Ever wondered what it's like to work at one of Greater Manchester's leading tech employers or what specific job roles get up to each day?
Ope Anthony is a Content Designer at DWP Digital.
We spoke to her to find out more about this role, her experience at DWP Digital and what an average day looks like.
Name: Ope Anthony
Company: DWP Digital
Job Title: Content Designer
How did you get into your current role?
I went through an interview process with a panel of three interviewers who hold senior positions here at DWP Digital.
As you can imagine, it was a little bit daunting, but I just had to let go of the nerves and remember that I was called to interview for a reason. I talked about my past experiences and answered some competency-based questions; I was happy to learn that I did well and was offered the job.
What do you enjoy most about working at DWP Digital?
The teamwork! It’s a very collaborative and open environment therefore help is always there when you need it. The community of Content Designers specifically has many get-togethers where we offer help to one another with our various projects. It’s really lovely to know that I can go to anyone within the wider community at DWP Digital, outside of my immediate team, and receive support. I have to say, I don't think I've ever worked anywhere that values collaboration as much as my team does here at DWP Digital. And even with that, I'm still trusted to get on with things and deliver good work independently.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I have a hybrid working pattern so whether I’m working from home or in the office, I attend a catch-up meeting with my team every morning. Before this, I’ll start my day by reminding myself of my plans and noting down anything I need to raise in the meeting. Once it’s over, I'll begin to work through my daily to-do list (which will likely be broken up by more meetings with members of my team and/or other key stakeholders).
If you hadn't already guessed, I work as a Content Designer and, right now, my attention is split between the work I was brought in to carry out and, as a fallout of this, other secondary responsibilities as a resource to other teams. My daily to-do list consists of:
- reviewing articles on some of DWP Digital’s internal web pages
- coming up with ideas for improvement, or assessing how previously discussed improvements can be applied
- feeding back suggestions and reviewing suggestions from team members involved in my projects
- discussing the best approach to take as a team, taking into account the pros and cons of each suggestion.
As you can imagine, each day brings its own surprises so I often deal with impromptu requests and the challenges that may come with them.
What is it like starting a new job /working remotely during the pandemic?
I’m surprisingly well-adjusted to starting a new job from home due to the pandemic; in fact, my role at DWP Digital will be my third time doing this! I like having the option to work from home sometimes as it allows for more flexibility.
At DWP Digital specifically, it’s been a very thorough process - from when I collected my IT equipment to getting set up and ready for my first day.
What excites you the most about the work at DWP Digital?
Although I've had a lot of experience reviewing content produced by others and going through a similar process as I’ve had to do here, my previous roles have been heavy on content creation. This is the first time my role has been solely focused on problem-solving to improve existing standards. It's one of my greatest strengths so it’s exciting to be given the opportunity to engage this every day.
Have you learned anything new since you started?
Absolutely. Unfortunately, accessibility has never been a key part of any of my previous roles. As a result, it’s not something that I've had to spend much time thinking about. At DWP, I'm starting to learn a lot about inclusivity when it comes to written content and how to ensure the content I produce is user-friendly for those who may experience barriers when interacting with or accessing content.
I've also learned a lot about myself. From day-to-day interactions, I've been able to identify areas of personal development, particularly when it comes to backing up and believing in my content decisions. It's now a matter of building on these skills and turning them into strengths.
Thank you, Ope!
To find out more about DWP Digital, click here.
If you're a Manchester Digital member and would like somebody at your company to be featured in our A Day In The Life series, contact thom@manchesterdigital.com.
