What Makes My Job Interesting: Insights from Three Distinct Career Roles

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of engaging in diverse and exciting roles, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Here are some key insights from my journey as a clerk, a computer programmer, and an IT project manager.

Clerk at a British Company

My first job was as a clerk at a large British company when I was just 18 years old. Surprisingly, I had the opportunity to represent my high school in football soccer, which was a memorable experience. More importantly, within the company, participating in sports activities organized by the company was encouraged. This led to my representation of the company's football team in both local and international matches.

Trainee Computer Programmer at a UK Oil Company

My second role was as a Trainee Computer Programmer for a UK oil company. After only six months, I was officially confirmed as a Computer Programmer. When the company upgraded its mainframe computers, I was quickly promoted to a Systems Programmer role. My relationship with the system engineers from the mainframe computer supplier was particularly fruitful. I enjoyed lunch or tea with them whenever they serviced our systems and sought their advice on various technical matters. Over the course of two years, I became very familiar with the operation of the system.

An American mainframe software company opened a regional office in Singapore, and I was invited for an interview. The interview was brief, lasting just 30 minutes, conducted by the Technical Manager from the USA. Impressed by my knowledge and skills, I was offered a Regional Systems Engineer position, which involved extensive travel to the US headquarters and customer sites in Asia and Australia. One of the most interesting aspects of this job was learning about new computing technologies and applying them to improve customer sites.

IT Project Manager

For a long time, I have been an IT project manager. My job is thrilling because it involves constant learning. Technology changes rapidly, and the use of technology evolves constantly, but the ultimate goal is to serve the business. While the technical aspects of my work are fascinating, I find the real excitement in understanding what the business units are doing and how they approach their challenges. I have worked with a variety of departments, including medical examiners, revenue agents, courts, public defenders, hospitals, cybersecurity groups, and customer service teams. Each role provides a unique perspective on how the world works behind the scenes, and helping these units improve their processes is a significant part of what makes my job fulfilling.

Overall, my career journey has been enriching, and each role has contributed to a unique set of skills and experiences. I continue to find joy in learning and adapting to new technologies and challenges, which keeps my job both interesting and rewarding.

Keywords: interesting job roles, career journey, IT project management