Working in Ask Direct

As I sat staring at a blank page, thinking of how we’d advertise for our new Account Executive role, I asked myself, why would somebody want this role? And why with our little agency?

The answers weren’t coming. But it got me thinking about my own journey with Ask Direct.

I had loved working with creative people in the arts sector – people with small budgets and big hearts. I was changing my small corner or my world. But I wanted to do more.

Along came Liz, who I will never be able to thank enough. She told me about an Account Exec role opening up in Ask Direct. She talked about an amazing team of people who gave everything to each other, their clients and the charities they worked with, every day.

I was hooked.

I started in Ask Direct almost immediately, and seven years later I have never looked back.

I love my Ask Direct family, even my annoying little ‘work brother’ who challenges me to be better and do better. We’re a small and close-knit team, who rely on each other. We work with and for each other. So if you fail, you have a team ready to pick you up and push you forward.

It’s this same team who has helped me grow from an Executive, to Manager, to Director, and into my management team role today.

And it is my fantastic clients who have grown with me along the way, encouraging me in each new role, and working with me as their partner – working with each other to  change the world and make Ireland a better place to live.

But it’s more than that.

How many people can say their client found them their perfect match – because I can!

Katie in Dogs Trust made me fall in love with my beautiful fur-baby Fleur before I even set eyes on her. Thanks to them, Fleur found her Forever Home, and I found a soft spot in my hubby’s heart I didn’t know existed.

Now I don’t want to over romanticise the role. Being an Account Executive in an agency is hard work.

You have to be uber organised – a ‘to do’ list won’t cut it.

You have to be able to multi-task beyond anything you’ve probably experienced before.

You must love all things data (some colleagues are in loving relationships with spreadsheets!)

You have to be willing to fail, learn from your failure, and come back stronger and better from it.

Most importantly, you need to love to problem solve, because no two days are the same. Each day presents new challenges for you to tackle.

That’s the excitement of it, that is the high. You never get bored, because you never stay still.

There is always the next job… the next deadline… the next dog that needs saving… the next person who needs a place to call home… the next child that needs their childhood back… the next…

So actually it is easy to answer those questions I started out with.

The Account Executive role will see you working in print and production, and wading through spreadsheets – but it will all be work that is changing the world. How many people can say that?

The Account Executive role has been a starting point for so many of us. Our Senior Copywriter, Account Director, Head of Research and Head of Digital, were all AEs once upon a time. We reward excellence, and we strive to ensure everyone grows in areas that spark joy for them and allows them to change the world in their own unique way.

And changing the world starts in an office space in Temple Bar, filled with fundraising knowledge, passion and friendships

If you’ve read this far, and you think we could be the right fit for you – whether you are looking to start your career, or fancy a change of direction – just drop me a line and I’d be happy to chat, inga@askdirect.ie.

You can also check out the Account Executive Job Description here with details on how to apply.