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Does the job ever get repetitive and boring?

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Does the job ever get repetitive and boring?

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[Henry] In my experience, every job has certain parts of it that will be repetitive and parts that you might not enjoy. There are some days where I find myself sat in meetings or doing admin work all day and don't actually get to look at any code at all, but it's about remembering that those things are all part of the job.
I love what I do, it's about as close to a dream job as I could get, but I also understand that I am not going to enjoy every aspect of it all of the time.

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how much stuff that has been created for the army?

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how much stuff that has been created for the army?

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[Henry] I don't currently work on software for the Army, however I am working on a data analytics platform which is used to support RAF aircraft. The aircraft maintenance records are loaded into the software package, which can then generate graphs and charts, enabling users to track the use and availability of various parts on the aircraft and the aircraft themselves.
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[Sangita] I work for a company that manufactures front-end equipment like ploughs, rollers etc to be integrated to any armed vehicle like tanks. Our products deliver combat capabilities and mobility and hence helps the the army to be more equipment. The rollers have very heavy tires which can detonate any hidden threats thereby providing safety to the soldiers in the tank and the troupe following them. Similar to this we have a range of products built for different applications. Apart from the mechanical products we also aim in providing them which software level support using AI and automation. All this will help the soldiers by reducing the stress and load on them.
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[Caroline] If you are interested in working on Internet of Things (IoT) technology then Physics, Computer Science, Design & Technology and Graphic Communication will give you a good grounding in some technical skills. Although I would stress that you don't need to have tech skills like coding to work in tech and that it takes a diverse team to create the technologies that society needs. In voice technology, which is the other area my company works in, is a really diverse area. If you are interested in developing voice applications like Alexa, you might benefit from subjects such as Music, Music Technology and Languages.

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Can you name some examples of jobs that are exciting and pay well?

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Can you name some examples of jobs that are exciting and pay well?

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[Henry] It really depends on what YOU find exciting. Personally, I enjoy the challenge of software development and I love working with aircraft - my salary has increased over time. My advice would be to find something you really enjoy and, if you stick with it, you will get where you want to be.

[Caroline] I am a bit biased but I do think smart homes and voice technology are really exciting new technology areas and a rewarding area to work in.  So you might want to research more into IoT Engineering and Voice Application Developer roles.

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What school subjects do you use the most in your job?

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What school subjects do you use the most in your job?

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[Caroline] This is actually quite tricky to answer as I have completely pivoted my career. I studied Chemical Engineering and worked as a Process Engineer in the Energy industry for over 18yrs, but now I run a tech start-up that requires completely different skills.
What I would say is if you are interested in technology, that your career will really benefit from having a diverse skill set.  So don’t only focus on tech, it can be really beneficial to learn about creative processes and the world around you. This could even be something that you do as a hobby. Our business in smart homes actually came from my husband's hobby, although he does have a background in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

[Sangita] For doing my job I do need a basic knowledge of Physics, Mathematics and of course computer science. More than the subjects, it is the ability to approach and solve a problem that is required. You are not necessarily required to know a lot before hand. Just have your basics strong and rest you will learn as you go about your job. In any field your employer would be aware of your capabilities (especially a new graduate) and would not expect you to know everything about the work just as you enter. There will be mentors, managers guiding and teaching you along the way.

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what, in your opinion, are the best subject choices for S4 and what is the best route for after S6, would it be better to do a degree at uni, go to college or do an apprenticeship?

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what, in your opinion, are the best subject choices for S4 and what is the best route for after S6, would it be better to do a degree at uni, go to college or do an apprenticeship?

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[Caroline] Every person is different, with unique abilities and things they are passionate about.  The great thing about tech is it is so diverse and needs diverse teams in order to meet societal needs and challenges.  I studied Maths, Physics, Chemistry, English, French, Modern Studies, Physical Education, Music and Art in S4 and then in S5 and S6 did Maths, Physics, Chemistry, English, Biology, Geography and Modern Studies.  Career paths now are no longer linear, there are far more options of how to learn new skills and it is easier to move between industries because people see the value that this can bring.  I have moved from Oil and Gas into HealthTech and IoT and am effectively now learning on the job, utilising my experience as an engineer to problem solve and innovate.  There are opportunities in tech both through a university route, college courses and straight from school. Tech uses a lot of open source tools and what has really struck me moving into this field how much free resources there are for people to learn tech skills.

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What kind of things would you need to study for college or university 

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What kind of things would you need to study for college or university 

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[Caroline] That depends a lot on the specific area of tech that you are most interested in.  Some courses are more job/industry specific and others are broader, teaching you core principles and skills that can be applied to a range of jobs.  I would recommend doing some research into what the colleges and universities are offering and what you feel most drawn to.  It's okay not to be sure what area interests you most and if that's the case a broader course might suit you better so you can get a taster for more tech applications.
Also you don't need a tech qualification to work in tech, for example in the area I am most interested in, which is HealthTech and healthy ageing, the Royal College of Art have an amazing and very well respected Design Age Institute with some amazing experts in inclusive technology design.
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[Sangita] I think the main thing for studying in any  University is to figure out your interests and this is done by exploring different options, researching. You are exploring by just asking this question and participating in such activities. All this will make you aware of the possible opportunities available. There are so many videos, articles and quizzes online explaining different area of studies depending on your interest. You need not have everything figured at once. Also your interests may change over the time, which is completely normal.
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What qualifications would I need if I would go into this industry?

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What qualifications would I need if I would go into this industry?

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[Caroline] If you are interested in Smart Home technology then you might want to consider gaining an Electrician qualification or studying Electronic/Electrical Engineering. On the voice technology side, university courses tend to be at postgraduate Masters level. The industry is so new that there aren't many courses available. The young people we have hired have been trained on the job using online resources from developer community tutorials like Dabble Labs. Anyone can sign-up as a developer on the Amazon Alexa platform and they have a lot of online resources to get you building your first voice application.

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How hard was it for you to get to your current position? Was it hard to start the business?

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How hard was it for you to get to your current position? Was it hard to start the business?

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[Henry] I got my first job in the software industry in 2012 with a small local software company, working on a maritime security project. After a couple of years, I was ready to progress further than they were able to take me, so I moved to another small company at roughly the same level, but this role also included some travelling around the country and meeting with customers which provided me with some new skills and experience.
From there I moved to a software consultancy, a business that builds software for other companies, which provided me with the opportunity to work on many different projects across various sectors.
Most recently, I got my current job with Boeing - I was on the train home from work and got into a conversation with someone who, it turned out, worked for Boeing. I sent them my CV, applied for the job and here I am!
My advice would be to always be open to opportunities, talk to people, ask questions, make connections - you never know where or when your next opportunity might come.

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[Sangita] This is my first ever full time Job after graduating, so it is very special to me. I completed my Masters from Newcastle University in Automation and Control. During my masters, I had attended many Job fairs. One such was conducted by our University, where there were many companies for control engineering. I took their contacts and submitted my CV( which I kept handy) to them. I got invites for interview from some companies, but Pearson Engineering(current company) was where I was able to clear all rounds. So few things I did when joining my Masters was getting my CV updated and checked at the career service centre, attending the mock interview, group assessment sessions organised by them. And keeping an eye on companies and their vacancies. Also I constantly tried to get some advice from my professor or mentor regarding what courses or projects would enhance my profile and give me a better chance in getting a Job.
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[Caroline] It has been more difficult in some aspects. The people we support with our smart home solutions tend to be vulnerable either due to their age, health conditions or disabilities and so it's meant we have to limit the time that we spend in person. This makes it tricky to properly understand a person's needs and how their home environment can be improved to better support them.
I do however like that we don't need a permanent office and that there is no regular commuting to work anymore.
Covid has also moved industry events online making it easier for us to attend and also contribute to working groups across organisations that are looking to innovate in health and social care.
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[Sangita] It has definitely been a tough couple of years for me personally due to Covid. I stay by myself and the whole quarantine situation only made my mental health worse. It is tough when you stay away from family and can't travel to visit them due to restrictions. But our company had handled this situation brilliantly. Putting in safety measures, keeping in touch with their employees and making sure they are doing fine. My manager had supported me and helped me during my tough times. I think all this eventually helped me get over that rough time.

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What skills are needed for Game-soft engineer / Game Development 

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What skills are needed for Game-soft engineer / Game Development 

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[Henry] My plan was to enter the games industry after university. Roughly speaking, there are two primary roles in games development, software engineers and artists, so you would need to decide which you wanted to do. Personally, I have never been good at art and design, but I love software. I studied a degree in Graphics, Vision and Games at Aberystwyth (the course is still offered now), it covers the software side of games as well as software development more generally. For this, you need maths definitely, and a good level in English helps as well. Computing and IT wasn't a subject that was offered when I was at school, but any experience in that would be beneficial. Above all, the ability to think logically and love of problem solving are key to any job in software.
I would also mention that the games industry is a high paced, high pressure environment, working to very tight deadlines.
Good luck.

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What is the average salary for someone who is working in the Digital Technologies Industry?

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What is the average salary for someone who is working in the Digital Technologies Industry?

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[Henry] There is a huge range of different roles available within the area of digital technology with a vast range in salaries to match. It depends on the job that you have, the level that you are and even where you live (for example salaries in London are significantly higher than other parts of the UK, but so is the cost of living). My suggestion would be to check a job comparison website - www.glassdoor.co.uk for example, where you can find the salaries for all kinds of different jobs and even narrow it down by location as well.

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Do you face any big obstacle the work you do?

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Do you face any big obstacle the work you do?

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[Caroline] As a tech start-up, we have self-funded all our research and development work. It is really difficult to get grant funding to kickstart ideas and so we've had to be quite creative with how we do things to make our resources stretch as far as possible. This has in fact become a strength and encouraged us to bring students into the team, which we have loved.

[Sangita] This is my first ever full time job other than some internships I did in my undergrad. I work in the Research and Development team, so it was all new and exciting at the same time. Research is nothing but an educative guess work and you work thinking that what you assumed is right. But things don't always work out like that and you might need a lot of trials to get the result. All of this was a bit daunting and I was intimidated. But as days went by, from the support of my colleagues and manager I started getting a hang of it. I am still learning not to take every failed test or result as a personal failure. That is in fact a way you figuring out what can be done next and you also learn a lot from those failed attempts.

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what is it like whilst your working? inside of the digital technologies environment is it hard to keep on task when you can be doing anything else like looking at cars or something whilst you are working is it very easy to get distracted or is it fairly simple and how often do you get breaks?

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what is it like whilst your working? inside of the digital technologies environment is it hard to keep on task when you can be doing anything else like looking at cars or something whilst you are working is it very easy to get distracted or is it fairly simple and how often do you get breaks?

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[Henry] I understand exactly where this question is coming from! I have had jobs in the past where I haven't felt challenged or I haven't enjoyed the work and it has been very easy to get distracted and end up looking at other things (interesting that you mention cars - Formula 1 was quite often my go-to distraction).
However, I am now fortunate enough to work in a job that I absolutely love! I don't get distracted because I really WANT to do the work, to solve the problem, to keep supporting the aircraft - every day presents a new challenge. Having said that, I am free to take a break whenever I feel I need to, it's actively encouraged that we don't spend too much time sat at our desks since it can cause health issues in the long run.

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computing - what jobs are in this industry?

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computing - what jobs are in this industry?

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[Caroline] With a computing background, there is a really wide range of jobs that you could get involved with, like web development, enterprise software (i.e. software that companies use to help them do their jobs, think cost/risk management, project management, customer relationship tracking type applications, modelling systems, creating digital twins to plan maintenance), mobile phone applications, voice applications, audio engineering, games development, virtual/augmented reality, IT support, cyber security, telephony, internet networks, IoT, robotics.....

[Sangita] Looking at the way things are evolving, every field has some portion of computing and digital technology involved. Be it web app development or hard core physics, I know someone who is studying magnetism (one topic in the module)and has uses coding to for his lab sessions. The universities have started using python as the main coding language for lab sessions and dropped off the Matlab (considered to be not that advance or easy to use). I have a friend who studied music and computing. So the possibilities are endless. You will always have an upper hand by having certain level of computing skills. You can find jobs related to computing in various sectors as listed by Caroline. And such jobs will continue to exist and demand for computing skill will also exist.

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[Caroline] In a tech start-up there is a lot of experimentation and uncertainty, so you need to get used to things not turning out the way you planned. In our business I've needed to work on being resilient, having patience and my creativity to make the most of limited resources.  The other key development area for me has been learning how to network and build connections with customers, businesses and support organisations.
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[Henry]  Problem solving - every piece of software is a solution to a problem.
Attention to detail - small mistakes can have big consequences.
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[Sangita]  Communication skills - to be able to communicate within your team and with other departments about the task at hand and what outcome is expected from you. Good communication is must when you work in a group or team, so that every one is on the same page.

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What do you love the most about the industry you work in?

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What do you love the most about the industry you work in?

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[Caroline] I love helping people and seeing how technology can enhance their lives.

[Sangita] I am grateful to be able to contribute my bit in the defence industry by designing equipment for combat and safety.

[Henry] Being able to work with and support some amazing aircrafts.

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Where do you think the jobs will be in 5 years time?

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Where do you think the jobs will be in 5 years time?

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[Caroline] Almost every industry you can think of is transforming their approaches by incorporating technology solutions.  So, the opportunities are growing and there are job roles emerging that didn’t previously exist.
There is a huge shortage of Data Science experts to support analysing and visualising data, decision making, managing risk and improving process efficiency.
Demand for specialists in Internet of Things, Voice Recognition, Augmented/Virtual Reality and Ambient Computing is also growing significantly.
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[Sangita] I think there will always be a shift in the kind of jobs required in any industry. For instance in defence sector, we are already in the transition stage where our focus has been very much towards to Automation and AI from the protective vests to our products that provides combat capability and mobility. There will always be a demand for news talent as new skills and technology come up. We can expect most of the job role to have some direct or indirect connection with digitalisation in the future.