Omagh Enterprise client and employee, talks about his Career Choice
Name: Dermot Devlin
Age: 33
Job: Project Officer at Omagh Enterprise and Owner of My Way Access
What does your job involve?
I am responsible for the online marketing of the centre and I ensure that all social network sites are updated with the latest news from OEC and the business world. I also monitor the company website so that it is provides visitors with information they need. In addition, I provide social networking mentoring for start-up and existing businesses.
My Way Access is an interactive, on-line resource for disabled people to check if businesses in Ireland and the UK are accessible for them. I am currently building links, so that the website will become more known and used. I also write a weekly blog about disabled issues, covering a wide range of topics.
How did you get into this line of work?
After qualifying from college, I signed up for the then ‘Work Track’ programme at the Job Centre. A six months administration post opened at Omagh Enterprise, so I took this opportunity to make myself indispensable. This led to my contract being extended and eventually becoming a permanent member of staff.
Do you have a typical working day?
Every day brings me into contact with new people with new ideas on how they want social networking to work for them. It challenges me to keep abreast of new ideas and marketing strategies.
What qualifications do you have?
I have a National Diploma and a HND in Computing.
What skills are essential for your job?
Good communication skills and the ability to interpret what clients want as an end product, whether that be with social networking or in disabled access information.
What’s the best thing about your job?
With Omagh Enterprise, it’s new people whose needs are all different from each other. This challenges me to keep up-to-date with all the changes online. Plus, you couldn’t work along with a better group of people, than my colleagues at Omagh Enterprise Company.
In My Way Access, I get enormous satisfaction in knowing that I’m doing worthwhile work, by highlighting disabled issues and access to a higher audience. I know that a lot of disabled people use the site before coming to Omagh and can plan their visit around the advice on My Way Access.
And the worst?
Not enough hours in the day to juggle everything, including life’s other priorities too. Though, I’m beginning to get better with my time management!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I won a competition to be the first person to ride in Disneyland Paris’s new ride ‘Space Mountain’ in 1995. When I got there, I discovered that I didn’t meet the height requirement. So, my Dad now holds the right to that honour. Still got a great holiday of out it though
Have is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I can’t single out any particular piece of advice. What I can say though, is whenever I needed advice, my Dad always provides me with the best. I just need to listen to him more!
How do you relax in your spare time?
My big passion at the moment is photography, I attended a part-time course at South West College, Omagh last year and it really helped develop my skills.
If you could swap jobs with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
I’d love to swap jobs with Mark Zuckerberg for the day as I’d love to see what ideas he has for future developments in Facebook and what business applications they might have. Plus, I’d leave him a wee note before I go, telling him he’s doing it all wrong and leave my suggestions!
What advice would you give to someone applying for a similar role?
Never give up. Positive thinking is a wonderful thing, you are more aware of opportunities when they present themselves. If you’re not feeling positive, these opportunities will pass you by.
If you were given the chance to life your life all over again, do you think you would have chosen your current career?
I didn’t choose this career, it chose me but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. As for being given the chance to do things differently, each choice took me to where I am now and I love where I am.
Source: applicationassist.co.uk
