Getting to know Gabriel Keegan

Our meet the team blog series highlights the amazing people behind Xalient. This week we caught up with one of our Network Analysts, Gabriel Keegan to find out a bit more about him and his role here at Xalient…

 

To kick things off, could you tell us a bit about your career background and current role here at Xalient? 

I studied politics and international relations at University, but unfortunately that didn’t quite work out for me. I decided i’d be better suited to an apprenticeship instead and I’m so glad I did! I’ve worked in Technical Support my entire professional career apart from a brief stint as a warden at Buckingham Palace. Currently I work as a Network Analyst for the NOC.

What is it that attracted you to Xalient? 

I wanted to move to Leeds to live with my partner and landed an interview with Xalient. It was a four stage interview process but as I was coming up from London I had all four stages in one day. It was quiet intense, but I was impressed that the company cared enough to be so accommodating. I was interviewing for a higher position than I had worked at previously so I was excited by the potential to advance my career. The range of technology along with the size of the customers I would be working with really attracted me, I felt like the work I would be doing was actually relevant and important.

What’s the first thing you do when you start your working day?

Turn my laptop on, check the handover and hope that no data centers have burned down!

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy fixing a problem, it’s tangible work. People understand something up until it breaks and then panic and lose interest. I enjoy being able to approach the task and figure out what’s wrong. Invariably its quite simple but occasionally its really bizarre and that adds another fun aspect to the job.

What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this?

Probably a chef.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Sleeping! I enjoy riding my bike, going to the gym, reading and spending quality time with my partner.

In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

I’m trying to stop smoking and I am currently learning to drive.

Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

I really like my rice cooker, it’s incredibly dull… but it makes great rice!

Who/what inspires you (work, personal and / or historical)?

My Mum and Dad.

What’s a fun fact about you many people might not know?

I own a one eyed Chinchilla called Nero!