Carol Walker

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

I'm the person you call when your computer doesn't work, you can't get on to the internet, the printer doesn't print, you can't get to your documents (AKA "is the server/internet down?"). In real life, it seems that if there's a plug on it, I'm the first one to get called (BTW, no I can't fix your toaster but if I wanted to I could set up your home cinema system or home network).

What is it like when your job gets tough?

Depends on the company you work for at the time. These days, more and more companies need access to their technology 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so even when I don't have official "on call" duties, when the job gets tough you have to be available 24/7. I've had jobs where I've worked 43 hours in a 60 hour period (I got 11 hours sleep from Friday evening to Monday evening, they provided food) when a software update release went wrong and we had to fix it by 7am Monday, I've slept with a cell phone for 14 days straight in case I got the call back from the vendor with a fix, I've had to cancel personal plans at the last minute because a server went down, and I've returned calls at a weekend when it wasn't in the job description because someone needed help I wasn't happy with waiting until Monday to provide. On the plus side, I've worked for some awesome companies with some incredible people, got to play with the latest technology, and get to indulge my passion for learning (often on the company dime). Didn't want to leave this on the negative.....

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

In high school I wanted to take the full set of sciences, Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. My career counsellor advised me to switch one out for an Arts/Social Sciences/other course so that I wouldn't restrict my future career options. I took the advice and to this day I wish I could go back and tell my younger self not to listen. She was very insistent I'd be grateful I hadn't limited my options, looking back I wish I hadn't listened and done what my instincts told me was right not what I thought someone who was supposedly trained in career development told me to do. It worked out, but I may have had more options if I'd make a different choice back then.

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

Depends on the definition of big break. My current career started while I was working as a lab technician in my major (Chemistry). We had a PC that we used to run some of the analysis equipment which kept going wrong, and an overworked IT department who were trying to get a new MRP system implemented. I managed to fix it once or twice, so the lab team started asking me if I could do anything before they called IT, I had an interest in computers anyway so I managed to figure it out every now and then. It turned out I was allergic to a few of the chemicals we produced (specialist production) so the company offered me an opportunity to work in the IT department, I accepted and the rest is history as they say.

How did you start building your network?

Not sure about this one, my network is mostly people I actually know and have worked with. Given the average project in IT is about a year, that adds up to quite a few people I've met. I've worked with some fantastic people who have taught me a lot, so keeping in touch isn't hard.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

My parents - you can do it! Closely followed by "you can do better than this". They were always about the effort put in, my school report on their part was judged by the effort score not the achievement score. A for effort and D for achievement was better than D for effort and A for achievement for them, so always try your very best at anything you try!

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

Definitely didn't know what I wanted to do all along, I went through the whole range of Doctor, Vet, Forensic Science, Pathology (I had a thing for the Quincy TV show) and a whole host of others. The only common denominator was science, so it was a given it would be something science or technology based. I started in science (R&D lab technician) and ended up in technology so it all worked out in the end.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

I started as a Chemistry technician, my biggest challenge was that after a few years working in that industry we discovered that I had severe allergies to several of the chemicals that they either produced or that were used in production. I was devastated, I'd spent years graduating and studying, I loved the job and the company. I was fortunate that the company was extremely supportive, they provided specialists to help with the physical issues and career development to help me decide my future. They moved me into the IT department after I expressed an interest in tech, I worked there for a while and because of the experience they gave me, decided that was my future. I've been in IT now for over a decade, it's fast paced, at times high stress, but I love it - so shout out to the ones who didn't just drop me as "not fit to work" and who helped me transition.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

Follow your interests and strengths - don't listen to people who say you won't make it. If you are determined enough, you have some talent, and you research how to, you CAN do anything. Just be sure you have enough talent - all the will in the world won't get you a spot in the opera if you really really can't sing!

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

Yes, chores and homework! Believe it or not, both those even outside of work experience will get you a long way - time management, self discipline, work ethics, all go a long way to determining who you are and how you work. Yes I did a part time job occasionally, but my parents taught me way more on being a good person, working hard, and being determined to be your best than any job (even now) ever has.