Tiffany Chan, Durham University – English Literature and History BA

University and Degree course read: Durham University – English Literature and History BA

Typical day-to-day activities, what your role entails within DBS. Any misconception you had about your business area, anything you particularly enjoy etc?

I am in the Compliance pod of the Unified Communications team, which means I 1) help to ensure HSBC staff are using Zoom features in compliant ways and 2) help to bring new Zoom features into the HSBC environment to improve our ways of working. 

Day-to-day activities involve filling out documentation and having meetings with colleagues from a range of different business lines. The people management and communication skills are the most important part of my job which I was not expecting in a “tech” role, but I enjoy those parts a lot! My role involves no coding either, which was initially surprising but not anymore, given how big DBS is and the range of activities supporting the engineering and operation of our tech.
 
What surprised you about Sheffield and the office? Are you local to the area originally or have you moved here from somewhere else?

I’m from Hong Kong so it is my first time in Sheffield as well, I enjoy the slower pace of living in Sheffield. I also love how many independent cafes there are around the city, allows me to enjoy some good food while reading a book.

What are your colleagues and culture like within Grosvenor House, Sheffield? Are you involved in any Employee Resource Groups?

Everyone in the Sheffield office is so nice and helpful! I thought it would be a lot more austere and quieter like in a “corporate” environment, but there is a real sense of community here. I’m not involved in any ERGs but there are lots of activities to get involved in that aren’t connected directly to an ERG.

What tips/encouragement would you give to anyone considering a similar pathway to yours?

If you’re not from a tech background, just be confident in the skills you already have, there is always a role in DBS where those skills will be needed.

Talking to others is a key skill that connects the engineers to the business which is a super important role!