Alex
Dickson
What are your main responsibilities?
As the Technical Advisor, my main responsibilities involve keeping all computing systems online, ensuring that there are no delays in the productivity of the business and resolving any challenges that present themselves daily.
Pathway Selected
Like many young adults leaving sixth form, the idea of University did not appeal to me. I heard about Apprenticeships during my time at school, and I thought it would be a better way to enhance my employability within the area of IT. After interviewing at Protocol, I began working on my functional and work skills. Which would assist me throughout my apprenticeship and allow me to gain the necessary experience for a job in IT. During this time, I was able to gain valuable work experience with members of the IT department and Protocol. As well as those in the Administration team.
What is your working environment like?
I work in an office-based setting with a number of employees who are extremely friendly and helpful. Especially when I require assistance with a task that I have never encountered before.
Who do you work with? (Departments, Work colleagues)
Operating within the IT department, I work will a whole host of colleagues and departments that spread across the entirety of the business. I assist them with any and all issues that they face with technical devices they require to complete daily tasks.
What do you like about your job?
Throughout my time at SDL Bigwood, I have developed good communicational, organisational and relationship skills that will assist me with my future goals. I’ve also really enjoyed working on the IT Practitioner apprenticeship that I completed at Protocol. It really helped me to focus and develop my IT skills, which have got me to the level I am at today and allow me to continue operating within the role I am passionate about.
What are the main challenges you face on a daily basis?
Approaching problems that have never come up before can be challenging, as I don’t have the required knowledge to solve them on my own. Thankfully I work within a department where I can lean on my fellow colleagues. They have far more experience than I do and have no problem teaching me new skills as and when is needed.
How do you overcome these challenges, should you require assistance?
Assistance is first required, as there are many things that can go wrong with technical devices if you don’t know what you are doing. The see one, do one, teach one method is a very good learning tool as it allows the learner to first observe, then attempt and then teach. As a result, proving that they fully understand the task that has been laid out in front of them.
Learner Details:
Age: 20
Employer: SDL Bigwood
Job Role: Technical Advisor
Qualification: I.T. Practitioner
Skills & Qualities
- I.T.
- Passion
- Confident
- Time Management
Future Goals
Through my role at SDL Bigwood, I have discovered there are many possible routes that my journey into IT could take. This includes the role of Help Desk Support, Networking, and Data Designing.
Working as Help Desk Support has helped me to understand the areas that I would like to pursue further. My next step is aimed towards becoming Second Line Support.
After this, my goal is to become an IT Help Desk Manager. Which, I will achieve through further training courses to ensure that I am equipped to take on the responsibilities that the role demands.