Hot Seat: Luke Claughton

What was your first job?
Pensions administrator for Friends Provident. I started at Micheldever in a brand co-ordinator role, but was asked to move into IT because I gained a reputation for being able to turn the vast data available into useful information.

If you weren’t working in IT, what would you be doing?
I would be delivering expensive power boats to their new owners around the world. Alternatively, I could see myself doing some form of operations role where I would get involved with looking for ways to improve efficiency and then go about implementing those changes.

What is the most ridiculous support request you’ve had from a user?
We had someone call up saying their computer wouldn’t turn on. After spending a lot of time talking them through checking leads to the PC and network connectivity, it turned out that the user was pressing the open/close button on the CD drawer.

Which technology has had the biggest impact on your working life?
No surprises – the internet. You really can find anything on there.

Which technologies do you most rely on outside the office/at home?
I always carry my PDA with me and think of emails as text messages. The thinking is that you can start addressing issues before you get to work, which should save time. The trouble is, it just means that you end up doing more work because everyone else is doing the same.

Is now a good time for people to enter the IT profession?
Yes. Over the next few years companies will be trying really hard to maximise return on IT investment. This will put huge pressure on IT staff, but it also gives them a great opportunity to shine.