See your career at Specsavers: Can you build a career in IT without being technical? Well Rosie did!

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Meet Rosie who joined us back in 2019 as Global Data Specialist Team Leader and quickly discovered a passion for information technology (IT), but could she really build a career in IT if she wasn’t technical? Read on to find out more about Rosie’s story…

Hi, I’m Rosie, I’m 27 years old and I am a Retail Application Support Lead based in Leicestershire! I have a dog called Rodney and recently got engaged.

What was your background before joining Specsavers?
I graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2016 with a first class honours in Business Management! My course was four years long with a year in placement. I spent a year at Eaton, a global intelligent power management company in a Data Management role (it was one of those placements where you interview but then you got given a role instead of picking one). Full disclosure, I was not looking forward to this data role! Turned out to be the best placement I could have imagined. I loved it so much that I worked remotely during my final year at university and went back to Eaton in Data Management for a further 2 years. Who knew data could be so great?!

Tell me a little bit about your journey at Specsavers?
Back in 2019 I moved into Specsavers as a Global Data Specialist Team Leader – bit of a mouthful! In this role, I worked on all things from global product data to site/store data. During the dreaded pandemic, I took on a local data role which meant I was responsible for product launches, changes & discontinuations of Contact Lenses, Ophthalmic Lenses & Accessories across UK, ROI and ESP. With the data flows and their journeys through various systems and middleware & the plethora of new colleagues I begun the work with, I discovered an interest in IT. Could I take on a role in IT if I’m not technical at all ?? During my 121’s I communicated this interested in IT and began to work on the skills I felt I needed improve upon to bag myself a role in IT. I started to look internally for a suitable role and was suggested a Retail Application Support lead role by a colleague. Back in July 2021, I applied and got the job. And I’ve not looked back!!!

How did Specsavers help and support your development?
Pre, during and post covid, one thing has remained the same for Specsavers…the people! No matter who you speak to, there is always someone eager to listen and show you what else could be out there.

Just like most other companies, you have your usual one-to-one meetings, maybe the odd skip level review, but at Specsavers, it’s all the other people who you meet throughout your day. The people who have an entirely different perspective, who work in a completely different business area to you, who have a completely different life to you. They help you to look for things you didn’t even know were there!

I’m a big believer in going out there and making things work for yourself, but a friendly nudge out of your comfort zone can rarely be a bad thing, right?!

So much so, I will soon be flying the Application Support Lead nest and moving to the customer layer as an Associate Product Owner. It’s really special to work for a company who enables you to move so freely between business areas and teams.

What gives you pride in your role?
This ones simple – knowing I am making a difference.

What have you learnt during your time at Specsavers?
There are so many skills I’ve learned entirely from scratch, or that I have improved upon – communication skills, project management, stakeholder management, Microsoft know-how, work specific stuff, I could go on….

The skills I’ve gained and strengthened have provided me with the tools and confidence to pursue my next step within Specsavers. I know that my next role will provide me with a new challenge and I’m excited to further refine my skills and hopefully pick up a few new ones along the way.

What would you say to encourage someone thinking about applying?
Just throw your hat in the ring – you won’t regret it! If you are looking for variety in your work load, working with like-minded individuals and some good old fashioned hard work, then Specsavers is the place for you!

For those who are just starting out in the working world who maybe haven’t quite figured out what or where they want to be, Specsavers could be the perfect catalyst to finding that career you are looking for.

For those of you who aren’t technical who are thinking of stepping into Technology, DO IT! If you had told me 6 years ago when I left university after studying Business Management, that I would end up in Technology, I would have laughed! Yet here I am, and it was the best decision I’ve made.

Why do you love working at Specsavers?
There’s variety in my day-to-day work, everyone is really friendly and supportive, I’m given opportunity to get involved in new and exciting things; and there’s normally a few decent jokes per day as well!

What one word would you use to describe the Specsavers culture?
Enjoyable.

Finally, tell us a little bit about yourself:
I hate these sections!

I’m 27 years old and spent my childhood growing up in 3 different countries – born in the UK, moved to Holland for 4 years and then of to Ohio, USA for 2 years, before moving back to the UK. Fun fact, I can pledge allegiance to the United States of America (we had to do this at the start of every school day!).

I have an 18 month old Patterdale Terrier called Rodney – a Lockdown puppy! He’s totally nuts and loves coming with my partner and I on hikes around the UK. One of our most recent walks was Helvellyn in the Lake District. Rodney scaled Striding Edge like an absolute pro!

I love a good festival and have been to Glastonbury twice. Hoping to make it a third time when the Festival gods allow me through to the buy tickets page again, fingers crossed for next year!


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