Job Hunt Continues

With all the excitement in the past couple months, I admit, my job search has not been my top priority. I have not had much luck on finding interesting positions to apply for and it's becoming really frustrating.

Truthfully, I don't know what I want to do anymore.

I was doing pretty generic "marketing" in my prior positions. I found it a frustrating field for a number of reasons, but primarily because most people tend to see marketing as "fru fru" and a position where you don't need any skills or knowledge to "market" a product. Marketing was often the last to hear the news, rather than a co-driver of a new product or service. The marketing department was seen by the rest of the company as a dumping ground for routine, mundane tasks that needed to be completed in order to stick with the competition.

I disagree.

Many marketers are dynamic, innovative and insightful. Ideas are created not only based upon the strengths of the company, but also the wants and needs of customers.

I have found that most companies are focused too much on themselves.

In the world of advertising and promotion, successful companies spend extraordinary dollars on marketing products. Product name, understanding the target market, placement of the product, price points, and so many more details are critical elements to the success of an item. Consumers are bombarded with a ridiculous amount of promotional materials every day. Without a strong marketing plan, your product will be lost in the Profit-Sucking Sea.

Sounds logical.

But top management just do not seem to "get it" at most companies I have worked for. They miss the mark every time by dismissing the marketing department.

Wake up! You have a powerhouse at hand if you would just make use of your employees and allow them the freedom to utilize their talents and knowledge. A good marketing department is not worried about making him or herself look good to the other employees, a good marketer is focused on building the company in the long run.

So, as I struggle to find marketing opportunities, I also struggle with the idea of going back solely into a "marketing coordinator" position. I could pursue public relations, or graphic design, or event planning, which are all "tactical" forms of Marketing that I am experienced in. But would those positions really be any different than "Marketing"?

Maybe I should pursue an entirely new career path. Nanny? Chef? RN? Tour guide?

I'm not sure. But I do know that after my current list of experiences, I'd like to do something good. Something that helps people or makes them smile. Something where my input is actually valuable.