Why I Recently Walked Away From A Marketing Interview.

I would like a job. You’re probably here because I’ve applied for a job. So, yes, I would like a job. Let’s not be shy about that fact. But am I willing to accept just any job? I suppose that is the question.

I like marketing because I get to use all of my skills. I get to write, think, brand, create. I get to do research and learn new things. I get to track the results of what I accomplish and use that data to inform future strategies. I love everything about it. So, when I look for jobs, most often I’m looking for marketing. But “marketing” can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people.

I recently went to a job interview. I was early. I was excited. It was a marketing job that sounds vague, but good. But the minute I walked into the lobby, my alarm bells started ringing. Aside from my days as an actress, I’ve never applied for or gotten, a job that literally had people waiting to interview. That is, actually, kind of strange. Usually, if you make it to the interview stage you’ve already passed some sort of filtering system. So, the seven other people in the room, clearly waiting – and potentially a long time given how engrossed they were in the cooking show playing on the mini tv in the corner – really threw up some red flags for me.

I was asked to fill out some information. Again…not a step usually taken at this stage. More red flags.

I sat down to fill out the paperwork, which would have all been answered by my resumé anyway. And that was when I could hear the interview happening to my left, and it all started to click.

I’ve tried to figure out what about this interview I overheard really alarmed me. The best answer I had is that at one point I was on an interview that felt very much like this one. I got all dressed up. I made it to the place early. I had my resumé printed and ready. I was excited about this job. But when I finally got into the interview my excitement quickly drained.

The job was to sell packages of sports tickets with door-to-door business sales. They boasted clients like major sports teams and large electronic brands, but the reality of your involvement with those brands was tangential at best. It was the equivalent of selling magazines, knives or makeup door-to-door. (Another job interview I had once wanted me to sell perfume in parking lots from the trunk of my car.)

Now, offhand, let me tell you that if you want to do this job, I tip my hat to you. This is not my jam. And it has very little do with marketing. Are there some people out there, like The Wolf of Wall Street that can turn one dollar into twenty? Yes. Am I one of those people? No. So, let me stress, if you can and want to do this – more power to you.

But what it isn’t is marketing. Is marketing selling? Yes. Are you selling? Yes. Are you convincing people they need something they didn’t think they needed? Yes. But are they the same thing??? No.

Marketing, when done well, is crafting words, defining brands, selling ideas, empowering individuals, informing consumers and creating the visuals to engage an audience.

So, I got up and I walked out of the room. I wasn’t interested in the job they wanted to offer me. (And if you are I will happily give you their information.)

In the meantime, let’s read some marketing studies. These things are fascinating!