I find it quite puzzling there are some folks who focus on what the 'title' of a position is rather than the actual job function. Every company has a different structure and titles are all over the board. I have seen "manager" titles for positions responsible for global strategic vision with a $20 million marketing/ad budget and a team of 20 staff. On the flip side, "VP" titles that aren't authorized to run a print ad in the East Porcupine Gazette.

If you are worried that down the road your title alone may hamper your ability to secure the right position, you are wrong. Any company that's serious about hiring talented marketing folks will actually take the time to read a resume, evaluate your accomplishments and match them to the role. Now it's true that "likes attract likes" but when it comes down to it, I have never seen the right person for a position not be interviewed because the "title" didn't match.

So if you are hung up on the title, get over it. Focus on the responsibility of the position, not what your business card says.

Enjoy the weekend,

 Matt

I can’t tell you how often we hear that phrase from agencies when they fail to move on to the next round of a review or don’t win a review.  It is actually a term that now makes me cringe.  “WE CAN’T CRACK THE PILE CODE”…there is no Pile code!

There are many reasons why an agency doesn’t advance in a review, any review, not just a Pile review.  Here are some of them:

1.    Not enough of the experience the client is looking for, or
2.    Other agencies had more of the experience the client is looking for
3.    Client did not like the work, or
4.    Other agencies had more work the client liked
5.    Chemistry with the agency was off, or
6.    Other agencies had better chemistry with the client
7.    Client did not think the agency was strong strategically, or
8.    Other agencies had stronger strategic capabilities

I could keep going with the list.  The point is the client is making the judgment on an agency relative to their Selection Criteria.  Some times that judgment is just that, an opinion.  Other times it is relative to the other agencies involved.  It isn’t about the process and therefore, the review consultant.

When you get down to the finals, the “Pile Code” is even a crazier notion.  At this stage the client has had time to work with each of the agencies – to really see how they think and create for their business.  Their decision is based on that experience and again the process has nothing to do with it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know how frustrating it is to not advance or win reviews.  I spent many years on the agency side and I remember those frustrations.  All I want to say is that it isn’t about the review consultant.  It is between the agency and the client.

So please, if you don’t advance in a Pile review, ask me why.  Don’t complain that you can’t crack the "Pile Code".

You can’t read a magazine or newspaper without seeing an article about Twitter these days.  One article that was recently in Adweek caught my eye.  Current Network, a cross-platform media company, decided to use Twitter to solicit RFP’s from agencies.  The client wants their agency to be well versed in social media, so what better way to see if an agency “gets it” than to go directly to the source.  Over 70 agencies responded to the Tweet from Current.
 
While this may be an innovative way to connect agencies with a prospective client, it leaves me with some questions.  What is the criteria the client is using to evaluate the agencies?  The agency only has 140 characters to get the attention of the client.  What is going to work best?  Do agencies really want their competitors to see how they pursue new business?  The agencies responses are available to the other agencies – they can see the brainstorming sessions, pictures from outside of Current’s offices, and capabilities presentations.
 
Not surprisingly, I’m not a fan of this new kind of RFP and not just because we’re agency review consultants.  Selecting an agency partner is an important decision for any marketer, especially in this economy.  I think it deserves a little more than 140 characters on Twitter.  

It's 80 percent likely your next position will come through networking.  It's 20 percent likely it will come through applying directly to a posted job.  These are pretty reliable numbers.  Knowing the numbers behind a job search should help in the way you approach it. 
 
Are you spending 80 percent of your available job search time networking?  If yes,  you've probably already signed up for the Pile Networking Event on May 20th.   If no, then now is the time to change your approach and register to attend: http://tk.publicaster.com/DC/ViewEmailInBrowser.aspx?646C76=323138353834&736272=723&66=30
 
The 80/20 rule is reason behind the The Pile Networking event and it seems like folks get it- there are over 100 people registered to attend. Hope to see you there!

 Best,

 Matt