Computer Engineer
Chris Yates has worked for award winning IT services company D2NA from a year into his course at Staffordshire University. The Computer Networks and Security graduate worked part-time as an Infrastructure Engineer throughout his time on the degree – going full-time for his placement year.
He took a break to focus on his studies during his final year, in 2017, but then the IT security and cloud computing firm offered him a full-time position. He has since moved to their London office where he works on the customer service desk and visits customers when an engineer is required onsite.
“IT is something that has interested me since school,” Chris explained. “I was an IT technician for my school, gaining work experience, took IT at A Level and then worked part-time for IT support company Bitz UK, in Burslem, while at college."
Career in Computers
Chris is originally from Kidsgrove, in Staffordshire, where he attended Maryhill High School. After gaining IT work experience at the school and from his part-time job, he looked for IT related degrees to further his education.
“I chose Staffordshire University after attending an Open Day,” he said. “The University had Cisco qualifications and it was closer to home than Birmingham. When I met the lecturers, they were very approachable and so I decided to take the Computer Networks and Security course.
“I finished working at Bitz UK when I started the course and took a month off before getting into University. I then started emailing employers to find part time work and joined D2NA during my second year at Staffordshire University.
“I continued to work for them part-time throughout my degree – taking my placement year there. I was the first placement student the company took from Staffordshire University but they’ve taken on another student this year."
D2NA
After completing his placement year, Chris left D2NA in January 2017 and then, in July that year, was offered a full-time job as an Infrastructure Engineer.
He said: “I knew it was in the pipeline when I left after the placement year. After I re-joined the company, I was moved to the London, but I get back to Staffordshire often to see my family and occasionally work in the Newcastle-under-Lyme office, where I started.
“It’s a great company to work for and, since January 2018, I’m now on a full-time contract – as before I was on a three-month rolling contract – so I can see myself working here for the foreseeable future.”
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