“As I honestly feel it, there is no hardest endeavor for me. Everything in the job is a challenge but I just enjoy it. I started out as a Research Analyst tasked to do production alone. As a Senior Analyst, the priority changed from productivity to data quality. When I became a Team Manager, my main task was to develop the talent and skills of people under my management, in addition to monitoring their productivity and quality. With my current role as a Data Specialist, I have built a very strong relationship with different stakeholders across locations. Different roles have different responsibilities. I just needed to adjust myself to every role and situation to be able to perform very well.”
This is the resounding statement of Nichelle Cajayon, Data Specialist for Ownership – Declarable Stakes, as she answered all the inquiries regarding her responsibilities and work philosophy. Primarily, she joined Thomson Financial (now Thomson Reuters) as a Temporary Research Analyst for Ownership – Portfolio team in August 2001. After two months, she was then fully hired by the company as a regular Research Analyst for the Ownership – Declarable Stakes team. In 2004, she became a Senior Analyst and consequently, moved up to a team manager role the subsequent year. Prior to her current role as a Data Specialist, she had been a team manager for Declarable Stakes for four years. She blissfully exclaimed that she has been with the company for one decade and 8 months.
“Primarily, the role is intended to provide subject matter expertise, skills, and knowledge within a specific Data set in order to build or maintain the content that is currently covered on existing databases or to use that knowledge to test future databases. The Data Specialist acts as the primary contact to give technical presentations on area of expertise. Scoping and validating business requirements for new projects is also one of the main responsibilities of the Specialist, as well as leading and coordinating research efforts involving multiple data sets. The Data Specialist represents the Content group in projects or discussions with internal and external stakeholders”, she explained.
“On a day to day basis, this role serves as the middle man between the Content Specialists and the Operations team,” she added.
Cajayon emphasized that in order to be qualified as a Data Specialist, ‘one should demonstrate subject matter expertise on the data processes, as well as the understanding of relationships that exist between groups within the organization. He or she must have the ability to independently drive projects, and to take initiatives on process improvements.’ Moreover, she underscored that ‘high interpersonal and communication skills are a must to be able to target audiences at all levels and to successfully build a network across locations and data sets.’ Lastly, he or she should ‘possess strong analytical and problem solving skills with attention to detail.’
Her work attitude and principles could be related or paralleled to resilience, patience, perseverance, perspicacity and harmony. She had learned that the drive to succeed must come from within. “Everyone must have his/her own goals and do his/her best to achieve them. Discouragements are everywhere but if you keep your focus, everything will just fall into place,” she purported.
Lastly, Cajayon mentioned that we should be patient and always do our best. We should also work hard and believe in our capabilities. In the end, our own star will shine; we just have to wait for our turn. Moreover, she asserted this as her piece of advice: “Love your work and your work will love you. Nothing will go unnoticed. I also believe that good things come to those who wait. There are even times that even if you don’t ask for it, it will come to you. That’s why I also lasted this long in the company; I do not easily give up!”
Manila Portal Segment: Specialist Q&A
HAPIS at HALAYA 