When even the lack of expectations remains more than you can handle
Back in the day when I was fresh out of Grad School, I landed a Job as a Marketing Manager for a company that had NO Marketing Department, and working directly under a President that had no knowledge in the subject. He wanted me to do some “Marketing” but had no idea of what the goals were or what options I had available.
I always thought that I was a special case, but recently a good friend got laid off after only a couple of weeks of being hired, and the little information I have, makes me think that it was under the same premise. I did OK at that job that I mention and left on my own to start my own firm, but I would have loved some guidance at the time, and in some part I feel responsible for not guiding my young friend this time, so here is some unsolicited advice on the subject:
- Never start by making ugly things pretty, those only impress yourself. (ex. Websites, Letterhead, etc.)
- You are not supposed to generate money, or so they told you in school, but the truth is that if you don’t bring some dough in some way, you will be gone soon.
- You are the sole Marketing Dept., bring business, and generate leads. There are dozens of ways to generate leads, think cheap (there is a phone next to you, and you probably have an email account)
- “Act your age, not your shoe size.”
- Make an action plan with deadlines and make it public.
- Report your success (I hope you have some).
- Don’t look busy, make yourself busy. Learn as much as you can about the product/service and your company’s history.
- Educate yourself in the industry you are in, chances are you know nothing of selling tampons if you are a guy.
- Try to enjoy your time at you new job.
- Let your boss know that you know what you are doing (even if you don’t).
- Make sure to talk to everyone, let them know who you are and what your goals are.
- Make some friends; it will make lunch time more fun.
- As soon as you sit on that chair, start looking for a better job.
And there you have it, some unsolicited advice for the young and employed. I wish you the best of luck.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Point #2 is so true. Company pays you X. It costs Company 2*X to have you employed (sometimes 3*X or even 4*X) — consider benefits, support personnel, equipment, real estate and other costs. Your work should directly, completely, and uniquely bring ($2*X)+1 dollars or more to the company. If it doesn’t, you are close to the top of the next layoffs list.
Some big companies are willing to spend years of grooming and training on the right new hires. Small companies don’t have that luxury. I am a small company owner. If I decided to have a Marketing Department, I would expect the new hire to provide value even before he/she was hired.
And I agree with you. People don’t say this outright.