Meet Clare
Business Analyst
I knew I always wanted to work in IT but ‘back then’ the only real option with IT was programming and I wasn’t interested in that so I became an IT/Computing Teacher instead – working in schools in NI and England.
After teaching for many years in London and moving back to Northern Ireland, I found it difficult to get back into teaching so I needed a new career. I worked in various temporary jobs but ended up getting a temporary Business Analyst job with the Education Authority and loved the work I was doing. When the opportunity arose, I moved into a permanent Business Analyst role with NIE Networks.
A typical day usually involves meeting with stakeholders, drawing process maps, and/or listing functional and non-functional requirements for stakeholders to review. As I work on a variety of projects across the business, no two days have been the same yet and I get to work with people from different directorates.
The best thing about working here are the people, without a doubt. I’m in NIE Networks for around 6 months now and I’ve been welcomed by everyone in the IT Department…and beyond. There are a lot of talented people here so I’m always learning (thankfully, they don’t mind answering my questions – usually about acronyms!).
In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve been impressed with NIE Networks as an employer; there is a definite commitment to staff and their wellbeing, but also as a woman in STEM, there has been a lot of support and camaraderie with other women in the industry that I’ve been able to access. The hybrid and flexible approach to the working week is greatly appreciated as it means I can bring my daughter to school and pick her up, when working from home.
I spent a teaching career trying to get girls interested in IT and I would really recommend it to young females considering their career – it is still one of the most varied and challenging career paths out there and there are plenty of IT-related roles in Northern Ireland. I was a bit of a nerd growing up but I really enjoy the creativity that my role requires – thinking of different ways to communicate with non-technical and technical people to be part of a team that creates solutions to problems. Best piece of advice (for the young) is to consider an IT apprenticeship – there are some amazing ones out there…and for the young at heart – it’s never too late for a career change into IT!