My name is Oliver Cornwall, I provide a wide range of IT support throughout a secondary school and to surrounding primary schools which includes: managing IT infrastructure, setting up devices and aiding in the day to day running of the schools that we manage.
Before my apprenticeship I was studying Forensic science at college as I originally believed that this was the career path I wanted. I soon realised that it wasn’t for me and decided to get a job to start earning some money quickly, this turned into 5 years working in a retail store which I wasn’t happy with at all. It was then that I decided to pursue a career that I was passionate about and could be good at, this lead me to finding my apprenticeship.
My passion for IT inspired me to start my apprenticeship and as I didn’t have any official qualifications related to IT an apprenticeship was the perfect way for me to gain the necessary experience to help me pursue a career in the field. Also, I was not happy with the job I currently had which further motivated me to take the necessary steps towards my goal. I feel that this was the right choice for me.
My current aspirations are to have a career in the IT sector doing something I am passionate about. My apprenticeship is currently helping me get there by giving me invaluable hands-on experience in a dynamic workplace which is something you don’t get when sitting in a classroom at college or university. It is also allowing me to gain qualifications which will help me progress my career while I am working and earning a bit of money which is a big bonus!
I enjoy the different challenges that I am faced with everyday at work and finding solutions to overcome them. This allows me to keep learning and growing my knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure. I am also part of a great team that I get to work with on a daily basis which makes the work much more enjoyable and we have a nice relaxed atmosphere in the office.
My family think that my apprenticeship is an excellent introduction to a new career that enables me to learn in a workplace environment. Learning in a practical way, using the skills that I’m learning but with the support of colleagues who are able to mentor and help. I can also use my knowledge to help them with their IT issues which they are happy about!
I think that they would say that I am more confident in my abilities as I now have experience working with IT systems on a daily basis and I am able to overcome more challenging problems at work. I am also more focused on my future now as my apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to work towards a more worthwhile career that has more options for me than my previous job.
I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone that is interested in starting a new career as the experience you gain is much more hands-on and does a great job of preparing you for future jobs in the field. Apprenticeships are also a great way to get a foot in the door of the career you want and can aid in finding the most suitable path to get there.