So what do action role-playing video games and swordplay from the middle ages have in common with great IT customer service? Read on here to find out more about Patrick McHugh and his role in the Atom team.
When it comes to the latest addition to the experienced team at Atom, there are a few fairly specialised hobbies that drive Patrick McHugh’s passion for life and the world of work. Born and bred in the North East, Patrick grew up in Killingworth. He was educated at George Stephenson and Longbenton High Schools up to the completion of his A-levels, before embarking on a Business Management degree at Newcastle College.
The degree via college was a valuable route into employment and the perfect platform for him to start a career in IT. He has taken up his first full-time, professional role with Atom as IT Helpdesk Apprentice.
We asked Patrick to tell us a bit more about himself in his own words:
What’s the appeal of Atom?
Joining the team working for Atom is great. It’s exceeded my expectations and what I like about the role most is the working environment and opportunities for growth. Everyone in the office is always ready to lend a helping hand when you need it. That has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who is just out of college, starting out in work and looking to forge a career in the IT industry.
What does your in-tray look like currently?
It’s all about customer service and ensuring we meet the needs of our clients and respond to their IT queries promptly. My day-to-day work involves working through service tickets and assisting out customers with whatever technical support they may require.
On the service desk we try to help out with whatever issue arises and resolve it as quickly as possible. In the main, key tasks for clients focus on day to day needs like setting up printers, resetting passwords or configuring access to files. The work can be pretty wide ranging, which means I’m learning a lot about the detailed working of our IT systems.
A little-known fact about you is…
My favourite hobby is Historial European Martial Arts (HEMA) and I’m a massive fan of the discipline. It’s akin to Fencing, but not the kind you see in the Olympics. It’s essentially learning about how people fought in the Middle Ages and practising their techniques using historically accurate weapons such as the Longsword and Messer.
When you’re not working hard, what are you doing?
In my spare time, when I’m not at HEMA sessions, I get involved with quite a few different hobbies. For fitness and regular exercise, I play indoor volleyball for a local team in a competitive league.
I also really enjoy drawing and digital painting, as well as playing video games and watching movies. The occasional board game with family and friends is great too. I love tabletop role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. I think the strategy and thinking required for such games probably helps with work too. It’s important to be precise and accurate.
Looking for modern technology solutions from a team you can trust? Help is on the way. Get in touch with Atom today.
