Ever since I started working, I found it very hard to find time to write, let alone blog. So apologies to those waiting for me to reply a simple email, wallpost, or msn message. I spent countless hours in the office, trying to settle into my new job. The gig was something new to me, being an account manager for a promotions agency, hence I didn't mind investing a crap load of hours to get myself up to speed.
Waitaminute... let's check that. Past tense? "Was"?
Yesterday, I had a conversation with the director and we both decided that I wasn't a good fit for the role. On their end, I wasn't performing as they need me to be, simple reason being that I've never done promotions like that before. Product marketing? Branding? Design? Studio work flow? I'm your guy. But I found out that as much as I wanted to, I couldn't become the quick thinking, forward planning, third-party brand attracting promo machine overnight. Or even over a fortnight (that's what they call "two weeks" over here). The job required someone to do pretty much what Clear Channel would've employed six people to do; since I had never seen the full picture of how it works, taking my time to learn my way through was costing them money.
On my end, I wasn't a very happy camper for the past three weeks. I was frustrated with myself, frustrated with work, and I found my confidence slipping daily. Remember going into an exam that you hadn't studied for? That's how I felt like going to work everyday. I was learning on the fly and had no one beside me to cheat off of. That caused me headaches, literally, and Jules was even concerned for my health. I called up Pops (that's UNCLE T to you, foo!) for some guidance and we both agreed that stepping away from this gig would be best for me. 20 days of employment... that's an Ants record. I lasted a year and a half at Krap N' Piss.
Sounds kinda dark and depressing so far, yeah? Here, I'll pick up the optimism from this sentence on.
I must say that the "breakup" went really well, and the director is a total stand up guy. I hadn't intended on speaking to him about ending my time with them, but the conversation just led that way. He was very upfront with me, and promised me that he wouldn't hang me out to dry (ie the sorely missed pay cheque is still coming). He even offered a letter of reference, and offered help if I needed to look for employment.
That's good cause for optimism if there was ever any!
So I woke up this morning, refreshed and ready to take on the world again. I check my dear blog, and found messages left the day before and yesterday congratulating on my new job.
Whoops...
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
It's hard work getting work
It's official. Starting next monday, I'll be an account executive for a promotional agency that works exclusively with the video games and movie industries! After a slew of interviews and hundreds of miles travelled by bus and walking, I will start getting those "pay cheque" thingies again. Those are sorely missed. I miss my family and friends, with pay cheques coming in at a close third.
Good timing too, because we went out and bought a Wii last week. That'll have to be paid off some how.
I've learned alot about myself through this job search process. I've become so comfortable with interviews now that I'm actually looking forward to them, whereas I'd used to spend the night before practicing "what if" questions and repeatingly asking myself what my greatest strength and weakness is. It's an opportunity to speak with people in the industry, and you can pick their brains as much as they can pick yours. Thing is, interviews aren't just a time for employers to size up needy applicants, they're there just as much for us job seekers to size up which employer is good for us as well. They're not doing us any favors by hiring us, it's really our skills and time that they'll be exploiting for a profit at the end. They need us as much as we need them.
That's my mindset now, and it's helped me talk on an even level with potential employers. Rather then questions about my abilities, converstaions have led to understanding how the business works and exchanging ideas of how the marketing can be done or improved. At the end of the interview, I feel enriched and even though I might not get the job, I know that I've learned something. If they don't hire me, odds are I just wasn't the right person for their needs. Funny enough, those same companies usually don't fit my needs either anyway.
So here's hoping that this job that I start on monday is as good as I think it is and the company is a right fit for me. It could be the start of something bloody well amazing. =)
Good timing too, because we went out and bought a Wii last week. That'll have to be paid off some how.
I've learned alot about myself through this job search process. I've become so comfortable with interviews now that I'm actually looking forward to them, whereas I'd used to spend the night before practicing "what if" questions and repeatingly asking myself what my greatest strength and weakness is. It's an opportunity to speak with people in the industry, and you can pick their brains as much as they can pick yours. Thing is, interviews aren't just a time for employers to size up needy applicants, they're there just as much for us job seekers to size up which employer is good for us as well. They're not doing us any favors by hiring us, it's really our skills and time that they'll be exploiting for a profit at the end. They need us as much as we need them.
That's my mindset now, and it's helped me talk on an even level with potential employers. Rather then questions about my abilities, converstaions have led to understanding how the business works and exchanging ideas of how the marketing can be done or improved. At the end of the interview, I feel enriched and even though I might not get the job, I know that I've learned something. If they don't hire me, odds are I just wasn't the right person for their needs. Funny enough, those same companies usually don't fit my needs either anyway.
So here's hoping that this job that I start on monday is as good as I think it is and the company is a right fit for me. It could be the start of something bloody well amazing. =)
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