What it is like to be a marketing and strategy consultant
As a fresher in sales and marketing, I have had the chance to discover the expectations from relevant industries thanks to my internship at RIG. Also, what goes on backstage of growth-stage companies is relatively unknown and my experience here has taught me some interesting and important lessons.
Here is a list of expectations that were not obvious as a newbie, but became clearer in hindsight, and lessons learnt about the culture at Rapid Innovation Group:
- Sales and marketing requires a lot of background research. It is not always about cold calling, and certainly not at RIG. Generating a marketing strategy and researching the target companies in order to build a concise and accurate engagement makes up a significant part of the sales and marketing process.
- Research and preparation needs time. Doing things quickly does not get you as far as you may think in this field. I came to understand that an analytical approach is more valued in this industry than getting something done and dusted fast, without paying attention to detail.
- Although independent work is appreciated, you should understand what is really necessary and expected from you. I think most people have the tendency of finding the opportunity to take a leap ahead to produce something that can add value. However, your time may be more precious to others than you think. So being in good communication with your colleagues may prove more imperative.
- Try to “fit in” to the office but don’t hide your real personality. If your personality is not a good fit, then you are probably not in the right place. At a growth-stage company like RIG, it is unlikely that you will find somebody who shares majority of your thoughts and habits, and that is probably intentional. The fact that you are different adds diversity to the company and one would benefit by embracing that.
- Asking for help is usually not a bad idea. Here at RIG, everybody likes to help one another, and they will happily give you a hand when you need it so you can save time and avoid embarrassment later.
- A little less conversation, a little more action. If you are into the chatty culture, taking long hours over lunch and spending a lot of time talking about your weekend in the office, you will find yourself struggling here at RIG, like at any start-up. However, what makes RIG unique is that if you come and work to your best potential, you can leave early enough to be able to enjoy the rest of the evening with your family and friends. You are never burnt-out as long as you stay disciplined throughout the work hours.
