Currently working in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as an ICT Apprentice, Mario shares how the apprenticeship provided him with an amazing opportunity to reskill and transition into ICT. He was able to go from having zero knowledge and experience to playing a part in contributing to the delivery of a national ICT Strategy and working on some of the biggest and most exciting ICT projects in the public sector.
What was your previous career/education path before becoming an ICT Apprentice?
My background is in humanities and social science. I have a master’s degree in Philosophy and Sociology, but I’ve worked in many different jobs throughout my career. My last job prior to participating in the apprenticeship programme was in hospitality.
What was your reason for applying to become an ICT Apprentice in the Civil Service?
I had been interested in graphic design, UI and illustration for a while. This also sparked my interest in web development, and I started reading tutorials on HTML, CSS and basic JavaScript. Right about this time, I saw an ad for the ICT apprenticeship campaign, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to get into an ICT role.
What did you enjoy most about being on the Civil Service ICT Apprenticeship programme?
For me, the best part about the programme was that, on top of all the lectures and student projects, I had a chance to get some practical experience with large, real-life applications and systems. Being surrounded by many experienced and knowledgeable colleagues who were willing to share their knowledge helped me tremendously.
You successfully progressed from ICT Apprentice to ICT Executive Officer (EO). What does your current role entail?
My current role is quite diverse, and I’m involved in a variety of different tasks across multiple projects, such as providing support, business analysis, software testing and development. My work is mostly related to the common applications suite developed as part of the Build To Share initiative (apps such as ePQ, eSubmissions, eDocs etc.). When it comes to development, I’ve been mostly working with SQL, data warehouses and report building.
What opportunities has the apprenticeship programme, and your subsequent role provided you with?
The apprenticeship provided me with an amazing opportunity to reskill and transition into ICT. I was able to go from having zero knowledge and experience to playing a part in contributing to the delivery of a national ICT Strategy and work on some of the biggest and most exciting ICT projects in the public sector.
Would you recommend a career in the public sector?
I would definitely recommend it. It’s nice to know that your work has a direct impact on the quality of services we provide to citizens and businesses. The work culture is amazing, and everyone is supportive of each other. There are many great opportunities for training and professional growth.