I recently spoke with Siobhán McKillop, Technical Consultant at Syndeo, to hear about her experience at the company over the past six months. Siobhán shares insights on her background, her role, and what drew her to Syndeo in the first place. She also offers advice for those starting out in a tech career and provides a glimpse into her life outside of work.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a rising star in the tech industry!
What’s your background?
I hold a BSc in Business Information Technology (1st class honours) from Queen’s University Belfast. During my degree, I gained a solid understanding of both business principles and IT concepts, which has been invaluable in my current role at Syndeo. I also completed a year-long industrial placement at global audit, tax and advisory services firm, KPMG. Here I gained practical experience working on real-world projects and developed my technical skills.
Tell me about your role at Syndeo and what you do day to day.
As a Technical Consultant at Syndeo, my role is very diverse, and every day is different, which keeps it exciting. I work closely with clients to understand their business requirements and translate them into technical specifications that our development team can use to build solutions. This involves conducting discovery sessions, gathering requirements, and helping to create technical documentation. I also participate in testing and troubleshooting activities to ensure that our Conversational AI platform meets the quality standards expected by our clients. Additionally, I provide technical support to clients and assist with the onboarding process for new clients.
What attracted you to this role at Syndeo?
The opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and be involved in the development of AI solutions was the primary factor that attracted me to Syndeo. The broad nature of the role also appealed to me, as I wanted to gain exposure to different aspects of the software development life cycle as well as be able to work directly with customers. The company’s culture of collaboration and focus on work-life balance were also attractive to me.
What have you enjoyed most about working at Syndeo since you joined?
As cliché as it sounds, I really enjoy the people and the environment. I have received only warm welcomes and guidance since I first joined in September. At Syndeo, the typical organisational hierarchy does not exist. Everyone is approachable and genuinely supportive, which has really helped me settle into my new role and feel like a valued member of the team. I have a very busy lifestyle outside of work with my sport, so work-life balance is something that is very important to me and I’m lucky that Syndeo really value this. With flexible working hours, it means that I can work around my training schedule, so I don’t have to choose between my career and my sport.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in a career in tech?
Don’t rush into the first job that becomes available. With so many roles out there, it is important to take the time to research and discover which you think is best for you. Remember, the company you are working for is just as important as the job role itself. Choose an employer that has a genuine interest in your career progression! With that being said, finding the right career is trial and error. Keep your mind open, you might surprise yourself. 😊
What do you like to do outside of work? Any hobbies or interests?
I love to play camogie. For anyone not familiar with camogie – it is a female Irish field sport. I represent both my club, Ruairi Og Cushendall and my county, Antrim in this sport. My training and match schedule is hectic, so it takes up the majority of my free time, there is not much room for anything else!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?
See the challenges for what they are – opportunities to build both confidence and character.
Interviewed by Elaine Armstrong, Marketing Manager, Syndeo.
