James O’Hara, sales executive for Scandanavia at Dawn Meats, took a year out after he finished the Leaving Cert in 2008 to decide on the career he wished to pursue.

“When I finished the Leaving Cert, it was 2008, Ireland was in a recession and there was little growth in the economy. The agri sector was like a shining star,” James explains.

“I’m from Dublin but my grandmother is from Churchtown in Co Cork and when I was three years old she took me down the country to stay with her. Everyone thought I wouldn’t last a night but I stayed a week and cried when it was time to go home,” he enthuses.

In 2009, James studied a level eight food and agribusiness management degree in UCD. Attending graduate fairs in his final year, he became very interested in Dawn Meats and at one fair he spoke with the HR manager and gave him his CV.

James was called for an interview after a few weeks and in July 2013 started a graduate job, working in the Dawn Meat’s plant in Charleville, Co Cork. James started out on the production floor and after three months was sent to Dawn Meat’s retail packaging centre in Wales.

There, he learned a lot about product development and got to see a product from its initial conception through to it hitting the shelf.

In September 2014, James entered the sales department, where he spent the first year learning the ropes. He now manages the day-to-day operations of sales for the Scandanavian markets, Sweden in particular.

“No matter what company you are in, you need a strong work ethic and you need to have a real interest in the company. Keep asking questions to increase your understanding and show your boss and mentors around you that you are interested in how the company works. It will set you apart from others,” advises James.

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Special focus: agri careers