INTERVIEW: How a Career in Data Centers Shapes Your Future

Everything we see on our screens while browsing the internet has to physically exist somewhere. Every text, image, line of code, and database. These places where the internet, so to say, lives are data centers, and despite a plethora of smart technology, they need people to function successfully.

Triin Kurves. Photo by: Jake Farra

Unlike many other fields, there's a sharp global shortage of data center personnel, and this is increasing. According to a recent study by the Uptime Institute, around 300,000 additional specialists will be needed worldwide to manage data centers by 2025. It's clearly a job of the future, which isn’t taught in schools yet. However, experts are needed immediately.

What does work in a data center actually mean, what does it offer individuals, and how to cope with the shortage of specialists? Triin Kurves, the HR Manager of the largest data center in Estonia, sheds light on these queries.

What causes the shortage? The field has a decent history, so the need for hands shouldn't be a surprise, right?

The explosive growth of the internet-based economy and leisure activities explains this best. The last twenty years have seen rapid development, hundreds of new data centers, and a continually growing demand. This trend continues. Data centers, being the foundation of our digital society, haven't usually been in the public eye. Many tech enthusiasts haven't considered the career and self-development opportunities this field offers. Fortunately, this is now changing.

What jobs do data centers offer, and who is needed there?

Broadly, the personnel in a data center are divided between two sectors: technology and administration. On the tech side, experts in electrical and cooling systems are needed, who want to keep up with the advancements in automation and machine learning. There are also Network Operation Center employees who handle the daily work of our complex buildings. Additionally, IT, cyber, and physical security specialists are essential to protect the buildings and systems. On the administration side, legal experts on data center business, sales, and marketing experts who understand the value proposition, and of course, leaders and their support staff who can navigate the world of data management and guide data centers effectively are needed. Eventually, these establishments need to be economically stable and sustainable.

One of the fastest ways to enter this world is as a Network Operation Center engineer. What does their job look like?

As I mentioned earlier, the data centers are the foundation of the digital society. Therefore, ensuring the seamless operation of IT equipment in the building is crucial, which primarily means impeccable electricity and cooling. The job of a Network Operation Center engineer involves monitoring equipment operation, preventing faults, and dealing with them if necessary. There are usually set procedures for handling different situations, so the engineer doesn’t have to solve every technical issue independently, but they need to know who to turn to. They also deal with technical customer inquiries, accept deliveries, and if necessary, perform simpler tasks for the customer concerning the equipment. In a well-functioning data center, the Network Operation Center is staffed 24/7, as the work goes on around the clock. There's a nice saying in English, "the sun never sets in cyberspace," which describes the field well.

The technology field tends to be historically quite masculine. How many women work in data centers, and what are the trends here?

According to a global survey, up to 10% of women are recruited as technicians in data centers, while in our team, women constitute 26%, working in administration. We are open to further balancing this ratio. However, there's a long way to go. For example, in the last Network Operation Center engineer recruitment among 20 candidates, only three were women, previously the proportion of women was even smaller. But I believe this will change over time.

Can you learn data center work somewhere?

Data center work isn't taught in Estonia, and opportunities elsewhere are scant. Consequently, the direction is towards on-the-job training, and necessary personnel are mostly trained on-site. However, certain professional backgrounds or experience can be beneficial. For instance, studying or working in the fields of information technology and telecommunications, as well as mechanics, energy, and automation.

Working in a data center helps expand this knowledge, create new connections, and immediately apply what has been learned. Open-minded individuals grow quickly here.

Professional knowledge is one aspect, but what personal traits are beneficial? Who is this job most suitable for?

Since data centers are complex, problems that require quick and systematic approaches, often requiring strong teamwork, will arise. Therefore, a readiness for teamwork is important. Secondly, diligence and accuracy. As a wrong move can have severe consequences, attentiveness and a sense of responsibility are beneficial. A regulated work arrangement should also suit, as there is unlimited room for creative solutions on the technology side.

How long does it take to settle into the work at a data center and achieve proficiency?

It depends on previous experience, the complexity of the position, and the individual's adaptability. If technology is familiar from a previous career, settling in is easier. The more specific and technically complex the position, the longer it may take to achieve independence. The team one works with is a great help in the settling process. Good team support always accelerates integration.

What does work in a data center give to an employee? What doors does it open, what skills does it develop?

Experience in a data center can open many doors and certainly expands career opportunities in the IT and technology fields. For instance, we have an example where a young individual came to us as a clean slate, learned the profession and the specifics of data centers on-site. After two years of working in our Network Operation Center, he moved on to a software development company focusing on cybersecurity. We must also accept that due to the size of our team, we can’t offer a career in the most preferred field for everyone. However, we can provide a pretty good understanding of how technical systems work, the possibilities of automation, how to achieve high energy efficiency, get networks and other IT equipment working, etc.

Additionally, working in a data center often involves quick responses and acting under pressure, which develops stress tolerance and productivity. Our field is evolving rapidly, so working in a data center requires continuous learning and adaptability.

What qualities should a data center employee have?

We value courage, openness, good communication skills, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and the desire to self-improve. Often, technical background is not as decisive as personal traits – if there's interest in the field, individuals learn faster and can more easily acquire the necessary knowledge for working with us.

Do employees have to go through strict security checks?

The smooth operation of many organisations depends on our building, and one of the main values offered to the customer is security. Therefore, we conduct background checks on candidates who make it to the final round of the recruitment process.

What feedback do you receive from employees, how is working in a data center perceived and valued?

Working in a data center is enriching. Every day you learn something new, an experience you can’t get elsewhere. Here, you acquire basic knowledge in multiple fields and understand, for example, how mechanics, automation, and energy are interconnected.

In conclusion, the data center sector is clearly in a growth phase, offering employees an exciting and stable future. The career opportunities offered by this field in our region are only beginning to expand.