You've read his guidance in our 'How to' series and heard him speak at many of our events.  Now, it's time to hear his story...

Gerry McMahon

Position & Organisation: M.D. - Productive Personnel Ltd.

Number of Employees: 3


Give us an idea about your early life and career:

Going direct from school to a (boring) office job was a necessary 'wake up' call, giving me the drive to study part-time, use my abilities and eventually enable a move into HR and then lecturing, consulting etc.  

What are the key challenges you face in your role? 

The key challenge is maintaining an even balance between 'work' and 'leisure', which can entail declining work assignments one day and 'pitching' for them on another.

After a tough week, what’s your go-to for recharging and staying grounded?

My family members are 'experts' at keeping me grounded! On the re-charging front, I've a longstanding passion for the North-West of Ireland, play football and also have a very keen interest in music.

What’s the funniest or most unusual thing that’s ever happened in an interview, and what did it teach you? 

As an interviewer, probably the most unusual incident was when a person called 'Mary' (that I knew well) was due to be interviewed by a panel that I was on. However, an impostor arrived for interview (using 'Mary's' C.V.!). Suffice to say that this confirmed for me that one shouldn't take everything or everyone at face value! 

What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to someone aspiring to your role, especially in today’s fast-changing world? 

Take 1 step at a time, but only 1 step.

Imagine HR is a reality TV show - what would the title of your episode be?  

'Well Done - The Best 2 Words in HR’