Dual role in employment - what would be the impact on my professional profile?

Few months back, I joined a new firm as an E-commerce Manager. Now, they have given me (implicitly) an added responsibility of assisting the CEO for his foreign firm; he wants me to act as a SPOC (single point of contact) for all operational work for the India office.

Please let me know, if I can have this role, what would be the impact on my professional profile as I have been in marketing only, and what would be the new or added designation to this profile.

Hello Sunita,

I would suggest: just GRAB the opportunity. Not many get such a chance of handling overseas operations [in whatever role] within a few months of joining in some other role. Obviously, you have impressed him with your efficiency--just utilize the chance. Regarding the impact on your career, since you haven't mentioned your overall experience level, it's tough to give concrete conclusions--but prima facie, it would only help you to expand your horizons from a purely marketing role to a general management role--which, in turn, expands your future job potential. Hope you get what I mean. Regarding the designation, suggest leaving it initially to your CEO. Once you prove yourself, then maybe it would be the right time to suggest something from your end--AND get what you want. All the Best.

Regards,
TS

Hi Sunita,

Thank you for your message. About the designation, the CEO is suggesting "Secretary" for the Indian part. However, I am not really happy with the word "secretary," even though my new work profile includes secretarial tasks such as preparing agendas, MOM, coordinating meetings, overseeing back-end operations, and accounting procedures.

Now, I have to suggest to him my desired designation for the new role. At the same time, I need to consider its impact on others when they review my resume. It's important that they do not get confused about my expertise or the role I am best suited for.

Please advise me as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Sunita

I agree with TS that you must grab this opportunity, but I would say that you should not accept this decision of giving you a designation as SECRETARY by them. I would suggest you speak to your immediate boss in a manner that you are ready to work with them. Even though you are happy that you are going to assist the CEO of your foreign firm, you are not ready to have this "Secretary" title.

This would definitely impact your career. The "Secretary" position and profile are completely different from your present role as an E-commerce Manager. You can imagine the impacts on your career and the changes you may face in the future just because of this change in designation and work. This is not good for you. There is a significant difference between a Manager and a Secretary role.

You can assist in work with your superior but must not play the role of a Secretary or PA, etc.

The best solution is to speak to your present boss/superior that you are not happy with this decision, designation, or the role you are supposed to play as a "Secretary" in the future. They will definitely understand your position because it concerns your CAREER, and you cannot take any chances in this regard.

Hope you have an idea, Sunita, of what you have to do. Best of luck

I endorse the views of TS. Pon.

Hello Sunita,

How about Liaison Officer? Or Manager-Coordination? Or India Coordinator? I am sure you can take it from here - finding something that's okay with your boss and yet doesn't limit your role in front of outsiders (who usually go mostly by designations) :-) All the Best.

Regards,
TS

Thank you, Anil, Pon, and TS for your quick reply. I was thinking of EA to Director (Executive Assistant to Director), suggested by one of my friends who runs his own consultancy firm. According to him, the role of an EA is to participate and contribute to all the important meetings and decisions of the firm.

We have a board meeting this Friday, i.e., on 2nd December, and I have to introduce myself to the board. Please let me know your view in this context.

Thank you.

Regards,
Sunita

Well I also dont know much about it but as much as i know and according to my understanding and knowledge on “Single Point of Control” (SPOC) and as it self reveals, it is a kind of single handed system. And under this system, for example in our HR, all the subordinates that a manager/supervisor/ superiors can directly control and operate. It is actually a Single Point of Control and System for Communication. And it varies with the type of work.
The best and easy example of this: Customer Service that we all are aware of. Whenever we required any help or any information, we use to dial Customer Service Tele numbers and get the same. You may have across an advertisement of Vodafone which is really popular these days is “Dial 121 to know what mobile can do for you”