Day In The Life Blog of a Junior Project Manager

In this insightful blog, Samuel Stan (Junior Project Manager) answers 10 questions about his career in Version 1 to date.

Questions and Answers;

1. Can you give us some background about yourself and your qualifications, and what led you to the career path you’re on now?

I finished high school with a diploma in product design and did not pursue third level education. Since joining Version 1, I’ve achieved 6 certifications to accelerate my career in the service desk as well as assist the company to maintain its partner accreditations.

My drive and passion for the gaming industry was what pushed me to explore new possible markets for the company. After two years of project management and research, I managed to make an impression with stakeholders and gained the confidence to join the Partnership Management Team as a Project Manager.

2. What does your working week look like at a glance?

Things are still fresh with the recent move, but my role currently involves brainstorming around the partner audits process, automation of reports, learning new terminologies and processes as well as familiarising myself with partner portals.

3. What rituals/recurring tasks does your role typically entail every day?

Every day, I engage with a lot of people from different departments, which is something I particularly enjoy as I am a very energetic person and I like meeting others. I get to learn about them and their jobs as well as how we can help each other.

4. What is your proudest accomplishment in your role?

Well, my imposter syndrome is telling me not to answer this one! I have got big plans for my career and what I can achieve here as Version 1 has been very supportive of my endeavours and thinking outside the box.

My proudest accomplishment is The Virtual Internet Café – A Version 1 Gaming Event for staff that is designed to showcase the cognitive benefits of gaming. All of this while connecting people from different departments no matter their gender, experience, or own hardware in a safe and fun environment. It’s newbie-friendly and an initiative I’ve been working on for over a year now.

5. What advice would you give to someone looking to enter your industry / get a job on your team? Are there any qualities you need to have?

Don’t be afraid to express yourself and let your achievements both real or on virtual platforms speak for themselves. During the interview process, I was asked to demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills. With my World of Warcraft raid leading experience, that was easy. Raids are group activities involving 10 or more players with the end goal of beating the  villains of that universe.
We didn’t slay Illidan, Arthas or Sylvanas and countless others because it was easy. We did it because we worked as a team and each one of us fulfilled our role when required. We were prepared, disciplined and willing to learn from our mistakes to succeed.  This allowed us to overcome the hardest challenges – and that is what makes a great Project Manager.

6. What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of the job is creating standards and being the “go-to” person when someone has a question that I can answer. I love helping and mentoring others, as well as building new things.

7. How does your typical workday differ now compared to pre-COVID? Has the structure/expectations of the role changed?

I love it!

I enjoy working from home, being a gamer, I have a very comfortable setup with high-end accessories that I got through WellTech at Version 1. I do miss the coffee breaks, and chatting to people but the no ego mentality in the company certainly makes it a more open workplace than most – Just ping me on Teams.

8. If you had 3 hours where you weren’t obliged to do anything at all, what would you do?

I would work on my projects! I’ve got so many ideas about new markets, exploring innovative technologies, and partnering up with charities for notable causes.

9. What’s next for your career? Is there typically a defined progression path for your role?

I would like to follow the Project Management route and become certified in all ways enterprise. I enjoy this role more than I thought I would initially, and I can definitely see that it suits me. I have an amazing manager, mentor, and team so… how can you not grow?

The only defined progression path in Version 1, is what you want to achieve and how much time you’re willing to pour into it. The managers and senior stakeholders are very supportive and empowering, you just have to want it and be ready to work for it.

10. Describe your job in 5 words or less.

Collaborate to achieve your goals.

Read More about Life at Version 1