Fiona
web project manager at an e-learning company
In general terms, what does your job entail?
My position to date has been split between Project Management & frontend development.
- Project Management: This entails scoping, creating project plans, tracking each component of the Work Breakdown Structure for each project and eventual sign off.
- Front End Development: This involves Developing and update company websites, localisation, optimisation and search engine submission.
Describe the main events in a typical day
The day would usually begin with going through any emails, answering project related queries and requests. The project calendar would be checked for any milestones and informal progress report would be discussed among the team, development/deadline issues would be addressed and actions given to the necessary people. Any frontend development which could involve working with html/asp/css/javascript/xhtml would then be started and dependent on the amount of requests this could take up a large proportion of the day.
Progress reports would be fed back to the production manager on a continual basis, any new projects would be scoped & then through team meetings with developers a work breakdown structure would be put in place allocating tasks and time to various team members
Do you feel that you are using your talents in your job?
Every day I get the opportunity to utilise what I have learned through the various training I have completed. Even my art college experience has been of great value to me in my job, through it I was initiated into the world of projects and deadlines! Having come from a design background has an advantage when building new websites and envisaging the end result.
Because I am not purely in a project managerial role I also have the opportunity to develop my programming skills having new challenges every day in regards to development issues although they would be confined to frontend development.
After leaving school what were the major milestones in your career development?
Among the courses I took were the following:
- Pitman Certificate in Computer Applications
- Certificate in Computer Graphics·at St. Thomas Senior College, Bray, Co Wicklow
- Diploma in Design at Limerick College of Art & Design
- Postgraduate Diploma in Website Design and Development, Fitzwilliam Institute, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
- Postgraduate Certificate Project Scope/Framework/Cost/Time Management.
What do you like about your work?
I have been lucky enough to be part of a great team. I also find the work challenging and there is continual opportunity for growth.
Is there any aspect of your work that you not like?
It is a very structured area to work in and there are a lot of predetermined procedures you have to follow which can limit you in some respects, etc. Although this is on a whole necessary it can sometimes be frustrating.
Do you have any specific advice for someone wanting to enter IT?
I think that no matter what your background might be there is always somewhere that your talents and experience can be applied to this industry.
The principle reason I started working in IT was money based, coming from an art background I wasn't quite sure how I would conform to this environment but surprisingly enough it wasn't as difficult as I imagined and I was given the opportunity to utilise what I had learned through my time in art college here besides the more computer orientated courses I had done.
Because it is a relatively new industry there is constant changes so you are on a continual learning curve which can be exciting, challenging, sometimes frustrating! but in general a very positive experience.
My role in 4 words
Rewarding, challenging, fun and
In secondary school I enjoyed ...
Art and English. Although not considered as part of IT, they've been of great value to me.
On a daily basis I have to confer with people through email, documentation is needed for each project (specs, QA guidelines, scopes etc...) so a good grasp of English is essential.
Art has also continued to play a role in my daily routine, having to design websites, presentations, etc.
