As my husband and I discuss careers in this article, we talk about both the front office and construction work. We both work in the same building.
The construction team that I work with is very small and very tight knit. We have a dedicated person on the phone every day and answer to no one. If you look at our work, you will find that it is very collaborative. We have two sets of contractors, one who builds the foundation and the other who does the majority of the work on the exterior. We are all on the same page, and everyone has their own opinion and ideas about how things should be done.
This is one of those things that you find out when you get to work with people that you don’t like or don’t understand. It’s kind of like work-in-a-hut, except with a whole lot less respect.
I hear you. While we love to have the “go to” people to come in and give us the ideas (and more often than not, it’s our own idea), we really do not feel that this is an ideal environment for a “work in a garage” situation. We would rather have two separate teams, each with its own style and approach, and then come together to make something great.
We need people who are willing to take on things they have no experience with. I’m not saying that we are asking for a complete novice, but we are looking for someone who knows what they are doing, and is able to take on tasks that we all struggle with.
All of the front office jobs we’ve interviewed so far have been extremely flexible, but it’s important to note that only one of the jobs we’ve been offered is truly off the table (and that’s because of the high demand for “manning” positions we need to fill with new hires). We have been asked to interview several applicants for a number of other positions as well.
The search for a front office job can be very difficult. With each position we interview, we are asked to assess how long we can expect to stay at this company. We are given specific questions to ask ourselves and each other such as “How much time do you have remaining?”, “What is your skill set?”, and “How long do you think you can work for this company?”.
The first question is most important. How much time do you have? We will always have plenty of time to work, but unless you are an expert in your field, you should seriously consider this question. If you have the opportunity to work for a company that is growing, is growing quickly, and has an exciting growth rate, it is an excellent company to work for. The second question is pretty obvious.
I’m guessing if you have a skill set that is very specialized, you probably should look at this the same way. If you’re a computer programmer, you should probably ask about what other companies are hiring. If you’re a graphic designer, you should obviously do your research. If you have a background in the financial world, you should try to find out what other companies are hiring. Finally, you should do your research and find out what your skills are.
It seems like if you have a skill set that is very specialized, you should consider this. This might sound a little odd, but if you have a skill set that is very specialized, you will probably be more likely to get hired at a company that pays you more. For instance, the only thing I have a skill set that is very specialized is web design. Not that I don’t do everything else, but this is the only thing I do.