When did you work in IT support at the Department of Chemistry?

I worked here between August 2020 and August 2021 as part of my undergraduate degree. As we all know it was a bit of a strange time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but thanks to remote work I could still carry out my work placement.

What were your main duties?

My main duty was to provide IT support to the members of the Department and to respond to and triage new support requests. When I was able to shift my focus from issues requiring immediate attention I would work on side projects, for example, adding functionality to an internal website.

What did you most enjoy when you worked in the IT team?

I really enjoyed working with the other Computer Officers. Everyone in the team is extremely knowledgeable, and there was something to be learned from almost every conversation. I always felt supported and enjoyed our weekly meetings. I liked how much trust and autonomy I was given. The Department is an interesting set of buildings which were fun to explore as I learned my way around over the year. I really liked seeing my code actually being used by the team.

What did you find to be the greatest challenge?

I've had a few challenges when working on coding projects and there were definitely some difficult long standing tickets, but years later I can't remember them all that well. One challenging aspect of my time at the Department that I do remember well was working from home. At first, I only noticed the benefits: I could put the laundry on, cook something fresh for lunch, save time on commute. But over time I realised how much harder it is to focus during work hours and relax during the off hours. This was eye opening as I used to think that there were no downsides to remote work.

What did you learn working in the IT team?

On the technical side, I learned a lot about Linux, got better at Python, improved my understanding of computer networking, and picked up various other technologies.

When it comes to soft skills I learned how a team of IT professionals works together, I learned how to deal with requests and provide a great support service. I saw how to organise and lead efficient team meetings.

What are you up to now?

After my placement I worked a few other jobs, mainly in the hospitality sector. I returned to the Department in 2023, temporarily at first. After a while, I was able to fill a permanent role and I’ve been enjoying it ever since.