I’ve been asking member employees how they got into & why they love their jobs, so they can share their wisdom & inspire you. This is the fifth in a series of guest blogs from members this time from 7thSense Design:
Luke Willmer - Production Technician
How did you get into your line of work?
I studied Computer Science at uni and have generally always been good with and interested in both hardware and software – it’s something I've always wanted to get into as a career.
Tell us about the projects you have worked on that you’re most proud of and why?
I’m responsible for customer loan equipment, repairs and replacements – I find fixing client issues and helping with their requests very rewarding, especially since we have a really friendly customer base and it’s easy to see they are pleased with the service we provide. Earlier this year I was part of the team that headed out to Amsterdam for a major technology tradeshow – it was the first time I’d been abroad with the business and meeting with clients. I’d also been on the team that prepared much of our demo technology in the lead-up – that’s definitely something I am proud of.
What are your three favourite things about your job?
This is a completely new industry for me and I feel like I can really ‘grow far’ into it. It’s a great place to work too, very friendly – it’s very much an open door policy and the management team are really supportive. I also love the scope for travel here – so far it’s just been Amsterdam, but most of our business is overseas so Im excited by the prospect of seeing a few new areas of the world.
What advice would you give to younger self, knowing what you know now, about your career path?
Don’t necessarily plan or set your sights for working at big firms and or with those who have major graduate programmes. Smaller, growing businesses can sometimes offer far more opportunity and fast track development. Giving you the chance to work on things sometimes a lot above your pay grade or experience level. In the long run it’s not all about big programs and perks – smaller businesses and a more hands on approach are the way forward.
Elliot Byrne - Software & Systems Engineer
How did you get into your line of work?
I studied physics at university and am naturally very analytical. My first job after graduation was providing technical support for a software company. It was a good mix of software dev and science and really got me into software development as a long term career.
Tell us about the projects you have worked on that you’re most proud of and why?
I’ve been very much involved in product development and a range of specialist projects for our projection mapping technologies – like those you see when buildings are projected on with content that makes it come alive. We’re developing a new system that allows us to do this on moving objects, such as people or characters. This is a really cool and advanced technology and it’s exciting to be a part of that.
What are your three favourite things about your job?
Working for a relatively small company gives you so much variation and scope for change on a daily basis. On a similar thread, there’s a lot of opportunity to lead tasks and take on ownership and responsibility. Finally, the setting here is just lovely – everyone is super friendly, we are out in the country, and we even have resident rabbits that hang out on the lawns each day.
What advice would you give to younger self, knowing what you know now, about your career path?
Do whatever you want to do – don’t feel locked down or that your career path is set in stone because your qualification is in one area but you feel like your passion and work life calling’.
Matt Jones - Software and Systems Engineer
How did you get into your line of work?
I studied Hardware Engineering at college and landed an apprenticeship with a multinational engineering and technology company in Sussex who sponsored me to study Computer Science at University. Taking the path of software development, I’ve been interested in computers since an early age – my mum was the MD of a software business.
Tell us about the projects you have worked on that you’re most proud of and why?
We get to work on so many great projects and with so many incredible clients. Recently, I was involved in the development of a scheduling system that manages some of the huge screen at Times Square in New York, helping to manage all of the ads, live streams and other content they run on the displays. Among many other sites, last year saw me spend a lot of time working on the Shrek’s Adventure! Attraction in London. Right now, I’m playing an active role in our new close captioning technology which is going to help those with hearing and sight impairments be able to experience dark rides at some of the big-name theme parks in the states.
What are your three favourite things about your job?
I’m always working on something new. It’s an amazing industry to work in. And there’s so much variety in what I do on a day-to-day basis – I could be working on new quotes and sales, developing new products or helping out customers with queries.
What advice would you give to younger self, knowing what you know now, about your career path?
Be open to new opportunities and always push yourself hard. It’s easy to stay in a job you feel comfortable in for longer than you should, just because you’ve been there a while and it offers a ‘safety net’.
I've been running a series of Love Your Job Guest Blogs in 2016 by members. Take a peek:
- Programing/Developers: Crunchboards
- Marketing: Rakuten Attribution
- App Developers: Ocasta Studios
- Animation: BigMan Cgi
I’ve got a full schedule of Love Your Job blogs for the next 12 months – so watch this space for more inspiration! If there is a specific area of work you'd like to hear about then let me know kelly@wiredsussex.com.
7thSense Design is a specialist software and hardware company with expertise in high-end media serving and projection onto any surface, whether flat, curved, fulldome or even non-standard shapes. The company designs and supplies its own Delta Media Server product range which provides real-time uncompressed video serving, show creation and display matching for a variety of markets including 3D theatres, theme parks, visitor attractions, Live Events, Giant Screen Cinemas and Planetariums.
7thSense Design technologies and solutions are often used in many of the world’s most compelling and challenging of video and audio environments.
For more information, visit www.7thsensedesign.com
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