National Techies Day 2020 #TechiesDay
- 11 Dec 2020
To celebrate National Techies Day (#TechiesDay), we have profiled three of our team members in order for you to gain more insight into who we are.
Ali Butt, Aleena Majid and Anthony Ormandy all have different backgrounds and ways in which they found themselves where they are today, so we asked them a few questions to find out more.
What made you want to get into the technology/electronics industry?
Ali: "I’ve always been fascinated by technology and the automotive trade. Being the youngest of 6 older siblings, I was always the ‘go to’ person when it came to technology which further enhanced my passion in this field. In addition, I have worked closely with family and friends in the automotive industry, learning and assisting in the software and hardware of cars. Working at Apple as a technical and sales specialist, I realised that I would like to pursue a career in the field of electronics and technology."
Aleena: "If I must trace it back to one important incident that sparked my interest in the engineering industry, it would be a fight with my big brother. We were arguing about who should get to test drive our new remote-controlled car first. One thing led to another and before we knew it, we were both standing there disappointed looking at our car which was now in two pieces. The disappointment turned into a massive grin when I saw what that beautiful car looked like on the inside and trust me, I loved the inside more. That was because I spent the rest of the afternoon examining the motors and the machine that caused it to move like it did. Although I wasn’t able to understand much of it at that young age, but I was overjoyed with what I had discovered that afternoon. Over the years my interest did nothing but grow and here I am today with an engineering degree."
Anthony: "I fell into this industry by accident as my background is purely commercial and sales based albeit selling technical products. I’ve always had an interest in tech, but never the traditional technical skills to be hands on. Working in this industry allows you to see how fast tech is moving and helping a researcher or engineer with a measurement challenge is really exciting!"
What experiences do you have which allowed you to reach this goal?
Ali: "I studied Automotive Engineering, achieving a first class degree with honours. As a new graduate, I was contracted out at JLR as a systems engineer, leading PIVI infotainment systems at their global product development site. Due to the high standard of work carried out and the effort I put into the role, I was recognised and promoted to the role as a diagnostics engineer."
Aleena: "I am not the kind of student who spends hours studying but studying stem subjects never seemed like work to me, so when it came to choosing subjects in A Levels I naturally went for all sciences. I studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Sheffield. It was important for me to get more hands-on experience, so I was involved in various projects with the Engineers Without Borders society at my university."
Anthony: "Reading, learning and getting hands on with the equipment outside of normal working hours to get me up to speed with the knowledge needed. Early mornings and late nights!"
What advice would you give to anyone interested in following a career path into the industry?
Ali: "My advice would be to work hard and gain as much experience as you can, whether it be paid or voluntary. Take every opportunity to improve your understanding in the field and learn from those who are more experienced."
Aleena: "My advice would be to keep an open mind to the kind of opportunities that come your way. The technical/electronics industry has a lot to offer and there are so many different technical areas to explore, so try to gain as much experience as you can. You never know what might catch your interest! Also, as we are on the verge of the fourth industrial revolution a lot of development is happening right now. There is so much room for innovation and growth, so this is probably the best time to be joining the technical industry."
Anthony: "My advice would be to always be learning and have an inquisitive mind. The speed in which things change in this industry is frightening sometimes (for the right reasons) so if you are approaching things the way you did 2 years ago, you are already behind!"
Do you have any favourite products which we sell, and if so why?
Ali: "This is a challenging one as there are many amazing and intricate products we sell. I would have to choose both FLIR systems and Tektronix as every application is different. The innovative products have many uses that can be applied in different industries due their accuracy and precision. Also, the development of new products from both ranges is revolutionary."
Aleena: "As I am fresh out of university, I am still learning about all the different products. The FLIR thermal cameras really caught my eye as thermography is a completely new area of expertise for me. It’s extremely interesting how one camera can be used for various applications. But I do also love my oscilloscopes and power supplies, they take me back to the good old university days."
Anthony: "A tough one as all of our key supplier ranges are interesting in different ways. For the sheer number of applications they can be used for, FLIR products mean that no two customer visits are the same - on one visit you are in a clean room looking at new materials research, the next you are in your wellington boots stood in a field looking at drought conditions for plants. Tektronix have introduced so many new products over the last two years that are truly innovative and game changing, and for good old fashioned accuracy, Fluke Calibration are the best in the business."
