Infrastructure Specialist Review

I'm in a team where we provide virtual machines and other services to mostly internal IBM clients. Most of the team just provide support for those customers and I do some support for the Rational customers we have, but I mostly work on things which will improve our infrastructure in the team, which can be hardware upgrades, new installations, or software / script writing.

99% of what I have been doing in the last (almost) 2 years I have had to learn from the basics since I had not much experience in networking and infrastructure. I knew how to make a computers so some of the hardware stuff I was familiar with, but a lot of the software packages we use and the way that we just generally handle tickets etc, I have had to learn.

When I think about it, I have mostly enjoyed my time as I have learned a lot of things by working, and I appreciate the knowledge I have gained on the systems I've been working on. I do think there are other areas of IT that I would like to try, and whether I would have enjoyed my time more in those areas, I don't know, but my team has definitely made my time here fun.

When I joined, the programme was in the process of being created, so two others and I had to wait 5-6 months before we actually started on the apprenticeship, which was a little annoying, however it did mean we got a good start at working in our roles before the apprenticeship. Other than that the scheme has been fairly well planned, with good training and for the most part, good communication between Firebrand and us.

My EPM has been helpful, and fills me in regularly enough so I know what is going on to do with my job, and the apprenticeship. I also feel IBM as a whole has supported me well and offered plenty of advice and guidance on general working life things, that I wouldn't have learned in any education course.

For the most part we would just turn up to the training and then do the exam after, and that would be that, and that was fine. I have however been failing the last exam I have had to do, and it took a while before I received any decent support from Firebrand regarding what I should do to revise.

The courses have provided me with useful knowledge about infrastructure as a topic, however since my role is mainly based around specific software or infrastructure areas, they were never covered in detail in the courses (which I didn't expect). The courses were interesting and helpful, but I learned probably 80% of what I need for my role, whilst doing the role.

IBM often organise networking events, and there are clubs that you can attend, depending on the location you are based at. I am at North Harbour, which I feel has less to offer than some of the more larger offices such as Hursley or South Bank from what I hear.

Yes

As a company in technology, there is so many options of jobs that you can go into, that there is something for everyone, even if you don't find it at first. The network of employees that you create and you can get into, can be as large as you want, with all the support and events that go on too.

When you apply, have some idea of what area you want to go into, because there is such a large area of roles available, there is a good chance that you might get into that straight away. On the other hand, if you don't know what you want, the same applies, as there are so many options, you will eventually find something you are good at.