We hope you have been enjoying our series on women in technology just as much as we have enjoyed highlighting some of the brilliant women we have working with us here at The Config Team.
Continuing our series, this month we spoke to PMO Analyst, Beth Clare, to get her insights into joining The Config Team through our Graduate Academy from a non-technical background, and how she has been able to shape her role with us.
“Before joining The Config Team, my impression of working in ‘the tech sector’ was sitting in front of multiple screens of hard code, so honestly, it was never a career that immediately sprung to mind for me. Having completed a BA in geography at university, I definitely did not come from a technical background! However, I wanted my first graduate role to be one that challenged me and forced me to step outside of my comfort zone, so I joined The Config Team’s Graduate Academy through the project management stream and am now part of the PMO team working as a PMO analyst.
What has been great about my role is how it has changed and developed over time according to my career goals, and how I have been able to make my position at The Config Team my own. I was heavily involved in the establishment and running of the PMO function of the business, as well as our CSR committee, and initiatives such as the volunteering day-off for colleagues and the MakeAChange giving scheme.
Throughout university I worked in fashion retail as a stock associate where I did a lot of work managing processes such as inbound and outbound shipments, stock replenishments, and pick and pack. As I have learned more about the solutions that we provide at The Config Team, I have loved gaining insights into what goes on behind the scenes and how SAP can connect so much of the supply chain together.
One of my favourite things about working in tech is that every day is a school day. Whether on a new customer project, or just in casual huddles and chats, I am exposed to new concepts pretty much every day. It has been a steep learning curve, but I really enjoy the challenge, and the immense satisfaction of getting my head around something that I would never have heard of otherwise.
The Config Team is a great environment to learn in as it has a real culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration. Ever since I joined, I have been encouraged to ask questions (especially the ones that I think are too silly to ask!) and seek out help from other members of the team if there is something I do not fully understand. I have lost track of the number of colleagues over time who have said “If you want to run through anything together / need a hand getting your head around that, just ask me.” It has made me feel so incredibly welcome.
To any woman considering a career in the tech industry, I would absolutely say to go for it, you belong here just as much as the next person. Joining The Config Team has completely changed my perception of the industry. There are so many roles and paths that you can take as long as you are excited to learn something new and have a passion for problem-solving.”
We hope this latest blog gave you some good insights into building your career in the tech industry. Keep your eye out in the coming months for our next women in tech blog, where we will be speaking to one of our colleagues from a different area of the business to hear her insights.
If you are looking at taking your first steps in the tech industry or are a seasoned professional looking for a new challenge, then you can check out our latest vacancies.