last thing I worked on was a digital phone application for a customer, that included Microsoft Teams integration, so when a name was searched the application provided that person’s contact details and availability status.
What are the career prospects with your job?
One of the first things I attained in this job was an associate-level certification in cloud computing, which happens to be a highly sought-after skill in most technology companies. The pathways from here are endless, however I see myself going down the path of becoming a Professional Solutions Architect, aka a Cloud Engineer. Cloud engineers enjoy a generous salary, and hold future-proof skills and experience that will only grow in demand in the years to come.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Certainly. People from all backgrounds can get into cloud computing even if they know nothing about it. The only prerequisites I would suggest are a passion for technology and learning – because there’s a lot to take in, and the learning never stops.
What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?
I would most likely be in consulting for technology solutions, but wouldn’t be getting nearly as much hands on experience as I am right now.
What do you love the most about your job?
I love that I get to contribute to work that our customers actually use in their day-to-day work. Especially things such as deploying servers or building applications. Also working from home is a huge plus, as it provides me with the time and flexibility to deal with other things in life.
What’s the biggest limitation of your job?
The biggest challenge is balancing the work to be done and meetings to attend, with self development to expand my knowledge. While we are given a fair amount of responsibility, it is never over-bearing as it is shared amongst the team and I can always rely on my colleagues for help when I get stuck. I have never had to work on weekends, and stress levels are usually at a minimum unless a deadline is around the corner and there’s a lot of work to do.
A word to the wise...