Charles said:CFB hit that nail on the head. Doing the business of the business is critical for advancement ... this is one reason many financial types have poor job security.
A friend of mine ran FedEx's training department, converting it from classroom videos to websites with interactive tutorials & quizzes. They hauled it into the 21st century, made it widely accessible, and greatly enhanced the offerings. He was a god among mortals for reducing the company's training costs by something like 70%.vvsonikvv said:But isn't there always the "corporate" staff that must do functions to keep the company running? HR, accounting, marketing, business development, etc? I guess in a sense the core business is the core business, but the other depts are very very very important to keeping things right.
What is this "cleaning staff" of which you speak?vvsonikvv said:I guess it's almost like the cleaning staff that vacuums, and cleans the office at night after everyone has left. They aren't 'important' or even part of the company, but if they don't do their job, your job will be much harder with all the extra materials not disposed of.
I dunno... I used to do all that stuff too, which at least made it easier to claim that I was hauling my own weight.vvsonikvv said:None of this directly brings in more customers, closes the deal, etc, but without these 'key' people the company would collapse. No way in hell would any 'Oh I get paid 6 figures managers' actually do these 'low jobs' - make copies, actually change the toner in the printer, empty out the trashcan when it is full. At least thats how it is where I am.
vvsonikvv said:But isn't there always the "corporate" staff that must do functions to keep the company running? HR, accounting, marketing, business development, etc? I guess in a sense the core business is the core business, but the other depts are very very very important to keeping things right.
So this may be how the industry views the 'other' departments. Do you think that's the 'right' way to view things? I guess it's almost like the cleaning staff that vacuums, and cleans the office at night after everyone has left. They aren't 'important' or even part of the company, but if they don't do their job, your job will be much harder with all the extra materials not disposed of.
I guess this also stems down to those 'lower' jobs many interns/entry level have. For example, 'tech support'- fixing printers, networking, troubleshooting software/hardware, copies, meeting logistics - meeting minutes/notes, meeting preparations, event scheduling, etc.
None of this directly brings in more customers, closes the deal, etc, but without these 'key' people the company would collapse. No way in hell would any 'Oh I get paid 6 figures managers' actually do these 'low jobs' - make copies, actually change the toner in the printer, empty out the trashcan when it is full. Atleast thats how it is where I am.
What about the little guys? the other people? This analogy can goto MegaCorp- where alot of people are the little guys, to small company where everyone is important.
(if this has shifted the topic, let me know I can create a new topic, though its somewhat similar).
Cute n Fuzzy Bun'ny said:The little guys are important...and highly RIFable and replaceable...and fairly invisible to the people that can dole out serious moolah. They're also very helpful to the small number of people who figure out that they should be doing something a little more visible.
Everybody has to start somewhere. Just dont frickin' sit there for 10 years. At some point, ideally right at the beginning of the job search if you have skills, find out what the company does and what the senior managers care about. Then go engage on that.
Topic changes are a way of life around here...
Cute n Fuzzy Bun'ny said:Hell, the "Microsoft Bob" product manager married Bill Gates, so there are certainly ways to excel even when working on a lower tier product
saluki9 said:How nuts am I?
Cut-Throat said:Really nuts - but for other reasons.
REWahoo! said:My first thought was this is a CHP. Then I realized everything is spelled correctly!
I was at a military board the other day where the software includes a spellcheck button and the moderators (at least one in particular) are vicious spelling & grammar authoritarians. Sort of a "last bastion of liberty & literacy" attitude.Cut-Throat said:If I've had a few, I have enough sense to use a spell checker.
vvsonikvv said:Ok forget the little guy part... So you're at a Tech Firm... Accounting, marketing, HR, etc are all HUGE parts of the company, no ? Without marketing your product goes no where, sold to no one. No one knows about your product/services/etc...
Is that like having a huge engine, but square wheels, or no brakes? Don't you need a WHOLE company? You can't judge a car just by the big roaring engine right? The other parts that connect to it all matter?