03 May 2010
Connecting the IT career dots
Tom Berryman enjoys running his own IT company and says his successful IT career started because of his TAFE studies at RMIT.
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IT entrepreneur Tom Berryman, who runs his own IT business, says that his career started because of RMIT University.
"At RMIT I learned more efficient ways of operating and managing servers and received a good grounding in security principles. These were things that I couldn’t teach myself.
"Because of this I ended up being better at the IT management job I had and that helped me develop a strong reputation within my local community and new job offers followed," he said.
Mr Berryman studied a certificate in information technology, focusing on network management, at RMIT and graduated in 2005. Since then he has spread his wings to work for many companies.
"When I completed my certificate at RMIT, I was working as a private IT manager for a local company in Warragul where I live.
"Shortly after I graduated, I found that my job wasn’t as satisfying as it had been and was no longer as challenging as it had been when I first started there.
"I enjoy working with technology and have always worked in this field; I enjoy the constant challenges IT offers.
"So instead of looking for another IT management job, I began working as a sole trader and set up my own small business in IT," Mr Berryman said.
At first he assisted a few other local businesses with their technology needs. Then two years later, at the end of 2007, Mr Berryman joined forces with a friend who was also working in IT as a sole trader and assisting six primary schools with their technology needs. Together they formed Connectivity IT.
"Since we started Connectivity IT, the company has grown dramatically. We now service about 50 clients and we have deployed an astonishing amount of equipment that we manage and maintain for them,” he said.
Recently, the company employed two new staff members to assist with its expanded workload after winning an upgrade and maintenance contract worth more than $250,000.
To win this contract, Connectivity IT beat a larger and more established local company and a prestigious Melbourne-based company.
"The course at RMIT allowed me to develop many more skills than I could learn on the job. Network Management was a much broader program than its name suggests.
"RMIT offered the most practical program for my needs and gave me the ability to get hands-on with anything in the IT field - which for me was critical," he said.
RMIT offers a huge range of vocational programs for many careers at different levels from construction, engineering and conservation and land management, to business, information technology and fashion and textiles.
If you are interested in keeping up with industry trends, acquiring new skills or formalising your experience, an RMIT TAFE qualification may be the solution to securing your future.
Recent changes to the TAFE system may make it more accessible for you to train and gain a formal qualification, such as a diploma or advanced diploma. You may be eligible for government-subsidised training.
To find out more, come along to RMIT’s free TAFE information evening and speak to RMIT staff about programs, fees and how to apply on Wednesday, 5 May, 5.30pm - 7pm at RMIT Info Corner, 330 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
For more information call Info Corner on (03) 9925 2260.
