Career story: junior technical analyst

What does a day in your shoes feel like? And what are the key skills that can make or break a career in your field?

We’ve asked a diverse group of Apolitical members to share their career story with us and the tips they have for junior public servants. In this article, Samuel Shard explains why it’s important to ask questions in their role as a junior technical analyst.

What is your current role and how do you spend your time on a standard day?

I am a Junior Technical Analyst with the Ministry of Transportation. I’m part of the Labour and Transportation Digital Solutions branch. I work on quality assurance testing the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), creating demos for executives and other stakeholders and am part of the Employee Engagement Committee.

What did you do before taking up this role?

I am a computer science student at Ontario Tech University and I completed my first two years before starting co-op. I tutored coding to children with programs like Scratch and Code.org. I created slides and curriculum as well. I also was a video and audio editor for the television show “Distant Shores”.

In your opinion, what are the most important skills someone needs to excel in your field?

The most important skills that help me excel are time management and clear communication. I believe these two skills go hand in hand. I connect daily with my co-workers. Regular communication allows everyone to understand what needs to be done and raise any roadblocks. This helps me plan how long a task will take and manage my time. My Manager/Mentor, Fartab Ahmed, always stressed the importance of clear, concise and precise communication – and made me and the other co-ops practice this on a daily basis by having us lead scrum meetings.

What is your favourite part of your job?

The favourite part of my job is the positive and inclusive work environment. Everyone at the LTC encourages me to do my best. My supervisors and co-workers are very supportive and help me overcome any challenges. The LTC has many anti-racism initiatives and strives to make everyone feel welcome. I’m part of the Employee Engagement Committee which enables employees to connect with each other and celebrates different cultures.

What advice would you give to new public servants who are interested in a career in your field?

My advice is to not be afraid of asking questions. When we discuss questions as a group, everyone benefits, especially those who may have wanted to ask the same question but were not sure if they should. This is also a reflection of the inclusive and open work environment promoted by the leaders in our cluster, Claudio & John (Directors), Aleem & Sameer (Senior Managers), Issam & Fartab (Managers) due to which I was able to ask questions without any fear.

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