Where do you want to work?

I’ve been thinking a lot about work and environment.  Here’s the big question early – Do you want to work in an organization that does what you do really well?  If you’re in supply chain management, do you want to go work for Walmart? If you’re a marketer, do you want to go work for Coke?

I think it’s an interesting question.  In my mind, an individual aligned with their company’s core competencies is well placed.  Here’s the rationale.

1. Clear career path – The company has experience in helping people in their core disciplines move up in the organization.  It may not be perfectly defined, but the opportunity is there.
2. Valuation - If you do supply chain management at Walmart, chances are people can tell when you’re really good.  Since the company values that expertise appropriately, I’d venture to guess that your salary is close to market rate.  If you work for an organization that doesn’t understand the value of what you do then it’s more likely that there will be a mismatch in expectation and reward.
3. Tools - I’m sure they don’t argue when graphic designers demand design software.  There’s probably a corporate project that assigns them the software when they start the job and it’s on their computer as a standard install.  Now if a person in communications wants design software, there are 100 obstacles and 15 manager approvals required.  That’s because it’s an unusual request.
4. Get Better Faster – When you’re working around people that do what you do well, I think you can’t help but to improve.  You’re more tied in to industry standards, best practices, and you get to watch the masters.  How many of your managers do you see being asked to speak at industry conferences?  That may be a good indicator.

Now in all fairness I’ve tried to think of some benefit the person has that is doing marketing at a “non-marketing” organization.  I’ve come up with a few.

1. Rock Star Status - Sometimes you don’t even have to do something well, you just have to do something they’ve never seen before and you become a rock star.  That could bode well for your career at that Company if you decide to stay and grow there (across disciplines)
2. Coast - I think you can stand to relax a little in this position compared to being at a company that sets the standard for your discipline.  The pressure of being a developer at a place like Microsoft is probably a little less than that of a developer that works for Walmart.  So maybe you have some work/life balance values and decide to work somewhere where your job is not as scrutinized or… valued.
3. You’ve done your time and now you want to lead - Most of the people leading have diverse experience in their field and their crowning position is leading a team.  I think PR jumps out as a good example.  Some people build their experience at different PR firms and then they decide to go lead PR for a corporation.    They have the passport stamps to prove where they’ve been.

When I look back over the lists, I find myself  being drawn to the top.  Are there benefits I’m not thinking of?  What do you think?

- madia