How long have you worked at Tibus?
13 years, 4 months, 12 days
What job do you actually do In Tibus?
Tempted to just say anything and everything, but it really is that. From what technology we use, designing solutions for customers, being a 3rd or 4th level support for escalations from the rest of the tech team, so joining in on key meetings and decisions about the company as a whole. Working with the servers, networking, software stacks we use and everything in between. A real jack-of-all-trades, but hopefully with a decent knowledge of most of them!
What kind of roles have you done in the past?
My first IT role was break/fix IT support, hardware installation, OS imaging machines, replacing parts in servers, fault finding etc. From there I moved into Tibus as a Customer Support Engineer and then over the last 13 years moving through Systems Engineer, Senior Systems Engineer and finally my current role.
Do you have education that's relevant to your role? Or education that you're proud of?
I did good in school, with pretty decent GCSE and A-Levels, before attempting University. That was not a good fit for me, it was too theoretical and I didn't enjoy "programming" heavy nature of the Computer Science course, I wanted more hands-on. Some certifications and self-taught courses got me onto my current path and I am proud of that, despite no "degree". I'm a good example that a keen interest and ability to learn quickly can overcome formal qualifications (IMHO).
What does a typical day look like for you? What things do you do?
I would like to say its 100% doing cool new techy things, but I have to balance my day with meetings, planning, projects and engaging with the rest of the team on various issues. Of course any priority or major incident could send that day in a new direction.
What's the best part of your own role? Large or small, silly or serious.
The variety. It is most likely the number 1 reason I am still here 13 years later. I like that I get to be involved in a whole range of stuff here. There is no pigeon holeing*, some might hate that, but I love it.
What is your favourite book and why?
Maddaddam series by Margaret Attwood. I love anything semi-futuristic, post-apocalyptic landscape style. I really enjoyed these as they are based on ideas, technology that exists now, but taken to an extreme.
What is your favourite movie and why?
Contact (the book too of course), but I have watched this movie more than any other and can happily watch it again now.
What music do you like, if any?
My dad worked as a music rep when I was growing up, so I got given all sorts of music and listened to his vast library of CDs. As I get older I seem to listen more to older music (70s/80s/90s), but still like newer stuff to like Arcade
What TV are you enjoying at the moment?
Its hard to even keep up with so many quality shows and I make time for most of them (probably too much). I like weird things, and Severance is a good example, I cannot waif for the next season. If you have nerdy interest in computers and the history of that, "Halt and Catch Fire" I cannot recommend enough.
Do you like sports? What team do you follow? Do you play any sports?
I am hopeless at playing any sport! F1 is the main thing I watch and I will comsume an entire weekends worth during race weeks. I do sometimes like watching (but not playing) Snooker.
What would your colleagues and clients be surprised to know about you?
In 1989, when I was 10, me and my dad had lunch with Donny Osmond in Dublin when he was over promoting a solo single ("If It's Love That You Want"). He was signed to the music company my dad worked for. I had no idea who he was to be fair.