FASTNET FIRST-HAND- Deirdre Duboy, My Career Journey

Deirdre Duboy joined Fastnet as a Contract Solutions Specialist on a part-time basis in 2014. In October 2019, Deirdre moved into a full-time Talent Consultant role where she runs a busy and successful desk recruiting for Quality roles within the Life science sector.

Deirdre chats to FASTNET FIRST-HAND about her career journey to date and how an extended career break hasn’t held her back.

Deirdre, tell us about your career path to date:

When I left school, I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. After completing the business course, I headed to the UK as that’s where many of my friends were living and working. 

After a few temp jobs, I managed to secure an administrator role with Ernst & Young in the centre of London. A couple of years later I moved to California and worked with several companies including Taco Bell as a Franchise Coordinator. Here I gained a fantastic experience. 

Simultaneously I was studying at night at Orange Coast College towards a business administration degree. During this time, I also got married and when I was expecting my first baby, I knew I wanted to move home to Ireland to be near my family. 

When I returned to Ireland, I worked with Heineken for a number of years and when my second baby came along, I decided to take some time out to be with the kids full time.

Seven years later I returned to the workforce. I started off with a few part-time jobs, working around the kids’ schedules. It was a great way to get back into the workforce and gaining confidence.

In October 2014, I started with Fastnet – The Talent Group as Contracts Administrator on a part-time basis. I was aware of Fastnet and knew they had a strong reputation as a market leader providing recruitment services to the Life Sciences sector. As soon as I arrived in Fastnet for an interview I knew it was a place that shared the same values as me and was a company where I could grow and develop.

My first impressions proved correct as I have progressed within the organisation from Contracts Administrator to Payroll Specialist to Contract Solutions Specialist and now to Talent Consultant.

Fastnet also encouraged me to return to education and I recently completed the IPASS.

Since I have joined Fastnet, the company has undergone significant growth and expansion with the launch of our Executive search division, the opening of our Dublin office and a company re-brand to Fastnet - The Talent Group. It has been an exciting seven years and I consider myself lucky to work with such a great team of people and to have had the opportunity to develop within such a forward-thinking and progressive organisation.

Describe a typical day as a Talent Consultant at Fastnet: 

The day would begin with checking my emails, prioritising what needs to be actioned immediately and planning for the day. A typical day would include the sourcing of professional talent, advertising of new vacancies, facilitating client recruitment processes, including scheduling candidate interviews, assessment centres and medicals, and reference-checking of candidates. I would also be involved in training new team members and other ad-hoc projects. 

What advice would you offer to those who are considering a role in recruitment? 

No two days are ever the same in recruitment! You need to have a ‘can do’ positive attitude, there can be ups and downs in recruitment and you need to be able to recover quickly and move on. Having a supportive team around you helps. However, it is so rewarding to help people find careers that are fulfilling to them and that allows them to achieve their goals.

If you think you would like to work in a challenging and rewarding environment then go for it, Fastnet is always thinking about the future and further expansion so get in touch.

Any other comments?  

So many well-qualified and experienced women have either left or been forced out of the workforce by a combination of high childcare costs and poor flexible/part-time working options.  Obviously, after taking an extended career break, I was concerned that the opportunities just wouldn’t be available to me. Gender and age diversity in the workforce is a massive challenge. With employers facing skills shortages, it’s incredibly frustrating to see talent going to waste. Luckily for me, I found Fastnet and I am proud to work for an innovative, female-led organisation.