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To any IT team, a Senior Technical Specialist plays an essential role in managing various IT projects. At AlphaKOR, our IT Professionals work hard to secure and maintain the integrity of your business. Your business relies on IT infrastructure to support daily operational tasks such as creating and storing corporate data, interacting with clients, and collaborating with colleagues.

In this month’s employee feature, I sit down with Tina Kierans. Tina is a Senior Technical Specialist at AlphaKOR and has been a member of our team for just over two years. This past month, Tina was also recognized as a finalist in the 2022 WEtech Tech Awards for Tech Woman of the Year! The Tech Woman of the Year award “recognizes, celebrates, and makes visible the achievements of women in technology fields. This individual demonstrates a clear passion for technology, this may be through extracurricular activities, professional career, mentorship, etc.”.

In this interview, we gain career insight into what the average day of a Senior Technical Specialist looks like, the biggest change Tina has seen within the IT industry over the past 25 years, and advice for those looking to obtain a career as a Senior Technical Specialist. Meet Tina…

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What drew you to the Senior Technical Specialist position?

Taking on the Senior Technical Specialist position was the natural next evolution of my career. My career has been naturally evolving and has taken many different roads this position was just the natural next turn.

What educational background did you need to secure this role?

For me, it’s not so much educational background as it is experience. Prior to working at AlphaKOR, I have been working in the IT industry for nearly 25 years. I went to St. Clair College for Computer Science and then followed that with a one-year program at Trios to get my certifications. From there, it was the willingness to continue to learn as technology changes and the willingness to jump in and experience something new. This isn’t a position for someone straight out of college.

What does the average day look like for you in your role?

I don’t feel there is such thing as an average day. I never truly know what the day holds. I could be doing research for my next project, I could be working on a project or helping a coworker with a project, or I could be working on an escalation such as a server down. It’s never the same.

What is the most important change you have seen in the IT industry over the years?

From my perspective, I think cloud computing has changed the entire face of IT. It changes the way people work and removes a lot of strings that traditional server infrastructure placed on workers.

What is it like working for a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

I love working for an MSP because it’s never the same! There is always something new to work on, and new people to work with.

What skillset is critical to your job?

For the Senior Technical Specialist position, there are a lot of technical skills required such as VM ware, windows server, email, networking, and basically every aspect of IT you can think of! But more so, communication skills are crucial; you need to be able to communicate technical subjects effectively to non-technical users.

What key qualities do you think a good Senior Technical Specialist possesses?

The ability to embrace change, the willingness to learn and grow, and patience.

What is your favourite thing about your job?

Mentoring! I love to share my knowledge and experiences with my coworkers. I find mentoring extremely rewarding.

What is your least favourite part of your job?

My least favourite part about my job is the notes and documentation. I know they are necessary, but I am still getting used to documenting everything I do.

How do you hope to grow in your field of work?

I feel like the next evolution of my career for me is to move into more of a management role where I can be more of a mentor to my fellow technicians.

What have you learned at AlphaKOR that has helped you grow on a personal level?

On a personal level, AlphaKOR has really helped me to develop my communication skills.

For someone who would like to obtain a position as a Senior Technical Specialist, what advice would you give to them?

Take every opportunity given to you to learn something new. Even if you are just a bystander. To be successful in this role you need experience and the drive to learn and grow. Never be afraid to ask questions.

Careers in Business Technology

Are you an energetic and passionate IT professional who thrives on providing excellent service to both clients and fellow staff? If so, we want AlphaKOR to be the place you want to work. We want you to love your job. Because when you love your job, you’ll do great things. Come and do great things with us! To view our current openings, please visit our Career Opportunities page.

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