Feeling Stuck in My Career: How Can I Find Honest Work in Marketing and Finance?

Hello everyone,

I am very much frustrated with my professional life. I have an MBA in Marketing and Finance, and I am still looking for a job. Everywhere I work, seniors ask me to deceive customers for the sake of their revenues. It's not okay, can't it be done without hurting the clients? I want to work honestly, and because of this attitude, now I am jobless. What should I do now?

Dear Harpreet,

Nice to come across someone very true and honest. Even I am working in business development department. These practices are followed in every business, and you will come across most people following these things in life as well. It is up to you how you will handle it - either try to change it or accept it and follow it. There is no use or point in just thinking about it.

Cheating or giving false projections is the essence of corporates, and that's why they will grow rapidly in a short span of time.

Dear Harpreet,

From your post, I can only understand that you are not doing justice with your qualifications and job. You seem frustrated by judging the merits of products based on your assumptions and presumptions, whereas all products have a place in the market. There is a price and utility factor that fluctuates with market demand and supply, which is important. This utility factor and price make marketing a key strategic approach to fulfill the market demand. You are not doing anything other than fulfilling the demand of the market and just placing your product in the region of demand.

I fail to understand your attitude. Why are you judging your product? It's not you, but the market that has to judge your products, and you are just a medium.

Badlu

Hi Harpreet,

First of all, relax. There is nothing wrong with your attitude. I must say, it's frustration that prompts us to think of something different and new.

When we are angry or irritated and can't tolerate dealings with people who believe and thrive on cheating, a lot of negative feelings surround us. We are compelled by ourselves, from within, to act differently or do things to ward off these feelings.

I would suggest converting these negative feelings into positive ones and start thinking about what you can do best. I am confident that the anger within you will guide you. By negative feelings, I mean not letting yourself down. By positive, I mean understanding that you need to do something different and not follow the crowd but lead it.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone says your attitude is wrong. Do you know why? It's because it aligns with type 1 people - those who follow the crowd!

Take a moment to relax. Don't remain idle, and don't let this demotivating feeling hinder your work. Let me also tell you, if you can brainstorm ways to do something unique during this period of recession or financial crisis and survive it, then believe me, nothing will impede your progress.

Harpreet, I salute your attitude and the honesty within you. If you choose this path - it's narrow, it may bring you down at times, you may feel alone in your cause, but that's what defines you. And you will undoubtedly achieve success.

Be patient because you should also act smartly at this point. Follow your heart, don't follow the world and its harsh aspects. Not everyone believes in deceit and mere survival. If product marketing frustrates you, consider the service industry.

In conclusion, I want you to understand that there is nothing wrong with you or your thinking. Yes, it may take time for you to find the right job, but once you do, there will be no stopping you. And remember to pass on these values within you to the people who will work under you tomorrow.

The market is forced to believe that the corporate would only offer a good product with the right price tag. Here, Harpreet, being the provider, knows what's happening internally. It's not his assumptions; they are the facts and figures that Harpreet has about the product. I am sure Harpreet knows that every business's purpose is profit-making but not at the cost of cheating people and making them believe they have gained something out of the transaction!!

Dear Harpreet,

Better start hunting for a job. With your qualifications, I think you will get plenty of good jobs in sales. Try to join any service sector. If you don't want to be a part of the sales team, you can try for research, market survey, or lead generation teams.

@Ash... Well said, dear...

Hi Harpeet,

Success is not a product of what you do, but a product of what you are and what attitude you develop. When faced with these kinds of issues, take it as a challenge. You can do it if you have the will to do it. Be clear, and the rest will follow. Please do not cheat your customers. It's good to be honest. Continue to be honest, and it pays off in the long run. Even the management will appreciate your stance.

Regards,
Sundar
Bangalore

Gentlemen,

Your comments are immature and exhibit your inexperience in the field. Firstly, employees are employed to work, not to provide character certificates to their masters or employers or to investigate the truth of the employer's business. They are paid a salary to perform a specific job, which they might find challenging, and blaming their company instead of being honest. However, they are also not being honest with their employer or their job if they express dissatisfaction about product quality in a manner that is not constructive.

Rashid

"The market is led to believe that the corporate world would only offer a good product at the right price. Here, Harpreet, being the provider, knows what is happening internally. These are not just assumptions; they are the facts and figures that Harpreet has about the product. I am certain that Harpreet understands that every business's purpose is to make a profit but not at the expense of deceiving people and making them believe they have gained something out of the transaction!"

Please note the corrected spelling, grammar, and paragraph formatting in the text above.

Another example of following the crowd! :)

Sir,

Employees are not machines that will start working when you press the button and kick it when it does not work. Do you know what it means to enhance the brand image and corporate image? It is also a strategy to attract the right employees.

Do you know what is meant by retention strategies? It is to retain top talent by letting them know that the particular company is the best place for them to work (YES - Here employees certify their company and decide if it's good or bad to continue ;-)])

If your product is not a good one, don't expect the employees to shut their mouths and work for it. They represent the brand.

As an employee, why should one not investigate / do research about his employer? That makes sense, right? How long will you say Yes Yes Yes to all corporate blunders? Do you have the guts to say NO?

Harpreet has been kind enough not to reveal the name of the company. That shows the sincerity in what was meant in that message.

What I can understand from your post is that you need to come up with a positive attitude for success in any job. When you market washing soaps, don't get into the role of a social worker. The company is paying you to sell soaps, and to sell anything, first of all, you need to trust it (product/service). If you are thinking that 'marketing is an act of fooling the customer,' quit the profession and switch to some other job.

Let's say you joined as an HR Executive for a company. But there also, you need to work as per the corporate management strategy. There will be goals for you to achieve, negotiate salary during hiring interviews, issue relieving letters to employees after persuading them to resign on account of business loss or work realignment. Then you will start thinking that 'I am cheating employees.' So the need of the hour is to 'think practically.'

I am not saying that you should not have a value system. Keep your core value system unaltered and find a job where you don't require much compromise in terms of individual as well as corporate value systems.

Great Harpreet,

I can very well understand your feelings and emotions because last month only I got into a job of such kind. When we talk with our clients, it really pains inside. I was also thinking about a place to share such feelings. I seriously don't know what to do. Only one thing I know is, whatever I'm doing is not right.

Hello Harpreet,

I hope you are in good health. I would rather suggest that you decide for your life yourself. Always remember, many people have many words, which again leads to many suggestions as you can see above. You yourself can decide better as you are aware of the scenario better than all of us.

As a suggestion, I recommend that you consider joining a BPO or KPO. There are many finance processes where you will find a better job.

Amrender Singh

Dear Harpreet,

I will write only one sentence: "People laugh at me because I am different, and I laugh because they are all the same." That is called "Attitude" - Swami Vivekananda.

If you really have courage, start your own business and let the people follow your strategy. Anyhow, one has to take initiative to change things rather than asking or advising to do wrong practice.

Best of luck

Hi Harpreet, I entirely agree with Mr. Ash Mathew. Mr. Ash, you are an excellent path shower and motivator. I have experience in both the product market and service sector, and I believe that we are free to put our opinions forward if they make sense. We create our identity ourselves. Our existence stems from our thoughts. We should value our thoughts and work on them. Don't be frustrated and be honest with yourself. If you are not content with what you're doing, then it becomes difficult to reach the destination you're aiming for. Give yourself some time and work on how to overcome it. Usually, you'll encounter entities that chase after revenue prospects, but don't forget that there are companies that value quality and quantity. Stopping and feeling frustrated are not meant for Marketing Guys. I will be waiting to hear from you soon about your next job, and do not compromise your principles as keeping and following them is a rather cumbersome process. Regards, the curator.

Hi Harpeet and Vivek,

Please try to be realistic. People here may say many things, but everyone should question themselves: are they like you? I appreciate your honesty, but in business, the reality is different. If your seniors or your company are trying to deceive customers, most probably it is not a legitimate company, so choosing that company is wrong. There is no use in getting frustrated. It all comes down to attitude; don't think you are fooling the customer, instead, consider yourself a good seller (as long as you are not making false promises).

Let me suggest something: Don't opt for a sales profile (just kidding).

Harpeet, I am trying to be realistic. People here are sharing various views, but today's business world does not always align with those views. Learn to say NO when necessary. For example, say NO to something wrong in the process refinement or re-engineering but do not reject the process entirely.

By the way, Vivek, I have a question for you. Which corporation is cheating? If that is the case, it should not be considered a corporation. Do you imply that corporations growing quickly are cheating? I would like to hear everyone's opinions on this.

Once again, we need to be realistic.

Cheers

🔍

Satyam!

Example for corporate that was cheating. This is just one where the cover has been pulled off... Let's hope there are not many. If someone is saying, "In the business world it's like this dude..." then why a contradictory statement at the end of the message saying, "which is the Corporate doing cheating business???" Vivek's statement was - a few companies that have the urge to grow fast sometimes opt for the easier methods - cheating.

Hello,

Harpreet, we spoke today. As told to you, I suggest you mail your details (resume + any other info) to me and let's see how we can handle this. Just remember one thing - just because you see accidents on the road, you don't stop walking or driving on it, right? We just need to be more careful. You wouldn't even believe if I told you about my experiences when I began my company 10 years ago. Incidentally, Satyam was one of the deals that didn't work out then. Now I know why, and I never regretted it then, and now all the more, no.

But still, I have always believed that for every crook out there, there will always be a dozen who are fair. It's not my saying; it's Abraham Lincoln's. Except that we don't know them. Unfortunately, it's the crooks who have the largest trumpets to crow about.

Asha Mathew and Sandhya Iyer - I would like to get in touch with both of you. Let me know how, if you are interested too.

TS

No use of running here and there. Try to look inside yourself; there must be something which you still need to calibrate with the outer world to get adjusted or change the world as per your internal world.

Hi @Harpreet,

Where are you, buddy? It's always good to analyze the problem and then come to a solution. If you spend too much time analyzing and get trapped in the problem, it won't take you anywhere. That's why I told you in my earlier post that it's better to start searching for a job or changing your vertical from sales to other positions.

Thank you, @TS, for your wise decision and helpful nature.

Thanks, @Ash, for being on my side and for your kind support. You were absolutely right in your posting, and your thoughts were truly mature.

@Prem, Bob, let me tell you frankly, if I start listing the corporations that have unethical and false projections, this place would fall short. There are loads of corporations that exploit employees, provide false projections and images to clients and stakeholders, avoid paying taxes, and show no social responsibility. It's not an unknown fact.

I appreciate what all others have suggested. It's a great world out there. Let me tell my story. When I started my career, I had a lot of hopes that I'll one day become a corporate tycoon. But those things got shattered when I faced the realities of being in the marketing world. I had worked for both services as well as product companies, but in all those places, I had to face the same problem as you have faced. I actually didn't understand the scenario. Later on, life drew me to this teaching job, and I have been teaching management subjects for the last 5 1/2 years.

Now, while teaching management subjects, I think I have gained some clarity about why I could not succeed in the marketing field. Let me tell you that whichever organization you go to, you will face the same problems as you are facing now. These are not because of the companies; it's because of the people. Let me tell you how. I hope you are familiar with these two statements:

1. Internal marketing
2. Employees don't leave their companies; they leave their bosses.

I think these are the most important things you need to keep in mind. If your company cannot sell you their products, then how can you sell them to others? Companies cannot sell you properly because the managers, to whom you think the company is, themselves cannot understand the position of the product. So how can they sell it to you? Hence, in order to get their results, they resort to such unethical things like cheating customers.

When they start cheating themselves, they start teaching the same thing to their subordinates. The bad will understand this and carry on, while the good like you are in a dilemma—what to do to survive? So, your relationship with the boss is in doldrums when you think of leaving the job.

So, it's not the problem from companies, it's from the people in there. Also, even if you shift the job, don't think that you will be coming across a "happily ever after" scenario. Problems do come in one form or another. It's up to you to analyze them and find a way. So, when you face problems, first analyze them. You will be well placed to make a decision.

Experience shall shape you in understanding these things.

Best of luck,
AZEEM

Dear Badlu,

If I am getting personal, I beg your pardon. But every time I see your name "BadLooser" in this forum, I feel bad and terribly upset. My humble request to you is to change your name to something positive. It can be anything, like even "Last Winner," but certainly not BadLooser.

Regards,
N. Ramamurthy

Dear Harpreet,

You do not have to be upset about what is going on. People (and bosses) have different ways of achieving their objectives. Some people use shortcuts to achieve targets while some work hard at it.

Your qualification (or IQ) is important for getting a job but thereafter it is your EQ that would play a major role in your success.

If you give your clients a choice, they would be able to make a better decision. One does not have to necessarily lie to get business. It is how you present the product. A tumbler half filled with water can be presented as 'half empty' (negative) or 'half full' (positive). If you can appreciate your clients' requirements, the untruth that you are being forced to peddle may not be relevant to your client.

The frustration that is evident can be overcome if you set S.M.A.R.T. goals for yourself. Focus on them and in the process of achieving them, you would experience immense satisfaction.

Would you like to change the way business is done in your organization? Can you evaluate how much business you have gained by setting your standards and by your methods? If it has not been much, don't you think that you need to change the way you are doing it? Once you have perfected it and business comes your way, you would not have to be dishonest at all.

Here are a couple of quotes to put your issue in perspective:

"I feel sorry for the person who can't get genuinely excited about his work. Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything worthwhile." - Walter Chrysler

"Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense." - Arnold Bennett

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." - Mark Twain