Using ICTTech to boost his career
Chris Moss currently works as Business Development Manager for Bluepoint Technologies where no two days are the same and his role varies from winning new business and visiting customers to being the lead design engineer for new projects and marketing initiatives.
However, this variety is reflective of Chris’ career to date which has seen him work across various industries and multiple companies. Originally leaving school at 16, Chris jumped into work straight away and after a brief stint in the Royal Marine Commandos he began work as a Financial Advisor in London.
After 4 years Chris was made redundant and it was at this point he started a 3-year MBA course with Anglia Ruskin and shortly afterward cut his teeth in the ICT industry before starting a 17-year career at SSE.
“I joined SSE Telecommunication who delivered structured cabling (copper, voice and fibre) to all sectors. I delivered large projects to prominent customers such as South Western Railway, Reading, Oxford, Westminster and Sussex Universities, Diamond Light Source and many more.”
In 2021 Chris joined Bluepoint Technologies, an innovative and agile company that champions its employee's CPD, it was there that Chris considered becoming Professionally Registered ICTTech for the first time.
Demonstrating Experience
Chris decided that having the ICTTech qualification would help him with his clients and his career and quickly started to work on his application, however his first attempt didn’t go smoothly.
After realising there was more needed Chris began to take advantage of the support from the IET and came back more determined than ever with a new application that showcased his skillset and career history.
“I found some very useful webinars and advice on the IET website on how to compile the information for the online Career Manager application. I paid a lot of attention to demonstrating how I applied the Engineering Council’s five key competencies.”
Chris also utilised support from the IET’s Professional Registration team whose “feedback was invaluable and their responses quick and comprehensive.”
Being able to draw upon multiple examples that could demonstrate his knowledge and understanding benefitted Chris and he was successfully awarded ICTTech.
Confidence with customers
One of the key motivators for Chris to achieve ICTTech was being able to stand out and differentiate himself from his competitors in a crowded industry, something which he noticed the benefit of straight away.
“Displaying the Technician Professional Registration demonstrates to people that I have been assessed by experts in our field and found to adhere to certain standards that the Engineering Council deems essential. Furthermore, it demonstrates that I have been independently evaluated to hold the right qualifications and competencies.”
Chris also noticed that with his new post-nominals he had more confidence with his customers and their trust in his knowledge as an expert in the field.
“When returning tender submissions, emailing existing customers or communicating with new people, I have confidence that they will recognise the level of professional learning and development I have invested in my career.”
There was also the added support and congratulations from his colleagues at Bluepoint and the wider network as they recognised the hard work and dedication that went into his achievement.
“My colleagues, peers and social media contacts have all commented and congratulated me on my Professional Registration. This has illustrated to me just how well regarded and recognised the Professional Registration is.”
Advice for others
Now he is on the other side of the process Chris is able to reflect on the essential tips and tricks that helped him become Professionally Registered and pass on these lessons to those looking to do the same. Chris had 4 key pieces of advice for potential ICTTech’s.
Before you start your application, read the guidance and contact somebody that has already been through the same thing and ask them about it.
Read and watch all of the IET webinars on the application process.
Contact a Professional Registration Advisor (PRA) before you submit the application.
Be as specific as you can with your experience and link examples to The ICTTech Standard.
Chris is now continuing his development journey and turning his focus to other things that will not only benefit his career but also interest him personally like the iMasons Climate Accord Working Group which he volunteers for. Reflecting on what has led him to this point Chris told us how he viewed success and what it means to him.
“Personally, success to me is always doing my best in everything I do and having the belief and confidence in myself that I can achieve all the personal goals I set. This can sometimes mean saying ‘no’ and knowing my own limitations. I will fail at some things, and that’s ok if I learn from it. As long as I don’t give up and strive for improvement every day, I will be ok.”