I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Wine-Oh — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:11:45 GMT

At a place like Microsoft there are so many different marketing divisions. Do you specialize in one area versus another (ie products, MSN, MS Office, XBOX, etc).

I also feel that titles arent indiciative of what one does. If you are a director at one company, doesnt mean you'll be one at another. Depends on the size and function. I had a director title in my last position and places Ive interviewed now have asked "Are you ok with not having a director title?" My answer is yes, because its more about job function. My title could be head umpa lumpa and I wouldnt care. Actually it would look good on a business card.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:40:27 GMT

My team recruits for marketing across ALL divisions. If you are asking if some *marketers* specialize based on product, I'd say that some of the more technical/inbound marketers do (because they are tied to and often very passion about a specific technology set). My and large, movement within/between/across marketing organizations is very common here. I think that's the benefit of some larger companies...you really can have a career with multiple different roles there. Not true of every big company (some limit movement) or only big companies (I imagine some smaller companies make a point of providing variety in work assignements.

I agree with you about the titling stuff though I would have to draw the line at the umpa lumpa title. It's kind of the rooty-tooty-fresh-and-fruity of job titles, I suppose. If I'm embarassed to say it, then I don't want it.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

MK — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 01:00:17 GMT

I am new to Heather's site, trotted here through Marc Cenedella's (Ladders.com)newsletter. I do agree with Wine-oh's comments about titles. Generally in a small company (1-25), all that the glamourous title means is that, you will be accountable, responsible and terminatable ( if there is such a word) if things go sideways. Guess!, it helps you build up more scales on your skin...
MK

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Wine-Oh — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:00:04 GMT

I think thats great that Microsoft offers that in a marketing position. As a marketer myself, it opens up doors for opportunitiy to try new things, and be involved with other projects. Versus pidgeon hole'ing one self into a specific type of marketing.

Yeah the umpa lumpa title comes from the .com boom of the late 90s, where titles were a bit out there. I wouldnt want a rooty tooty fresh and fruity title myself. I think it detracts and one wouldnt be taken seriously. Head Umpla Lumpa was a made up title we used at a company to mock the movement of wacky titles. That and adding Senior to a title that already has associate or assistant in it.

No joke I remember one title being "The Big Cheese" when the person was CEO. All positions at same company had wacky titles and business cards to match. They looked similar to baseball trading cards, with photos of the person. Also I have expereince coming from a company that had 17 vp's and there were only 50 people. Sometimes titles are an ego booster.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Sarah — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:36:12 GMT

Aww, Heather. Your enthusiasm is totally, like, infectious! So much so that I started my own blog and called it "The HiPo Lounge." I'm writing my first post tonight, wherein I will totally explain the origin of "HiPo" and what we're trying to do. 'Cause I figure that, conceptually, HiPo is something I should extend into all areas of my life. Thanks for the inspiration. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to, uh, managing the data. For the HiPos. Go Team!

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

J. J. — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 04:50:56 GMT

I think the existence of Heather's team has put a human face on Microsoft recruiting, which enables a prospective candidate to have a conversation with Microsoft, as opposed to applying to a job or building a profile at Microsoft's website and receiving an auto confirmation message. Heather's team are out there telling people if you are interested in working for Microsoft in marketing functions, you can talk to us, with a personal email address and Blog. For candidates who don't see a specific job on the website or don't know where they would fit, they can still write to Heather. And she and her team then do the "matchmaking" or at least tell the candidates that they will circulate their resumes and keep them in mind. Customized human interaction is absolutely important for "candidate experience". How many people have had the experience calling customer service (either you phone, credit card or computer company) and get the endless auto manuel and then hear "Good-bye" by the system before you even have a chance to explain your problem? Didn't you wish that you could just reach another human being and talk instead of dealing with unresponsive machines?

As to Heather's question, what to do with the strong candidates that you don't currently have a job for? Can you put them in a database? Can you build a resume or candidate database from the people that you have met in events or via Blog & Email, that you think will be a good fit for Microsoft someday? Separate from the database that generated from the company website since you have already screened them? So that you can return to this database when you have the right opportunity?

J.J.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

HeatherLeigh — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 06:01:44 GMT

Wine-Oh, I chuckle at the goofy titles myself. I'll tell ya, the finance indistry is the worst with the titles...everyone is a VP.

Sarah-I'm scared ; )

J.J.- that's totally in line with what we are doing (great minds, etc.). We are going to market to them to keep them interested and engaged so when the right opportunity comes up, they will be receptive. Sounds like an easy project but not so much. This is the year I crack that nut. Thanks so much for the nice words about my team! We love being that human face ; )

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Paul — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 00:49:49 GMT

A couple of thoughts:

I love the "human Venn diagram" imagery. Now I'll always think of you as three overlapping circles in red, blue and yellow. How can you say you aren't a marketer, and yet come up with such a fun idea?

On a less deliberate note, the reference to the Microsoft Central Souring Team certainly conjures up a less than tasty image. Wouldn't it be ever-so-amusing to have that listed as the department you worked for on your business card? Does that qualify as an egg corn?

Lastly, regarding multi-functional, hard to pigeon-hole jobs, you have to think it's kind of cool when everyone either wants to claim or disclaim you as one of their own. I guess being the human face of the company (I wonder what Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer would say about that?) is about as gratifying a role as one could hope for. I concur though, that the Borg seems friendlier with people like you blogging.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Julia — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:20:03 GMT

I've had a similar problem at my job. At the begining I wasn't sure where they wanted me but I slowly carved out a niche. Now I handle all aspects. Unfortunately I've received little compensation :(

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 08:08:57 GMT

Paul, the post was about Venn diagrams...I just made that other stuff up to illustrate my devotion to Mr. Venn. Yeah. so my typing stinks. I'll go back and fix that. As for the multi-functional, hard-to-pigeonhole job, I'm not sure it's anyone so much wanting to claim me or us, just a need to try and get a handle on what we do relatvie to their understanding of existing roles. Where the evangelism is kind of new in staffing, it's hard to know if it's marketing or staffing (in my opinion, it's candidate/market facing so it's staffing). Frankly it could work the other way around ("oh no, she's marketing, so you better take her"). The thing is, it's so super clear to me that I'm Staffing. At the core, I'm a recruiter.

Julia-I should make clear that I don't perceive my situation as a problem at all. I love that my job is multi-faceted.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

Paul — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:37:53 GMT

I knew you were a mathie at heart. I think I may start describing myself as a human fractal diagram. I like it.

re: I'm a recruiter, I'm a marketer, I'm a programs manager...what am I again?

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:47:11 GMT

I am so not into math! The one subject I struggled with in both HS and college.

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