While considering a job offer to be in-house creative lead for a manufacturing company, I received the following wisdom from a former Employee Relations Manager at GE.
Are you aware of the four types of Advertising and Sales?
1. Hard Sell Used Car Dealers
2. Soft Sell TV commercials
3. Mad Sell Red Bull skydiver from space
4. Sell Sell A company that sells to savvy customers who understand subtle distinctions in product. The details matter, so it’s highly technical selling and usually not that creative.
I suspect the job offer you have is the fourth version and that you’d be bored in eight-months. If you feel you would have to change to fit the company culture, it’s not a great fit. Don’t hang out in groups where you are not honored. Be with people who let you be yourself.
In the end, I didn’t accept the offer. Instead I’m investing in all the relationships I’ve built in the Experience Design industry. I’m selling me, not a product, and I couldn’t be happier.