James Mulholland talks to nijobfinder about his role as General Manager of Donaghy Brothers
Give a brief outline of your career to date
I have worked with Donaghy Bros my whole working life. I joined the company at the age of 16, working as a helper in the vans doing deliveries on a Saturday which then led to becoming an installer fitting aerials.
During this time I was studying at NWRC (North West Regional College) and qualified as an electrical engineer in 1995. I then progressed to the service department within the company preparing and servicing electrical equipment.
My knowledge and expertise of appliances afforded me the opportunity to progress further within the company to a sales position which I took up in the early 2000’s. I soon realised that the challenge, discipline and motivation needed to work in a high intensity sales environment was where my true strength and passion lay. I became Sales Manager in 2013 which then led to my current position as GM (General Manager) of Donaghy Brothers in 2015.
I have been very fortunate to have had the privilege to learn my trade and be mentored by the founder of the company Sean Donaghy who guided and directed my career from an early age. The company is now in the safe hands of his sons James and Dermot Donaghy and we have recently celebrated 57 years in business and Donaghy Bros continues to thrive and grow.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I was particularly keen on the practical subjects of technology and Tech design.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I left school at 16 and went to North West Regional College for 3 years where I studied for a HND (Higher National Diploma) in electrical engineering. I also completed various business insight courses throughout my career.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
It’s really hard to say, I was very fortunate to be afforded the opportunities which have brought me to where I am today, I was always keen to be involved in the supply and services industry, when I discovered I had the flare for sales and management I knew I truly wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
My initial position as an Electrical Engineer in the company required the above qualification as my primary role was to service electrical goods. Sales and Management are a really difficult thing to teach academically. It would be important to have qualifications in Maths and English to succeed in a sales role but to progress to General Management I would advise 3rd level education, there are many courses now available that were not as prevalent when I started out.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Yes absolutely,if you feel you have a flare for sales or management and have the communication skills to match then use your skill to sell yourself to any prospective employers. Progressing to Management is a bit trickier but can be done, leadership is key, don’t be afraid to express yourself and show what you can do, as long as you have the work ethic and leadership qualities required you will most certainly progress. Patience is key when taking this route.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Excellent communication skills, confidence, leadership, integrity, resilience, knowledge, positivity, and a strong business acumen. You also need to be understanding and show empathy towards customers and staff alike.
What does a typical day entail?
A typical morning begins with meeting James Donaghy the Managing Director of the company to discuss any on-going tasks and review the ones from the previous day. As General Manager of the company I have responsibility for directing, managing and overseeing daily business activities in both the store and our ecommerce site, monitoring and motivating staff, ensuring excellent customer service, identifying business opportunities, generating new business and improving service.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best parts of the job are building up rapports with our customers, providing them with an excellent service and earning their trust.
The challenging aspect of the job is to stay relevant in an ultra-competitive market and try to keep one step ahead. The retail market is changing and we must change with it to succeed.
Why is what you do important?
Donaghy Bros are the bridge between the manufacturer and the customer, without electrical retail businesses I believe customers would really struggle to access the things they need for their home at competitive prices. Our competitive pricing, excellent customer service and investment in ecommerce has ensured we have achieved significant growth in Ireland and GB – something we feel is important and sets up apart from other electrical retailers.
It is also very important to continue to protect the history and achievements of the company which was set up in 1964 by Sean Donaghy. Over that time Donaghy Bros have maintained their independent status and are still a family run business.
We employ a significant number of staff and currently have 55 team members across our 2 branches in Kilrea and Limavady. That’s a fair contribution to the local economy and something we are very proud of and want to sustain and indeed grow going forward.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Be passionate, driven, engaged, ready to learn and believe in the company you work for. The best sales people and ultimately managers are self-motivated and have extremely high standards in every part of their job. This will ultimately translate to success.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I always had an interest in Law, I am fairly proficient in consumer and commercial law which is a requirement when working within this industry. Some would say I enjoy making an argument… especially my family and friends!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Accept that you will make mistakes, it’s a tough way to learn, making a mistake is always forgivable, not learning from them is not!
Describe your ideal day off.
I could give a couple of answers to this question! At the minute travel is limited but in normal times I love going for a drive around the North coast with my wife and daughter and stopping off for fish and chips, simple stuff. I am humbled by the beauty of where we live in the world and feel guilty sometimes that I don’t always appreciate it!
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Commit to the position you are applying for. Be realistic and honest, sell yourself. Never pre-empt what a perspective employer may or may not think of you and never sell yourself short. I am a great believer in people, not just what they have achieved academically but what has brought them to this point & what have they done in the past . This tells much more than a CV ever could.
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