Some of you (OK...perhaps just one of you) have been quietly clamoring for an update. Far be it from me to disappoint my readers, so let me tell you a little bit about my new job.
I've been in my position as general manager at a market research firm for close to three months, and I must say that I feel like I belong there! It's not like I've always dreamed of working in the field. And I'm not working with people I've known for years. I'd never even been to this office prior to my interview. And I had only met the owner/president a handful of times. But as soon as I walked in, I felt...comfortable. The woman who left for a new position had been there about 10 years, I think, so I could have easily been seen as an outsider or even an intruder. There are only 14 people in the office (and a few who work remotely), so you can imagine what a tight-knit group it is. But everyone has been very welcoming and very patient. I'd gotten a referral from a friend and former coworker, which meant a lot to the owner. The company's success naturally depends on the quality of the work, but the business relationships are an important part of its longevity. Sometimes it really does matter who you know!
So what do I do at this market research firm? I'm still trying to figure out the best way to describe it. I don't moderate focus groups or place calls to complete telephone surveys. I don't collect the data, or analyze it, or prepare a report on the findings (but I'm starting to see how it's done). I do, however, try to manage a lot of it. I'll sometimes take the initial call from a prospective client, find out what they're looking for (trying to remember all the relevant questions to ask!), and then prepare an estimate for the project. I'll so some of the necessary paperwork to get the project into our system for billing and keeping track of hours put into it. And I'll keep a project folder...all that paper. You can try to keep as much as possible electronically, but sometimes you just need to have a hard copy in front of you (or is that just me?).
I still get to proofread, too! I review proposals, reports, and drafts of surveys. I learn as I'm reading, and I get to add or delete commas where I want and need to. I like giving that final polish to the work.
The team in the phone bank gets some of their direction from me. They know how to do their job well, and it's not easy. It seems to be getting harder all the time to get people to spend 10 minutes sharing their opinion over the phone. (But don't count it out yet; phone research is still an important method of gathering information!) I'll brief them on a new survey that's getting started, clarifying the questions, letting them know the quotas of how many people to reach in what area. I'll keep track of the daily progress, and help determine how many people should be working on each project. It's still a learning process to figure out where everyone does their best work, but they are all willing to work with me and point me in the right direction when I need it.
I talk to clients and vendors often. Sure, sometimes I'm just chatting with them before I transfer them to the boss. But I can approach a client with a question if I've got one, and I can answer their questions, too. There isn't a long list of protocols or proper channels. In my position, I am one of the proper channels! When I talk to a vendor about finding a panel to take an online survey or getting a list of phone numbers in a certain ZIP code, I get to be the client. I can tell them what we need and they can tell me their best solution. And I haven't yet run into anyone who sounds like they don't enjoy talking with people. It really makes my job easier.
I've told my boss that she maintains a very empowering atmosphere. She recognizes that I'm new to all of this and will have plenty of questions along the way. But if I want to file something a little differently or change some simple things here and there, I can go ahead and do it and not feel like every little step will be scrutinized or need authorization first.
I've been in my position as general manager at a market research firm for close to three months, and I must say that I feel like I belong there! It's not like I've always dreamed of working in the field. And I'm not working with people I've known for years. I'd never even been to this office prior to my interview. And I had only met the owner/president a handful of times. But as soon as I walked in, I felt...comfortable. The woman who left for a new position had been there about 10 years, I think, so I could have easily been seen as an outsider or even an intruder. There are only 14 people in the office (and a few who work remotely), so you can imagine what a tight-knit group it is. But everyone has been very welcoming and very patient. I'd gotten a referral from a friend and former coworker, which meant a lot to the owner. The company's success naturally depends on the quality of the work, but the business relationships are an important part of its longevity. Sometimes it really does matter who you know!
So what do I do at this market research firm? I'm still trying to figure out the best way to describe it. I don't moderate focus groups or place calls to complete telephone surveys. I don't collect the data, or analyze it, or prepare a report on the findings (but I'm starting to see how it's done). I do, however, try to manage a lot of it. I'll sometimes take the initial call from a prospective client, find out what they're looking for (trying to remember all the relevant questions to ask!), and then prepare an estimate for the project. I'll so some of the necessary paperwork to get the project into our system for billing and keeping track of hours put into it. And I'll keep a project folder...all that paper. You can try to keep as much as possible electronically, but sometimes you just need to have a hard copy in front of you (or is that just me?).
I still get to proofread, too! I review proposals, reports, and drafts of surveys. I learn as I'm reading, and I get to add or delete commas where I want and need to. I like giving that final polish to the work.
The team in the phone bank gets some of their direction from me. They know how to do their job well, and it's not easy. It seems to be getting harder all the time to get people to spend 10 minutes sharing their opinion over the phone. (But don't count it out yet; phone research is still an important method of gathering information!) I'll brief them on a new survey that's getting started, clarifying the questions, letting them know the quotas of how many people to reach in what area. I'll keep track of the daily progress, and help determine how many people should be working on each project. It's still a learning process to figure out where everyone does their best work, but they are all willing to work with me and point me in the right direction when I need it.
I talk to clients and vendors often. Sure, sometimes I'm just chatting with them before I transfer them to the boss. But I can approach a client with a question if I've got one, and I can answer their questions, too. There isn't a long list of protocols or proper channels. In my position, I am one of the proper channels! When I talk to a vendor about finding a panel to take an online survey or getting a list of phone numbers in a certain ZIP code, I get to be the client. I can tell them what we need and they can tell me their best solution. And I haven't yet run into anyone who sounds like they don't enjoy talking with people. It really makes my job easier.
I've told my boss that she maintains a very empowering atmosphere. She recognizes that I'm new to all of this and will have plenty of questions along the way. But if I want to file something a little differently or change some simple things here and there, I can go ahead and do it and not feel like every little step will be scrutinized or need authorization first.
I still like my job and still show up every day. Of course there are moments that are frustrating and I wonder if I'm ever going to get a handle on all of it. But it's good to try new things. And this is the kind of place that will let me learn from the best and find my way through it all.
I think my business cards should be delivered tomorrow. That's almost as good as getting new school supplies!
