Meet the Team: Daniel
Niamh O'Higgins
Content Executive
Posted: 12 Dec 2023
Get to know SEO Specialist, Daniel
Daniel tells us about his career versatility, his favourite things about working in the office, and how epic his keyboard skills are.
How long have you worked at Optimising for?
I started working here over a year ago in August 2022. When I initially chatted with James and Jim about working at Optimising, the timing just didn’t quite line up. It was disappointing because it seemed like a great opportunity, but luckily, a few months later we were in touch again. The timing was a lot better, so it was a great chance for me to join the team and get into the industry in Australia.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was in elementary and primary school, I always said that I wanted to be an engineer, because that was my father’s job. When I got older and it was actually time to decide, my first choice would have been computer science, then engineering, and then nursing.
In the end I chose nursing, I guess because it was a really popular choice around that time, and there were opportunities overseas. I didn’t see myself wanting to move overseas back then, but it was good to know I could. So aside from working in SEO, I’m also a registered nurse in the Philippines!
How did you get into SEO?
There weren’t a lot of nursing opportunities in the Philippines outside of Manila, and I didn’t want to live there. I have a cousin who worked in SEO at the time, and she introduced me to her manager and it took off from there. I did a two-year diploma in information technology, and learned WordPress too for an additional skill, then started working in SEO in 2017.
What do you like about SEO?
Because it’s used all over the world, you can work in SEO basically anywhere. I’m here now, and my last role was for a US-based company, but I worked remotely. There’s always development and opportunity to learn more.
As we work hybrid at Optimising, what’s your favourite thing about office days?
I like the hybrid model. My favourite thing about office days is probably the snacks and coffee upstairs, as well as our weekly Thai Fridays lunch out on Victoria Street!
Working full-time with a young family, how do you find a good work and life balance?
It can be tough to balance everything and it can sometimes be demanding, especially with my daughter who’s almost 15 months old! She’s really turning into a toddler now, and she has a big personality, so we spend lots of time playing together and going for walks in the park. She loves when I push her on the swingset, so we spend a lot of time at the playground too. I also play the keyboard in my Church which is fun!
What’s your top song to play?
We play mostly contemporary Christian songs, and my favourite is 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.
What does your typical Sunday routine look like?
There’s a lot of life admin to keep up with on the weekend! On Sundays, I go to Church with my family, and we usually catch up with friends afterwards for lunch and to hang out. We make sure to spend plenty of time with my daughter, too. Then it’s time for groceries, laundry, and cleaning, as well as meal-prepping to get ready for the next week.
White Christmas or Christmas in the sun?
Growing up, I always used to wonder what having Christmas during the Summer would feel like. Now that I know it, I would still prefer a white Christmas!
Niamh O'Higgins
Content Executive
From Dublin to Melbourne, Niamh has taken her content journey international. After gaining her degree in Linguistics and dabbling in some other European languages, she decided English was where she could use her words best. Completing a Diploma in Marketing, Advertising, and E-Commerce, and adding a splash of Project Management on the side, Niamh dove into the world of content writing, and hasn’t looked back since.
When she isn’t in the Optimising office having coffee and a treat, she can often be found in South Yarra, having coffee and a treat. She’s also partial to some pilates, a gym class, or an evening stroll (if the Melbourne weather permits).
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