Infrastructure Specialist Review

I monitor our team's collection of servers and our network, making sure any issues are flagged and sorted out. I support several customers and their accounts, the firmware they use and the platforms they're using it on. I also innovate new ideas to help our team automate tasks and help us perform our jobs more efficiently.

I have completed courses in Microsoft, BCS, and IBM own, earning certifications on several. Courses included topics on software development, managing administration on server software, practices such as ITIL, and security. On the job, I learned skills around support, project management, and problem-solving under pressure. I was also trained in my team how to use virtual machine management software, how to set up and maintain servers, their OS, and the middleware they ran.

The work I do varies day to day, sometimes it's more exciting, sometimes it's a bit more mundane but it balances out well. I've been with the same team since I joined IBM and they are a really good bunch of guys who have many years of experience and have supported me in learning my role as well as adjusting to the working world in a realistic way.

My programme was well structured with courses set by IBM and the external training provider, Firebrand. Towards the end of the apprenticeship, we had the endpoint assessment, where there were some uncertainties since we were the first to reach that point on the new programme, but it worked out in the end. I have had lots of support from past and current people managers, and I've never felt like I couldn't approach someone for help, whatever the topic was.

My managers have been very good, and always were on top of keeping me up to date on the goings-on of the apprenticeship, and other company-related information. I could always ask for guidance and support from my manager and my mentor if I was unsure about something, work or non-work related.

The mentor provided by the training provider had some issues in the first half of my apprenticeship, but they still were fairly good at providing support with the courses and exams that followed. The mentor who was assigned to us towards the latter half of the apprenticeship was very good at letting us know what needed doing and by when and was a big factor in us getting the qualification completed well and on time.

Many of the courses proved to be useful and as I was starting out in the technology world they helped me understand the essentials of what I was going to be working with. The qualification overall gave structure to my onboarding as it were, but at times I felt like the learning I was doing on the job was more useful than the mandatory training the provider was giving.

There are many networking events, lunches, and gatherings, and IBMers are always hosting events on a large variety of topics. In the last year, some apprentices have done an amazing job of hosting weekly calls to keep the social aspect alive since we've been working from home, which is sometimes a nice break from solitude.

Yes

Starting out my career with IBM has been incredible as I have had the opportunity to learn so many things, and gain skills, to become an established professional. Their continued support in early professionals wanting to make a break in the working world is excellent and I wouldn't have wanted to start my career anywhere else.

Get in there early, and don't be afraid to take the first thing that gets offered, since there is so much room to move around in the business, you can always find what you enjoy later on, even if you don't get offered it straight away, once you are in the door there are endless opportunities waiting if you have the drive.