Senior Technologists: video (text version)

Woman 1: Not enjoying the food?

Woman 2: Sorry. No, it's lovely. I guess I'm just not in the mood.

Woman 1: My sister-in-law made those little pastry things herself.

Woman 2: It's not them. It's just me, I'm afraid.

Woman 1: How about the quiche? Jimmy brought that. Fantastic cook in his spare time.

Woman 2: Look, I'm sorry. I've tried everything and ... I don't know.

Woman 1: Don't tell me! You're a top cook yourself and nothing quite matches up.

Woman 2: Goodness, no! I can't cook for toffee. No, I'm an IT contractor. I should be used to snacking when I can.

Woman 1: IT? What area?

Woman 2: Systems design.

Woman 1: I see. Been doing it long?

Woman 2: Long enough. Maybe that's why I'm feeling a bit jaded. Although deep down I do love the work.

Woman 1: Maybe it's too much jumping around from one contract to another, or too much of the same kind of work.

Woman 2: Could be either. Or both.

Woman 1: Sounds to me like you'd get a much bigger buzz working on the most powerful IT infrastructure outside the US.

Woman 2: Let me get my hands on it!

Woman 1: At GCHQ you can. And not just maintaining it, but constantly developing it. You'd be at the cutting edge of new technology.

Woman 2: Me? I hardly get enough time to keep pace with the off-the-shelf packages let alone the know-how to be at the cutting edge.

Woman 1: GCHQ invests massively in training and development, especially for people like you. There's a learning and development unit which has extensive ...

Woman 2: But you have to take time off to train. I can't afford to do that.

Woman 1: GCHQ pays you to train and to develop your career. You can move into different areas, learn new technologies, all during your normal working hours.

Woman 2: Sounds like a dream come true.

Woman 1: And you get to work in one of the most hi-tec office buildings in Europe ... part of an enthusiastic team ... working with a real sense of purpose. It's pretty good. Then there's the style and energy of a town like Cheltenham. Fantastic shops, restaurants, clubs, festivals ...

Woman 2: No, I couldn't move. I'd miss my friends.

Woman 1: Get them to apply too! We need senior technologists from all kinds of backgrounds - contractors like you, people in jobs, makes no difference. As long as they have experience in computer science, electronic engineering, communications, anything like that. Especially if you're a project manager. They'd love it here.

Woman 2: Having a real sense of purpose. I'd like that.

Woman 1: Feeling a bit more like having some food now.

Woman 2: Suddenly, I'm ravenous.

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