Welcome to ‘Why you should hire me’, a series by Information Age highlighting unemployed tech professionals looking for work.
Today we bring you the expertise of Dean Bergin, Vinu Shankar, and Paul Read.
If you feel these tech professionals may be an asset to your business, please contact them directly via LinkedIn (link in their profiles below).
Please note that these professionals have not been vetted by Information Age or the Australian Computer Society and that it is the responsibility of any potential employer to ensure candidates are suitable for a proposed role.
Dean Bergin
Location: Heathridge, WA
Areas of expertise: Network engineering, systems engineering (Linux) and automation
Years of experience: 10 years in network engineering
Type of role I’m looking for: A network systems matter expert (SME) including routing, switching and automation.
Work schedule: Preference is full-time, but I also welcome contract opportunities. I value flexibility (as I'm an early starter) and hybrid work arrangements.
What I like about working in tech: From an early age, I have always had a passion for technology. I like learning new and emerging technologies, and I find it satisfying to apply these to cost-effective solutions. I run a pretty serious home lab.
Best career advice I’ve ever received: I don't have any standout advice, but what I have learned in my career is that communication is paramount, and it is more important than technology itself.
Why you should hire me: I am meticulous and fastidious and if I'm given a puzzle, I need to solve it.
Considering my extensive experience, I am a fast learner, especially in technology. One of my strong points is that I can easily transfer and adapt my skills to apply to many different aspects of technology and fields of expertise.
I also strive to always deliver the best possible technical outcomes while at the same time, providing cost-effective and quality solutions.
Also, you’ll see that I can't rest with a half-baked solution either, or if something is not working because of poor design, I give it the "squeaky wheel" treatment and fix it right away rather than ignore it and leave it for someone else.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-bergin/
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Vinu Shankar
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Areas of expertise: Business analysis
Years of experience: 20
Type of role I’m looking for: Lead business analyst/ functional consultant/ product owner
Work schedule: Full time, office or remote.
What I like about working in tech: Technology brings dreams to reality and often the thing you dreamed of already exists – you just have to explore to find it. I like working with all the stakeholders to solve the problems that most matters to the business. I find that people don’t spend enough time finding the problem worth solving. I like working out the problem, then applying human centred design techniques like the classic double diamond to figure this out.
Best career advice I’ve ever received: Never burn the bridges (with any employer or anyone), irrespective of what their title is. As we all know that things can change very quickly in this environment. And, if you have to leave a job, leave it amicably. You never know who is connected to who. Word travels and before you know it you could have a bad reputation.
Why you should hire me: In a world of specialists, I am a highly adaptable generalist. Having worked as a consultant across six to seven different industries has given me a lot of insight into many areas, where the problems lay, and where to go for solutions. This experience allows me to propose solutions ‘out of the box’.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinushankar/
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Paul Read
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Areas of expertise: Primarily in relationship management roles (customer success) for global SaaS companies. I’ve recently completed a post-graduate certificate in Cyber Security.
Years of experience: 25
Type of role I’m looking for: My dream job is customer success manager for a cyber company, alternatively, in CSM role for a SaaS company.
Work schedule: Full-time or hybrid.
What I like about working in tech: I like that it is continually evolving and that the rate of change is accelerating. I read sci-fi and love seeing how life follows fiction. I like discovering how things work – I get a buzz when I press a button and watch what happens. I think back to my youth when the Casio calculator watch was cutting-edge technology – how things have changed!
Best career advice I’ve ever received: To be honest, I’ve had little guidance. On-the-job learning has been my real life guidance, nearly all has been self-taught. One rule I live by is ‘get in front of your customers’, ideally face-to-face, and listen to them. It’s the only way to understand what they want which ultimately leads to helping them and retaining them.
Visiting a customer creates greater opportunities and fosters stronger relationships rather than just doing remote calls. Finally, in any meeting, let them talk; it’s not a good meeting if you’re doing the talking.
Why you should hire me: I’ve had 25 years’ experience in relationship management, with a decade in SaaS.
My customers include some the largest businesses in Australia. I have with dealt with boards and C-suites ensuring they understand the ROI and therefore renew their software contracts.
I’ve had a 99 per cent customer retention rate. I was awarded a place in the ‘President’s Club’ for cross and upselling for three of the four years this incentive ran.
I fully understand the nuances of working across all states in Australia. If you want either an experienced CSM to join a local team or a ‘safe pair of hands’ working remotely or independently in WA or broader reach, I’m it!
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-read-a0548651/
This Information Age series is for technology professionals who have been unemployed for more than three months. If you are interested in being featured in ‘Why you should hire me’, email the Information Age team on [email protected].
