“Comunica UPT” spoke with a Finance Inspector who currently holds the position of Team Leader in the “Control of Technologies and Information Systems” area of ​​the General Finance Inspectorate. His name is José António Oliveira and he holds a degree in Management Informatics from Portucalense.

Comunica UPT: What were the motivations that led you to study at Portucalense?
The quality of teaching at Portucalense, the quality of the Management Informatics course at Portucalense and the level of employability of the course.

At the time, did you dream of a particular profession? Which and why?
At the time, I did not have a specific profession in mind. However, as I intended to work in the area of ​​Informatics / Information Systems, I chose the course of management informatics because it seemed to me to have the characteristics necessary to succeed in the job market and because it was a course more linked to the business environment, due to the component of Management.

What are the main memories of this period?
The nights spent at the university studying or doing work together with my fellow students. There were nights of great camaraderie and mutual aid, as well as some fun.

Can you characterize this cycle of your life in a nutshell?
A very demanding cycle, but personally very rewarding.

What were the main lessons that the course gave you?
In addition to the entire theoretical basis, which, despite the constant evolution in information technologies, is still very useful today, was the ability to investigate and learn and apply new things.

After graduation, how did your career progress?
At the time, it was not easy for a recent graduate to find a job. However, after some time and after having done a set of very demanding knowledge tests, I joined the General Inspectorate of Finance as a Finance Inspector, having progressed in my career, now occupying the position of team leader, with the responsibility for coordinating the work of the Information Systems Audit teams. It was a demanding but personally rewarding journey.

Was there a particular moment or person that marked you when you entered the job market? If so, can you detail?
The most remarkable moment happened when, shortly after starting my career as a Finance Inspector, I carried out the first audit of an Information System. At that moment, I realized the level of knowledge and professionalism that is required in this activity.

In your opinion, your professional success is due to …
To an excellent knowledge base acquired in the undergraduate and master’s degree and also to the capacity and willingness to learn and to follow the evolution that has been verified in the Information Technologies, in order to be able to face the challenges that have been posed to the audit, namely to the security level of Information Systems.

What are your professional goals in the short and medium term?
Continue to deepen my knowledge in security of Technologies and Information Systems and proceed to the certification of “ethical hacker”.

What characteristics do you consider essential to win in the current competitive and global job market?
Have a good degree, have a desire to learn and keep up to date and the ability to apply what you have learned.

How do you view the departure of high potential professionals because they do not have job opportunities in Portugal?
I think it is a natural movement, particularly in the context of the European Union. Potential professionals tend to look for the best conditions to work and these have appeared in other European countries as well as in countries on other continents. It is evident that the departure of professionals impoverishes and reduces the country’s competitiveness. The current situation does not help, but Portugal has to change its paradigm and become competitive in terms of the labor market in order to keep national professionals with high potential and to attract professionals from other countries.

In the current context of crisis that affects, in particular, the youth labor market, in what areas should students and recent graduates invest?
Personally, I think the Information Technology area is a bet with a strong probability of success in the job market. However, I believe that we should invest in areas for which we have a desire, that we like and that challenge us. Otherwise, we are investing in something that is not appealing to us and that is forced by a situation and that we will abandon at the first opportunity, not allowing us to achieve excellence.

What are the main pieces of advice you would give to a recent graduate and an active professional looking to be recruited?
Develop a good “Curriculum Vitae”, do not give up looking for a job that is exciting and consider looking outside Portugal.