This month's star is Jo Hitchinson

Every month we will introduce you to a colleague. This month's star is Jo Hitchinson. He joined Signpost in October 2017 and is now Field Service Coordinator.

What exactly do you do at Signpost?
Jo: "I am one of the 2 Field Service Coordinators. My daily task is to coordinate the entire operation of the technicians from Belgium and the Netherlands.

So never a dull moment at Signpost. Every day, me and my colleague solve numerous problems, we put out fires and arrange replacements if someone falls ill. Setting priorities, keeping a cool head, and constantly shifting gears are a must in this job.

In addition, I am now also responsible for coordinating stock. Managing stock and getting everything to the right location on time is not always an easy task. In the coming months, I hope to be able to automate this more and more. A nice challenge in which I am assisted by some experienced colleagues, but my own experience as a technician also helps me to see pain points and optimise from there."

What does your day look like?
Jo: "No two days are the same. In short, there is actually a constant flow of problems to be solved.
My planning is very dependent on situational events: a colleague falling ill, urgent tickets, stock problems, etc. And, of course, in between there is also the follow-up of daily email traffic and phone calls, and fixed meetings with colleagues.

We try to keep the promise we make to our customers, being the 'Next Business Day On-Site' service, every day. I lovingly put all my efforts into that.

We are also working on getting an accurate picture of all the needs and obstacles we encounter by keeping track of as much relevant data as possible. Measurement is knowledge! The more knowledge we gain from this, the better we can optimise."

How did you end up working at Signpost?
Jo: "I took several courses but my interest has always remained in IT and education. Eventually, I graduated as an ICT Network Administrator.

I came into contact with Signpost via an acquaintance and jumped at the chance to apply. Being able to combine my passion for IT and education in one and the same job seemed the perfect fit. Having been at Signpost for five years, I am still happy every day with the opportunity I was given. I enjoy coming to work every day."

What are your interests besides work?
Jo: "When I was young, I took classes at the gym. I am a very competitive person and could go all out in those years. Later, I traded sports for gaming.

I still enjoy doing that but not to the extent that I can spend hours on it every day. It is a nice change from squash (and padel in summer) and fitness, which I took up as a 'good intention' again this year. Clearing my head after a busy working day ensures that I enjoy being here day after day.

And when there is still a little time left, my girlfriend and I keep ourselves busy renovating our house. There is not much time left for me to be bored. 😊"

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