Vincent Chan

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Teign Housing

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

After leaving Exeter I helped out with the family business for a few years before moving to Hong Kong for work. After just over two years of working in the city from being a technical assistant in a civil engineering consultancy, to a transport coordinator in an international school, I returned to Devon so I could have a better work life balance and enjoy the outdoors in my spare time. I’m now working as an IT infrastructure analyst specialising in data protection and cyber security for a housing association.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

Every job I’ve been in, my colleagues often said my IT skills were so good that I ought to be working in IT. I decided to settle on IT as a career because it was something I was good at in school and realised I still have a natural flair for it even now. Technology evolves at a fast pace and I enjoy seeing advances in technology and computing. I feel I make a contribution to the workplace by keeping our systems up to date with the times. I also meet with other housing organisations across the South West to discuss data protection issues in the housing sector. I enjoy this aspect of my work so I can see how other organisations tackle cyber security issues and how they comply with the general data protection regulations.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I was interested in economics since A-level. I just liked understanding how economies worked. Similarly, I liked learning about personal financial management because I got a better understanding of how to manage personal finances. It was especially useful to know after the financial crash of 2008. Although my chosen subject didn’t result in a career in finance or economics, it was great to study those areas for my own personal benefit.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

The most enjoyable thing for me was seeing my friends.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

There were several factors but the main ones were that Exeter has a good reputation and the other reason was because it was close to home so, I could just commute to campus.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Doing a course in Business Economics, a variety of modules were taught. Management was covered and even management information systems was taught. These were particularly useful as I understood management decisions going into the workplaces. Working in IT now, the knowledge of management information systems also helped. We work with a lot of data so, it’s good to have an understanding of what that data can do for the company.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

As technology is always evolving at a fast pace, you need to have an interest in this area and also be willing to continue to learn new things. You mustn’t be stuck in the past and must be open to change. If you’re stuck in the past and refuse to change, you’ll be left behind.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m leaving my plans open for now but one thing is certain. I plan on sticking with IT for many years to come.