Damian Curley is a Business Development Manager, specialising in helping companies in the legal and financial sectors with localisation. He’s based in Ireland, but travels to our London and Greater Manchester offices frequently, as well as meeting customers across the UK and Ireland, so it’s safe to say that no 2 days are the same for him!
Describe what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
I engage with my current clients and strive to develop new relationships within companies that Capita, as a wider business, already supports. I explain our translation services to new prospects and discuss how we can improve their business and help with their international strategy.
Internal communication with my colleagues is also a big part of my role, in order to improve our productivity and deliver high-quality translations, within set timeframes.
What attracted you to this job?
I’ve always enjoyed speaking to people and particularly meeting new contacts face-to-face to learn how their business works.
I love travelling and different cultures, so the opportunity to be able to work with people in the localisation industry was perfect!
What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Keeping up-to-date with new translation technologies can be tricky, but it keeps me on my toes so it’s not too bad I suppose!
What do you feel is the key skill/attribute needed to succeed in your role?
Understanding the client’s needs is definitely the most important skill. There’s no point in me trying to provide something for them which they don’t need or want.
It’s about looking for a solution to their problem and knowing what’s important to them. Patience and persistent are important attributes too. You need to spend time getting the project and processes set up, so that when it comes to the translation output, there is no delay or issues.
What are your favourite aspects of your job?
It’s always great when a client goes into detail about what they require, and then the end result is exactly what they wanted. It’s extremely rewarding to know you improved their workflow.
It’s also exciting if a business is launching a new website or marketing brochure for instance, and then being able to physically see the end result is great – knowing you played a big part in it!
What would your advice for newcomers be?
Listen and ask a lot of questions! I’m still learning all the time from my colleagues and contacts; there’s always new things going on and it’s best to take a bit from everyone. Be patient but work hard and you’ll succeed.
What would you do if you weren’t a BDM?
I’d be a Chef!