Michelle Geary  is a Support Specialist with the Barden. She joined the team in Cork in November 2021 and works with and supports the Barden recruitment team across the various expert areas including accounting and tax, financial services, IT and legal. Her core activities will include support administration and operation for the consultant and leadership teams.

Before joining Barden Michelle worked as complex manager and duty manager with Press Up Hospitality Group, and Assistant Manager with 3Arena. In 2010 she completed a BA Arts in Politics and History with University College Cork.

We recently sat down with Michelle to learn a little bit more about her.

Where are you from?    

Midleton, Cork

Where did you study?  

I did a BA Arts in Politics and History in University College Cork (UCC).

How old were you when you had your first paying job? And what was it? 

My first paying job was when I was 15 and I worked as a receptionist in an Opticians at the weekends. Although my parents previously had their own business so we were put to work in some capacity many years before that!

Where did you work before joining Barden?

Having moved from Dublin back to Cork in 2020, I started working with Press Up Hospitality Group, between the opening of The Dean Cork and the Captain Americas complex in the city. Previous to that I had worked with 3Arena as an Assistant Manager in the Private Members Clubs.

Why did you choose to work with Barden? 

I had been looking at a change in career since summer 2020, like a lot of people I had re-evaluated many things on the back of the pandemic and wanted to move away from hospitality but utilise my skills with the right company. Making the right move was key to me and when I came across Barden’s job ad online it really stood out to me as something different. This was only cemented further when I met Ed, Elaine and Jonathan and how they spoke about Barden the company, but also the team. It was clear from the outset that Barden strives to do things differently whilst effortlessly maintaining the human factor in all areas which was a refreshing experience.

What’s the best thing about working here?  

The people.

What does your role in Barden involve?

My role is to support the rest of the team with their candidates and roles. The role is primarily admin focused so an average day for me can involve formatting CV’s, job spec’s along with sourcing and other adhoc duties.

What top tip would you give to those looking to change role?

Listen to your gut.

What three words best describe you?  

Motivated, sincere, fun – at least I certainly like to think I am 🙂

Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of?  

I helped establish a not for profit community centre for expats and like-minded locals when I lived In Switzerland. The Living In Luzern group had been very helpful to me when I originally moved and I got involved as I wanted give something back. I could never have imagined it would develop Into the scale of the centre but it was great fun albeit a mammoth project! It’s great to see where it is at today –  although I’m long overdue a visit back!

Have you a favourite saying or quote? What is it?  

Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.

Glass half full or half empty? 

Glass half full 100%.

Where in the world would you most like to visit?  

South America – one that will need to be ticked off in the coming years.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle!” – wise words from the late Steve jobs and words that resonated with me, a Big-4 recently qualified accountant (ACA), 6 months ago.

Many of you may relate to my position – a newly qualified accountant and at a crossroads in your career? Reluctant to waste your qualification and all the long years of study – yet want to try something a little bit different? Then, listen to my story – my transition from Niall the Accountant, to Niall the Barden advisory recruiter.

Crossroads in my Career

Where do I start? My training contract in Deloitte. Like any fresh-faced graduate in their fledging practice career, I was eager to learn and broaden my skillset throughout my 3 years there. However, I soon realised that my favourite aspect of the job was liaising with clients and colleagues and not the spreadsheets and the numbers! So I wondered – is there any way that I can match my passion for people with my accounting qualification and thoroughly enjoy what I do?! Impossible, right? I was at a crossroads in my career but resigned myself to the fact that this was a fanciful dream and that the best advice would be to follow the well-worn, safe path of becoming a financial accountant in industry.

Exploring the Barden Option

Barden to the rescue – well, kind of! Barden had come highly recommended to me as an advisory recruiter and an expert in the accounting and finance field. So I contacted one of the Barden team, Siobhan Sexton (ACA), to give me a steer on financial accounting roles in industry. I was blown away by the professionalism, level of detail and genuine interest which Siobhan showed in me – so much so that it got me curious.

Could I see myself enjoying what Siobhan is doing in Barden? Yes. Was Siobhan a qualified accountant who moved into recruitment? Yes. Is this too good an opportunity not to explore? Yes. So, what did I do? I disregarded all of Siobhan’s excellent information and advice on financial accounting roles and asked her to give me a steer on recruitment in Barden instead!

A few more coffees with the leadership team in Barden and I was in! Finished my contract with Deloitte the last week of October 2021 and commenced my journey with Barden as a Recruiter the following week!

Reflection

So how has it been, you may ask? Over 6 months later, I could not be happier! It has been a complete rewiring of my brain moving from interpreting numbers to analysing people’s career situations and adding value to their lives through expert advice. It helps that I work the recently qualified market – I have been in your shoes and know what it feels like to be at that aforementioned crossroads in one’s accounting career.

I actually wake up looking forward to work every morning, which is unusual for most people I know! No more Sunday night fear! Every day is different but I centre myself in the fact that each day, I am helping people – whether that be advising on potential roles, the market, interview preparation tips, salary negotiation, handing in one’s notice and a plethora of other weird and wonderful requests.

Not only have I become a trusted advisor but a friend to many. One person even confided – “I need you like I need my hairdresser, solicitor, plumber, etc – I never realised the importance of a career advisor until now!”. Most newly qualified accountants make 2-3 career moves in their first 5 years out of practice. Fact. So it is nice to hear that the people that I have helped are happy to reach out whenever they are looking to move again or even just to shoot the breeze on the market.

I still have so much to learn. But the mentorship and training which I am getting here at Barden is top class and fun! The first 6 months flew by – I am excited for what the next 6 months will bring!

How to Join Barden

As a wise mentor once advised me – “Opportunities don’t happen – you create them!”

If curious about a career with Barden, get in touch with me at niall.okeeffe@barden.ie and I will be happy to provide a steer.

Just like Siobhan did for me. A little bit of reciprocation goes a long way. You may even get a new passion and career out of it! Easy.