Working as an apprentice technician is often quite varied. We have many responsibilities, so there is a lot to learn. Primarily, we assist staff with IT-related problems and support. This can include helping users understand how to use the Queen’s online systems, providing technical advice, and repairing or addressing any IT- related issues. For example, we occasionally perform repairs to broken hardware by replacing components that are causing issues. We are also in charge of overseeing the distribution and use of computers by staff and making sure everyone has the equipment they need for their work.

Another key aspect of the role is helping to maintain the university’s systems, such as keeping the servers running and ensuring the printers remain operational. The servers run the online services such as the Queen’s portal, storage, and the VPN. Security is a large concern throughout all the IT infrastructure, so it’s frequently updated with recent security patches and any existing vulnerabilities are mitigated. Since the work is quite varied, every day is different, and I never know what challenges I will be faced with. As a result, working as an apprentice technician is always interesting and exciting.

I enjoy that I get to work with many different people on a day-to-day basis since I provide support and advice to my colleagues. Queen’s is a great place to work as it’s very lively and active. It’s such a large organisation with so much going on. I enjoy meeting new people and it’s very interesting to see what they do within the university. This also often provides the ability to network and collaborate with people at Queen’s and work on projects together to improve systems or aspects of Queen’s infrastructure. For example, I recently worked with a colleague who oversees updating the website for our department, and I agreed to help edit some media to be put up on the website. This potential for collaboration ensures I often get to work on interesting new tasks through which I learn new skills and expand my abilities.

I am most proud of when I can solve complicated problems and apply what I’ve learned without assistance. I have a mentor, Steve, who helps me learn the job and often shows me how to carry out tasks. It is satisfying when I’m able to complete more complicated tasks without help because it means that I have managed to improve at my job and develop. One occasion of this is when there was a computer that would not boot. I troubleshot the issue and tried various fixes until I eventually managed to resurrect the PC by reconfiguring the BIOS. It was a satisfying job as it required figuring out what the issue was and then figuring out how to fix it. I hope that as I gain more experience, I will become better equipped to handle unique and challenging cases like this. 

An apprenticeship at Queen’s is worth seriously considering. It is a great way to get a head start and get involved in an industry that can otherwise be difficult to break into. It is a large commitment, as it can, at times, be challenging to balance studying and learning with practical work, but it is very rewarding and there is no better way to learn than to apply yourself to the work. There are many benefits to an apprenticeship at Queen’s, including brilliant opportunities for growth and further career development, as there are so many exciting projects happening at Queen’s all the time. In this environment, you will experience many aspects of your industry, giving you a better understanding of the whole range of applications and pathways available to you. Undertaking an apprenticeship can be incredibly worthwhile and satisfying. If you think it’s the right thing for you, then don’t hesitate to get stuck in. Good luck!