Careers Angel Profile: Tony (Antony) Stewart
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| Name | Tony (Antony) Stewart |
|---|---|
| Email Address | ts_yyc@yahoo.ca |
| Industries/Sectors | Consultancy; IT & Computers |
| Employer | TransAlta Corporation (retired) |
| Position | IT Project Manager (retired) |
| Experience | 45-50 years (approx.) |
| Degree | General Science (graduated in 1978) |
| Other Qualifications | |
| Internships | |
| Information | I have worked in IT my entire career, initially as a programmer in 1979 at the Grampian Health Board in Aberdeen. In those days there were no specialised roles in IT -- you were either a programmer (one of the good guys) or an operator (lower form of life barely superior to pond scum.) Programmers had to do everything from creating requirements (occasionally we even asked the business users what they wanted!) designing, building and testing the software, and moving it to the production system. As such, I performed business analysis and data modelling, I designed, developed and tested code, and implemented it. Operators took backups on tape or removable platter discs, fed giant printers with paper, and delivered the output. I emigrated to Canada in 1981, working in the telephone industry until 1999. Since then I have had a variety of project manager jobs at a software firm, a tv and internet company, a govt. department, and an electricity generation company. I worked for TransAlta until 2011, and then I had 2 contracts with Husky Energy, an oil company. My last gainful employment was for FIH (the hockey equivalent of FIFA) developing software to run all international hockey tournaments and matches. It continues to be used and extended, although I don't have much involvement these days. I am happy to say I am now fully retired, and travel the world, often for hockey. I am an official, and still play , hoping to be selected for Canada for the 60+ team at the Masters World Cup in Tokyo in 2021. |
| Things I Wish I'd Known | It would have been beneficial to know that the world outside Durham, indeed any academic institution, is vastly different. You have to work much harder, faster and usually smarter, and to somebody else's schedule. One thing I am noticing with the next generation of IT professionals is that they are less proficient, more prone to making mistakes, and take far less pride in their work; basically less professional. While this may be a generalisation, it is based on managing many projects with many developers; well over 100 in the last decade. My colleagues from 20+ years ago agree. In today's economy the world does not come running to your door, and procuring the right job for you is a crucial but difficult task. Yet it is one you can prepare for to increase your chances, yet new graduates rarely take the time to do so. My 2 golden rules: 1. Ensure your c.v. is perfect -- spelling, grammar or technical errors virtually guarantee it will be rejected. 2. You never get a second chance to make an impression at interview, so practice -- video yourself. But remember there is far more to life than work. Take time out. With the increased and continually increasing cost of higher education it may not be as easy as it has been for me, but a year, six months or even 3 months off to relax, reduce stress and recharge your batteries can be extremely beneficial. I have been lucky during my 30-year career to have taken an entire year off twice, and another 7-month break. After all, it's only work! |