We have interviewed Community Manager Donna Spellacy about her job at DoneDeal in Ireland.
Tell us what it´s like to work at DoneDeal.ie?
Working at DoneDeal is certainly nothing like anything I’d ever experienced before. To me, it’s been a life changer without a doubt!
The team on our “Formal Friday” (for a TV show called the Apprentice we sponsored) and I’m the scary one pointing in the middle.
I was a single mum trying to pay my way through college by doing lots of odd jobs like cleaning houses, minding children, delivering leaflets etc. when I first met Fred and Geraldine, the founders of DoneDeal.
At that time DoneDeal was very young and Fred and Ger were both working full time in other jobs while at the same time trying to build up the website. Being so busy, they needed some help with the house work and that’s where I came in!
I can tell you that cleaning people’s houses is far from a glamorous job, but Fred and Ger took a lot of that away for me, they always made me feel appreciated and valued so that really made the job easier.
In late 2008 I came to clean one day and Fred and Ger said they wanted to chat to me for a moment before I started work. With the recession hitting Ireland at that time I thought “that’s it, my job’s gone”. You can imagine how shocked I was to hear the exact opposite!
Fred and Ger told me how DoneDeal was growing so fast and they felt it was the right time to hire their first employee and they thought I’d be a good fit. They trained me up, gave me a chance and an opportunity like I’d never had before and they helped me get to where I am today. Without any exaggeration or doubt, DoneDeal and Fred and Ger really did change my life.
To me DoneDeal is just so different to any place I’ve ever worked in my entire life. To be able to be a part of the path and focus the company has taken over the years, to feel that each of our opinions mattered by seeing them put into action, to know that relationships we build with our customers mattered, that has been one of the most special and motivational aspects of DoneDeal in the time I’ve been here. And to top it all off, it’s great fun to work here too!
Myself and Micheal our Sales Manager. We had gone to RTE (a national TV station) for a charity cheque handover for one of our #DoneDealCharityMonths and we snuck onto the set of an Irish soap opera called Fair City.
The charity cheque photo, me in the middle.
What do you enjoy the most about your work?
I love talking to people, especially hearing how DoneDeal has become such a big part in people’s lives, how we’ve been with them for some massive life changing events and hearing about the ‘DoneDeal Widows’ losing their husbands to hours spent on DoneDeal. That’s a perfect opportunity to point them in the direction of our Handbags section.
Any challenges in your job or private life, and how do you deal with them?
I find that down time or shutting off from work can be really difficult when you work in social media. As there’s no on or off times, I have found myself working at rather ridiculous times!
I try now to make conscious time to step away from work at weekends particularly. I can’t say I’ve completely overcome this, but I’m trying.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I love spending time with my son Luke, my partner Joe and my two dogs Buddy & Bella. As I said before, I love talking to people so catching up with friends and having a laugh is top priority for me.
My fiance Joe, myself and my son Luke at the Ireland vs. Wales rugby match earlier this year.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m an ok singer….sometimes….don’t ask me to prove it though!
Tips for others who would like to work at DoneDeal?
Be yourself. Honestly, that’s the most important thing. When our team feels the honesty and community and passion of DoneDeal, we will naturally filter that feeling onto the DoneDealers.
Oh, and practice your table tennis, it’s becoming a key part of DoneDeal life lately!
