Meet: Robert
We are delighted to share the story of Robert, whose time at Oaklands College set him on the path to a rewarding career in IT. Now an IT Specialist in Datacentre & Hybrid at Computacenter, his journey is an inspiration for future students.
Reflecting on his current role, Robert shared:
“I’m currently working as an IT Specialist in Datacentre & Hybrid at Computacenter. The role mainly consists of planning and carrying out migrations from old to new infrastructure, but it also involves communicating with customers and implementing and maintaining solutions. Since IT is such a rapidly changing industry, I’ve completed a number of vendor certifications to stay relevant, including AWS Cloud Practitioner, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, and Administrator Associate.”
After obtaining a 1st Class BSc Honours in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire, Robert applied for a graduate role at Computacenter. His successful completion of the assessment centre led to his acceptance, and he has since been promoted to his current position as an IT Specialist.
But the journey started earlier – during his time at Oaklands College. From 2017 to 2018, Robert laid the foundation for his future success. Moving on from The Nobel School in Stevenage, he chose Oaklands College for the independence and responsibility it offered, as well as the opportunity to re-take and pass GCSE Maths.
He pursued a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Information Technology, drawn to the course because of its 100% coursework structure, which suited his hands-on learning style. His passion for IT and the wide range of modules Oaklands offered kept him engaged and motivated.
One of the most significant experiences at Oaklands was being selected for work experience at Computacenter, the company where he now works. This experience was crucial in helping him transition into the IT industry.
In addition to work experience, Robert also gained valuable skills by building websites for small businesses, with the support of his tutors Colin Wright and Dr. Laura Marulanda-Carter. Their guidance played a key role in helping him gain an unconditional offer from the University of Hertfordshire.
For those considering Oaklands, Robert has this advice:
“I would advise students who have an interest in a particular subject to pursue it further since they could surprise themselves and end up in a very good career.”
