Careers in Hardware – Chadwicks Group

Since the launch of Hardware Jobs, Ireland’s first and only hardware industry-specific job board website, HAI has been highly active in promoting long-term career opportunities in the hardware industry to students, school leavers and jobseekers alike, and going by feedback from visitors at careers fairs like Ireland Skills Live and from career guidance counsellors the interest in the sector is higher than ever.

For the January/February issue of  The Hardware Journal we spoke to 2019’s Octabuild Rising Star Award winner, Ross Fagan, Sales Representative at Chadwick’s Lucan branch, to discuss his experiences to date:

Q: What were the main ‘career decision’ milestones in your life so far?

Growing up I always had an interest in working on cars, this led me to choosing engineering as one of my subjects in secondary school. Along with this I would work with my father who is a builder during the summers when I was off school, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While at third level studying Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in Dublin City University, I was working part-time in Chadwicks and began to see opportunities arising for further
developing myself within the company. I am now studying a Batchelors of Business Studies degree at Technological
University Dublin which is much more suited to me as I find it much easier to apply the numbers and figures and see their relevance to each aspect of the business.

Who are the people who most influenced your career direction?

Growing up working with my father in the summer I believe gave me a good work ethic. Having to run his own business dealing with the pressures of it along with working long hours I always aspired to work hard and see where it got me. I have been very lucky in the fact that I have had two of the most understanding and helpful managers you could have within my time in Chadwicks. Both managers have helped me to progress through my career, as they do with everyone in the branch and to help me in every way to achieve my potential.

This was also aided by senior management hugely, which I am very grateful for.

Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?

This role allows me to have the flexibility of planning my own days, being able to get to college for 6pm three nights a week. It also gives me a massive opportunity to network and create relationships with many different people within the building industry who share a common passion with myself, which I find gives me a lot of drive. Along with this I enjoy the constant development of technologies and products within the building industry, and am keen to see how the market develops within the next 10 years, especially with the new nZEB regulations.

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Winning the Octabuild Rising Star Award 2019 and being chosen as a mentor for trainee sales representatives in the
Chadwicks Group.