Met yesterday with a hired gun headhunter.  They want me to pay them to find me a job.  Predictable criticism of my current job hunt.  And they want a big fee for their service, which seems like a good thing. But hard to say.  In the end, am I happy with the way the search is going?  I think so, not thrilled.  Things seem to be tight.  But okay.  It takes time, and I need to have patience.  And I do.  Let things unfold.  Not sure where it will end up, and that's okay.  So just take it a day at at time and keep looking.  

Two interviews setting up over the next two weeks or so.  One on the agency side in pharma, and one on the client side not in pharma. In a completely different yet exciting company that I've known about for a 10 years.  Great reputation as a cool place to work, and very good to their employees.  But a long way from West Pikeland.  In fact, both jobs might require a move in order not to kill myself with the commute.

But the question remains, agency or client side?  On the agency side, though there are things about it I like, you are always selling.  In a constant mode of what can we do for you next?  Also in a service mode, an external provider, not part of the internal machine.  Maybe this is why I've struck out, had bad luck, on the agency side.  Maybe the constant sales mode is too foreign to me.  I'm not a natural fit for that kind of position.  Whereas on the client side you are being serviced, you are managing vendors, you are put in a position of authority.  This sounds a little simplistic, but I think it's true based on my experience.  I have to look at the record and think about where I have been most content, and what I was doing  in the job at the time.  It comes down to client side.  Am I trying to fit a round peg in a square hole by pursuing agency work?

Job Ding a Ling

Well, got another few job Dings this week.  Not too surprising, but the ad agency gave me the thumbs down yesterday after a somewhat disappointing interview Monday.  Not a big deal, though I would have liked it to work out.  Wasn't meant to be.  A few other dings, also no surprise and even less of a big deal.

Meantime, I had a good phone interview Wednesday with WL Gore in the Wilmington area. This is a company I've known about since business school due to their impressive organization and results.  They've been on the Fortune 100 best placed to work for 11 years.  Sounds like a really cool place.  It would be great to have an interview there, meet more of the people one on one.  But working there logistically might be a headache.  Long drive.  Perhaps we would have to move.  But we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.  If we come to it.  

Otherwise, keeping busy with my internet scams and free work (understanding online media world and setting up to help a company that has no revenue).  I guess it's all free work isn't it?

Agency Interview Done

Well, had the interview yesterday at the Ad Agency.  Met with three people, a project manager and two account directors.  The position was for Account Manager working on a cardiovascular product.  First interview went well but the second two didn't seem to take off too much as when the discussion came to "what specific digital projects have you done" I didn't have a whole lot to talk about.  They are interviewing two others this week and will let me know by Monday if I will take the next steps.  Chances of that are slim.  But I'm glad to have had the chance to go speak with them.  

Good Interview with Ad Agency

Hello,

Had a good interview yesterday with a HR person from a large advertising agency with a pharma focus.  It went well, especially when I started talking about what I needed and wanted from my next gig.  I do get enthused about it...the fact that I need and want to have a role in the production of content.  I don't need to be the sole editor.  But I want to be more than the Account Manager who comes up with some topics and then hands over the creative process to medical writers, as I was doing in my last gig.  

The job they are trying to fill, and have me in mind for, is an Account Director position working with a large pharma on a heart disease medication.  You know it sounds like a lot of fun.  In fact, I was up late thinking about it.  I believe I would like it, and do well with it and have a ton o fun, as I said.  

My one worry is that this is another Accounts job and my last experience with an Accounts job wasn't so good. It made me push away from this type of job into PR work, or pursuing PR work I should say.

Still, there were lots of things I liked about the last job.  I lurve working with clients.  Yes, they can be difficult.  But I have a good time working the relationship, nurturing it so to speak.  I really enjoy that sort of stuff.  It's a character trait of mine, relationship building.  Of course, this can be taken to extremes, in people pleasing, and not asking the client to pull the trigger.  Or worrying that I might offend them by asking for decisions.  But as long as I'm clear with them about goals, about their goals and what they want to get out of the relationship.  I think I'll do well.  Clarify that up front.  I'm working for you, I'm supporting you.  But I need your honest direction on where you want to go.  Because if you don't know, or can't articulate that, I can't help you.  And I don't want you to feel bad about saying no to me when I recommend something extra, or new or exciting.  This is the way we will come up with the best ideas, by pushing back against each other until we come up with the best possible approach.

Okay, reality check is that this could go nowhere. HR people have been treating me great, especially from Ad Agencies lately (maybe that is where I'm gravitating).  You have a great resume...  But still nothing happens.  The position gets filled and I'm left holding the bag.  So I don't want to get my hopes up but will continue to work it the best I can.