Michael Hewett - Software Engineer

What do you do?
I work as a software engineer for Thales Australia, usually on three to four projects at a time. I qualified in games programming, but spend most of my time working as a Java / C++ programmer.

What do you love about your work?
I love programming. I find my work challenging and leave everyday content that I solved a particular problem or learnt something new.

What is the salary like?
For those just starting out it' fairly typical to get a standard $40,000 a year. It depends where you work and there is always room for negotiation, the more qualified you are.

How did you get to where you are today?
I took advantage of a student work experience program that was being run by the company I work for. I did a good job, so they decided to keep me.

What made you decide to work in ICT?
I saw a career in ICT as open-ended. I was attracted into the industry because of the variety of fields you can go into. Also there is great potential to move into senior positions relatively quickly.

What do you find interesting about working in ICT?
I find working with teams of people who are intelligent and hard working very satisfying There is a real information exchange between the people I work with.

Where do you see your job in ICT taking you?
I want my job to take me around the world. I plan on sticking with programming for a while, but see that leading to a managerial position in the future.

What advice would you give someone considering a career in ICT?
Work hard and enjoy working with some great and interesting people.

Why would you encourage others to get into the ICT industry?
Because the ICT industry is relatively new there are plenty of companies screaming for competent workers. I think a real incentive to get into ICT is the rapid pace at which things change - it's very exciting.

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