What to do next? A career in IT

A bit about me

My name is Tanya Matthews, and I am a Business Analyst working at Version 1 and based in the Northern Ireland office. I currently work with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on a development team. I got into IT through an apprenticeship and I studied at University of Ulster. I now have 7 years experience in the IT industry. At Version 1, I work as a Bring IT On ambassador and try to encourage young people into IT and make sure they are aware of the opportunities in IT.

Back to school

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to a Digital Technology and Programming class at my old school — Wallace High School. I spoke to the students about my what a career in IT looks like. This included:

Entrance options into IT — university, further education and apprenticeships
The types of roles in IT
What the typical day-day looks like
Other opportunities in IT

The students provided some excellent questions so I have decided to share some of the questions and answers as they may be helpful for anyone out their considering their next move post results.

What did they want to know?

Did you know what you wanted to do after school?

I was unsure until I was in lower sixth. I joined a programming club in school as I really liked web design in IT, I liked maths and my IT teacher encouraged me to come along to see if it was something I would enjoy. After I started that club I knew it was the right career for me. The best piece of advice I would give if you are interested in any career, is to do a bit of research — see if you can do a short online course to make sure its right for you. If you are unsure you’re better to take some time out and make sure you make the right choice for you.

In my spare time I used websites like CodeAcademy to learn more about programming — taking courses in JavaScript, web development and python. This gave me further insight into coding, and also gave me something to talk about in applications for courses and apprenticeships.

Have you had another job other than this one?

I have moved roles a bit within IT, I initially started as a software engineer then moved into a product specialist role which is more client focused. After a few years I decided I wanted to move into a Business Analyst role, which focuses on soliciting requirements from customers, and working with the tech team to deliver upon those requirements. The best part about working in IT is companies are very flexible and quite often allow you to explore different roles. Just because you start as a software engineer, doesn’t mean you are going to be in that role until you retire — unless you want that of course.

I have worked at two different companies, Kainos and currently Version 1. There are so many great companies based in Northern Ireland at the moment which makes it a great time to be considering a career in IT as there really is so much potential!

Are there any graphic designers in your company?

Yes there are, there are lots of other roles. There is everything from developers, to data architects, DevOps engineers, product manager, marketing, sales and so on. If you have a look at our careers page you can see just how many roles there are: Join Northern Ireland’s Most Thriving Tech Employer (version1.com)

What are the university courses like?

As I done a part time course at University, which was developed primarily for people in apprenticeships it had a good blend of modules to prepare you for the working world. I really enjoyed my course which was Computing Systems at Ulster University as there was a lot of practical which would be my strong suit over exams. There are lots of university courses from:

Software Engineering
Computer Science
Business Analytics
Computing Science
Interactive Computing
Computing Technologies
Business Information Technology

This isn’t an extensive list, but it shows you there are lots of different options. It’s worth exploring all courses.

Of course there are other options outside of university which include further education and apprenticeships. Check out Bring IT On’s site which has information on apprenticeships, HND’s, assured skills academies and foundation degrees. About Bring It On NI | IT Careers Northern Ireland | Bring It On NI

Version 1 is currently running a Digital Skills Academy which is open to those who hold a degree classification 2:2 in any discipline, or a level 5 qualification in an IT or STEM subject. This skills academy puts candidates through an 8 week intensive training programme and offers potential employment at the end of training.

There are plenty of opportunities regardless of your route so don’t put pressure on yourself to follow the same route as others,

Do you get holiday leave?

Yes, one of the great things about working in IT are the benefits. I get around 5 weeks of holidays a year, so I can take bank holidays, a decent break at Christmas and still have time left to take off for breaks in the summer or city breaks here and there. Other benefits we are entitled too include the cycle to work scheme, private healthcare, pension and staff engagement events such as summer and Christmas parties.

Version 1 Summer Party @ Field of Dreams Bangor

What is my best advice for someone interested in IT?

I would say be enthusiastic, and open to any opportunities. For me I was always open to new experiences and opportunities and it has opened a lot of doors for me. If I had never of said yes to the programming club, I may never have wound up here today!

I hope this has given you a bit of insight into an IT career, and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to get in touch.