Careers Angel Profile: Carl Gregory
Below is the profile of a Careers Angel. Before you contact the Angel, please note the following:
- Only alumni and students of Grey College should contact Angels
- Please be polite and patient. If the Angel doesn't respond quickly, they may be on holiday, busy, or have moved to a different organisation
- Make it clear that you have found their details through the Grey College Careers Angels website
- Don't be demanding — the Angels are volunteers and under no obligation to help you
| Name | Carl Gregory |
|---|---|
| Email Address | carl.gregory@hants.gov.uk |
| Industries/Sectors | Government & Politics; IT & Computers |
| Employer | Hampshire County Council IT Services |
| Position | IT Consultant to Local Government |
| Experience | 25-30 years (approx.) |
| Degree | Physics (graduated in 1998) |
| Other Qualifications | |
| Internships | |
| Information | Government (especially Local) has gone from the backwaters of IT to one of the biggest spending sectors during the time I have been in the field. Although I consider myself an IT person - not a local government person - it is enjoyable to know that you are working to serve the community (My specialist field is Social Services systems). I sort of fell into this - It was the first job I applied for, and I got it, but I have enjoyed it and stayed, when many of the other graduate starters have left. I actually applied thinking it would be one of the easier places to get into (I scraped a 3rd in my course - but my A levels were fairly good). Turns out to not be necessarily true - we get a lot of applicants, most of who we turn down, and the general educational standards of most of the staff is very high (Lots of firsts, quite a few Masters and Phds too). I must have done well at my interview! Good things about working in Local Government IT are: - Regular, if unimpressive pay; - progression; - good holidays; - flexible working; - good atmosphere; and - very little office politics (At least apart from the higher echelons). I have also been allowed do the sort of things I enjoy (Well mainly, have to do the odd painful task): - problem solving; - coaching; - R and D; and - communication, This is much better than being pigeonholed into being a code monkey or a straight analyst or manager. |
| Things I Wish I'd Known | Rapid progression, Bonuses, High pay - these are not the hallmarks of work in Local Government. The bureaucracy and political aspects can be frustrating too. I wish I had started Job hunting earlier - I left it till the last minute when many recruitment schemes had already ended - I don't regret working here, but it would have been nice for it to have been more of a choice. |