Love DO Week - From DO to Director

When Angela Dawson joined Specsavers as an optical assistant at 18, she didn't expect it to become a 32-year career.

Just two weeks after joining, she was offered the opportunity to train as a dispensing optician, combining her interests in retail and science while gaining a professional qualification.

"I really cherished having a professional qualification and then going on to become a further clinician in contact lenses," says Angela. "Even though my role today doesn't involve being a clinician, I always make sure I mention that I'm a registered clinician because I'm so proud of it."

After qualifying as a dispensing optician, Angela continued to build her skills, later becoming a contact lens optician and moving into store leadership. Over the next 25 years, she took on a variety of roles across Specsavers stores before moving into the support office.

Today, Angela is Director of NHS Operations and sits on the Specsavers audiology board. Looking back, she doesn't see one long career, but a series of different opportunities built on the foundation of her dispensing qualification.

"The opportunities have been endless," she says. "I've had seven or eight different careers within one company."

Alongside career progression, Angela values the flexibility she's had throughout her journey.

"Working for Specsavers meant I could be not only the career person I wanted to be, with growth and development, but also the mum, wife and daughter I wanted to be. I could pick my children up from school, drop them off and go to football and dancing. I haven't had to sacrifice."

In fact, Angela's career journey inspired her own daughter to pursue a professional qualification. After choosing an accountancy apprenticeship over university, she went on to qualify as a chartered accountant at 22.

For anyone considering their next step, Angela's advice is simple:

"Find a place where you enjoy the work and feel comfortable, then take the opportunities that are there, even if at the time you think you're giving more than you're getting. You will get where you're meant to be, regardless of the starting point."