Vanessa Padfield

"These results fit me so well. One of my favourite parts of my job is helping people work in a more efficient way, therefore being a Developer makes so much sense. There is nothing I like more than getting the root of a difficult problem and advising someone how it an fixed. This gives me immense which shows how much of a Quality Controller and Investigator I am. I would say the trait I most agree with in Quality Controller. This applies to the way I approach data in my work - I like it to be right and uniform, but also in my everyday life. I am very interested in social justice issues and the environment. I try to ethically conscious where I can."

" I work as an applications developer for Western Power. This means I help develop in house applications to help the business achieve what they need to do which is keep the lights on. As well developing new features/systems, I help to support those systems. I love talking to users on a day to day basis and getting to the root of a difficult problem. There is nothing more satisfying to me than solving a problem. "

"I was encouraged by a teacher to take Physics further than GCSE (I did not take separate sciences, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t take that). This led me to a degree in Physics which meant I took some modules in programming and got very comfortable with handling data. I got my first role in Western Power after graduating after being told about it by a family friend. I originally applied for a role in the IT department but was unsuccessful so I got a role in a different department and applied when the role I wanted became available. "

"During my spare time, I spend time with my boyfriend and cat. We watch tv or play video games. I also love to read as well as experiment with makeup. It could be obvious if you see me in person, but I don’t think many people know that I love vintage fashion. I like to set my hair in 1950s curls and put on a vintage dress. Vintage fashion without the vintage values!"

"My typical day involves completing daily checks to ensure that our systems are working properly. I will also spend some time replying to emails about issues users are having. I have a daily catch up with my colleagues to discuss current issues and projects. As well as supporting users, I’ll also spend time developing new functionality. This could be solo work or having meetings to discuss what requirements are needed."

"I took Physics, Maths and Spanish at A level and went on to study Physics and University. I ended up taking a year out after my first year due to mental health issues. However, I went back and finished my degree and discovered that I liked and was good at programming. This led me to searching for programming roles. Originally I got a different job and then applied for jobs internally to get to where I wanted to be. "