For Senior Systems Engineer and Client Services Manager Cameron Brewster, working at CMTG over the last almost four years has been enjoyable and rewarding with lessons learned and growth experienced along the way.
After graduating from a Diploma in Information Technology (Networking) in 2004, Cameron went on to work as a Network Engineer in various industries such as health, telecommunications, mining, and exploration.
He joined the CMTG team a few years ago and has since grown from a general helpdesk support person to now having more responsibility through client, project, and team management.
“Since high school I always gravitated towards IT – I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of troubleshooting and designing solutions for IT needs and issues,” he said.
“I appreciate working in a sector that affords a range of career progression options. I’m fortunate to now be focussing more on project and client management, which is where I see myself growing.”
On the best part of working at CMTG, Cameron said it was the valuable mix of life experiences and technical skills from all staff that helps to bring the team together, resolve conflicts and identify creative solutions.
“Our individual skills, knowledge and experience is valued and used to work collaboratively towards better outcomes for us, the company and clients. It creates a positive working environment where everyone feels heard,” he said.
“In the IT industry, it’s crucial to have strong leadership. Some qualities I really appreciate and endeavour to adopt myself include having respect and empathy for others, being decisive and practicing diplomacy.
“Leaders are after all role models in the industry and need to demonstrate behaviour desired from employees. CMTG has a vast talent pool of leaders and managers who complement each other and willingly collaborate.”
A challenge often encountered by Cameron throughout his role is when clients choose to not implement a CMTG-recommended IT solution and instead choose a cheaper option from a competitor or do it themselves.
“Usually and unfortunately, this course of action leads to the exacerbation of the original problem. However, clients do appreciate being able to come back to us to workshop solutions and discuss a way forward,” he said.
“It’s rewarding to work with clients to identify tailormade solutions for their needs and getting to see the successful delivery of outcomes.”
Sharing advice for young people looking to enter the tech industry, Cameron said it required more than just a technical understanding of IT infrastructure and systems.
“You need effective communication skills, the ability to understand general business needs and conflict resolution skills,” he said.
“The IT industry is also very fast paced and evolves quickly. The best thing you can do to progress your skills and practical working knowledge is to find a mentor with more experience on each job so you can see firsthand how they approach the problem, design solutions and work the client and other stakeholders to deliver the project.”
To unwind and recharge, Cameron loves to escape from the city and get around a campfire in a swag amongst the beauty of the Australian outback.
