#ScotAppWeek22 Financial Services Apprentice.
Profile #3| Jack Scott, Origo
What are the benefits of doing an apprenticeship for your personal development and your career path? For #ScotAppWeek22 we’ve been speaking to apprentices and former apprentices now making their careers in financial services. This is what Jack had to tell us about his experience.
What was your apprenticeship and why did you choose it?
My Apprenticeship was for becoming an Infrastructure Analyst at Origo and got me a qualification for a “Diploma for Information Technology and Telecommunications Professionals” at SCQF Level 8. I didn’t actively choose it, however as it chose me. I went for a job interview as an apprentice at a company called Computer Share, absolutely bombed the interview, and rightfully so, never got the job. However, I was then on a list at QA apprenticeships, and they phoned me with a few other job opportunities. That is how I eventually got the job here at Origo.
I wanted to do an apprenticeship because it seemed like a good alternative to four more years of studying. I am a practical person and I preferred the idea of getting real hands-on experience, starting work earlier and getting paid to do it.
What did you enjoy most about your apprenticeship and why?
I enjoyed passing, that was great. I also enjoyed doing my first project, which was a laptop refresh. All of the PCs where out of warranty so everyone in the company had to have their PC replaced. It was a case of building many PCs, time-managing how many could be built in a day, as well as how many could be handed out during the day. I enjoyed the different elements that went into managing a project and the pressure that came with doing the job properly. This task felt like it had real responsibility attached to it and I thrived in that situation. Ask for help if need be, otherwise, get on with it.
Describe something that surprised you about your apprenticeship?
The thing that shocked me most is how nervous I was. I am a very confident guy, will talk to anyone and like it when I’m the centre of attention. But coming into this workplace surrounded by 70 odd people all expecting something of me and having no idea how to do it was stressful. I was constantly asking questions, sometimes the same one, four times in a row as my brain was blown and I couldn’t remember anything. After a year or so, that started to calm down, and after another year I was comfortable in my role, but that took time. It was surprising to not just have it come naturally to me like everything else had so far. School was easy, so why wasn’t work? Turns out life is more complicated than working out questions in a textbook.
Describe something you learned about yourself doing your apprenticeship?
I think the main thing I’ve learned is that while confidence is important and helps, it doesn’t technically matter for doing your job. You need to be able to back an attitude up with knowledge and when I first joined, I didn’t really know that. “I am confident, I’m sure I’ll be fine” was my whole outlook on life and though useful, it’s so far from the bigger picture. I’ve learned how to back confidence up with proper work and learned how to do new things. Sometimes people are the answer, sometimes its google. And never forget how important turn it off and on again can be.
Tell us about your role now
I am a full time Infrastructure Analyst now at Origo. I enjoy project work as opposed to random one-off tasks as there is an end goal and its much more oriented around working with people. I appreciate random tasks need done and are necessary, but project work is more enjoyable. Whether its a laptop refresh, a big server upgrade or working on products with external companies, it has a rewarding touch when the work/project is finished.
