North Hertfordshire College is proud to offer opportunities to local people that help them achieve their career goals and unlock their potential. Take Mante Samusyte, for example!
Mante recently achieved her Level 3 Diploma in Computing, Networking, & Computer Game Design from North Hertfordshire College before progressing into a Business Analyst apprenticeship with Computacenter. Now that she’s a couple of months into her apprenticeship journey, Mante’s gotten back in touch to share how her NHC experience has helped her in her career so far!
How has your apprenticeship journey been so far?
“It’s unbelievable how much I have learnt already and the professional network I have built so far in my apprenticeship. The massive amount of support that I receive as part of my journey, whether that’s through my work team, the apprenticeship provider, or even my fellow apprentices, has all been a key part of my experience so far. I’m excited to see what’s to come in the future.”
How has what you learnt at North Hertfordshire College supported you in your apprenticeship so far?
“From a technical point of view, the understanding of key terms and how systems work has been hugely beneficial to my work. This is especially true for my current rotation within the department and Computacenter being IT-based. Even though that technical knowledge isn’t essential for my current role, having that understanding means that I can stay on track and follow any changes happening without having to do any extra research to learn what something means.
“Self-discipline and motivation was key during my assignments at NHC and it still is important to my work now when creating my projects. I feel grateful that I have learnt how to write assignments and various pieces of communications, so there are less worries when I complete tasks like that during my apprenticeship.”
How did you choose your next step after college?
“When we were discussing our options in college, I felt awkward around the topic of university because I wasn’t 100% sure whether that was the right choice for me. I knew I wanted to get started on working on my career rather than solely studying for another qualification. When the opportunity for an apprenticeship with Computacenter came up through connections at NHC, I took the chance and got accepted onto the programme.
“I found the opportunity of an apprenticeship interesting because I knew I would still be getting an extra qualification that I could use later without the debt whilst still carrying on with my current lifestyle and getting to travel.”
What is the thing you find the most interesting part of your current role?
“I really enjoy learning how to use industry platforms. There are platforms that I’ve never heard of before that I’m able to train in and perfect using. I’m consistently learning throughout this experience, either from the course, my managers, and other employees that I talk to at work and events.”
What would you say to someone who is interested in starting their own career in the computing sector?
“It’s a large sector that requires you to have a persistent drive in order to work there and succeed. Having a qualification isn’t the only thing that will help you achieve, you also need a strong set of skills for a solid career – the ability to communicate, demonstrate true passion, and having versatility.
“I’d also say to keep developing the skills you learn they will be useful in the future for either your own personal benefit or for the success of any project. Whether that’s coding or educating yourself and reading about future technological trends – stay present to avoid blending in with other people who aren’t being proactive.”
What advice would you give to someone that’s not sure about their next step in their learning journey?
“Towards the end of my course, I started to struggle with whether the sector was right for me and where I could fit in. However, my role as a Business Analyst apprentice has allowed me to regain my passion for computing. Sharing these thoughts with my managers have allowed me to get more involved in technical tasks, which is something I plan on continuing to work towards.
“Exploring different options and having a slight change from whatever you are doing may allow for your true passions to come to the surface and guide you in a new direction that’s true to yourself.”
Has Mante inspired you to start exploring your interests? Be sure to explore North Hertfordshire College’s learning opportunities to find one that’s right for you. With NHC, you can stay close to home and take the first steps to go far in your future career.