Tired and cranky this morning, Director’s Cut

I am posting this from the future, as I purge livejournal of personal content.

This is a post alluded to in September of 2006, which I declined to post publicly becuase I really, really needed my job at the time. While I can’t reliably port over the comments left by friends at the time, I beleive the words speak for themselves.

I no longer work for that company, and it went out of business soon after my primary position was eliminated, only to reform under new management, in another state, and publishing the same products shortly after everybody else who worked there was laid off.

Enjoy.

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Now, on to the surly.

When I talk (or rather, don’t talk) about my job and how it eats away at me, I always add the codicil that If I was receiving adequate compensation, the grind really would not be as bad. I frequently also enjoin that I have to to the jobs of a lot of people at once, which always draws a knowing if somewhat condescending smile .

Here’s what I am expected to do for my employer. These are not jobs similar to what I do (although a version of my “actual” job title does appear in the list), these are the things that I am held accountable for, and take the heat from when I cannot meet the workload. In my 50-60 hour work week.

Included for comparison is a precis of my Manager’s duties and expected salary. She too is massively underpaid, but not so much that her husband cannot stay at home and raise a family.

Barely.

DISCLAIMER: Salaries and Job descriptions here are taken from Salary.com. They are not in any way proprietery information from my employer. Revealing any financial information from my company would be a firing offense, and in really bad taste. It would also be very unfair to people I consider to be my freinds. This is an intellectual analysis only, so that people who are interested can have context for a statement below.

I also know that choosing to continue employment in the Hobby Game industry will not make me rich. But I’d at least like to be comfortable.

Advertising Coordinator (this is a major part of my daily job, and along with the next entry I am the only person doing this work for the company)

Organizes advertising for print media. Coordinates scheduling and promotions to ensure client satisfaction and project completion. Maintains client relationships. May require a bachelor’s degree in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May lead and direct the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

Alternate Job Titles: Advertising Coordinator

The median expected salary for a typical Advertising Coordinator in Seattle, WA 981040 is $52,232.

Sales Promotions Coordinator (my actual Job title is Promotions Manager, and I am directly responsible for everything in this section. As above, I’m it. Nobody else does this))

Coordinates and administers sales promotions in order to advertise a product and to maximize the profits of the organization’s sales. Assists in researching, evaluating and recommending enhancements to the market positioning of the organization’s products or services. May require a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience in the field. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

The median expected salary for a typical Sales Promotions Coordinator in Seattle, WA 981040 is $54,864.

Marketing Communication Manager (I inherited this job from a person who went on to do the same job for another company, and more or less the indicated salary. When he left our company, he was making less than I am now. More on that later. My boss and I take turns failing to fullfill these responsibilities, and we all suffer from the lack of bandwidth involved)

Creates, implements and oversees communications programs that effectively describe and promote the organization and its products including graphics, brochures, company or product fact sheets, logos, or other promotional products. Manages the research and development of content for publication of products. Oversees the preparation of presentations and/or speeches geared toward employees. May require a bachelor’s degree in area of specialty and at least 7 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department.

Alternate Job Titles: Manager of Marketing Communication | Marketing Communication Manager | Marketing Communications Manager

The median expected salary for a typical Marketing Communication Manager in Seattle, WA 981040 is $87,008.

Product/Brand Manager (I have 8 brands. Some of those Brands have an actual Brand manager, and the resposibility and workload is greatly lessened for those products. However, those products also require the full-time efforts of both of us, and as noted here, I’m busy)

Manages, develops, and implements product marketing activities to maximize sales of an assigned product line. May require a bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of experience in the field. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May lead and direct the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a senior manager.
Alternate Job Titles: Product/Brand Manager

The median expected salary for a typical Product/Brand Manager in Seattle, WA 981040 is $93,061.

CRM Targeted Marketing Campaign Manager (Nobody in the company is doing this but me. and I’m failing miserably at it, although it’s what I actually want to do with my life.)

(Go figure)

Determines the most effective points of interaction (POI) for marketing campaigns by using reports from the customer information center system. Applies customer and sales information from the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to achieve marketing goals. Requires a bachelor’s degree in area of specialty and at least 8 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department.
Alternate Job Titles: CRM Targeted Marketing Campaign Manager

The median expected salary for a typical CRM Targeted Marketing Campaign Manager in Seattle, WA 981040 is $121,124.

Customer Service Director (the job that was removed from the Org Chart in December, and thus not given to me when my old boss left the position to be a brand manager as above. I pretty much started doing it immediately after he switched responsibilities, leading to much distress)

Directs and oversees all aspects of an organization’s customer service policies, objectives, and initiatives. Develops and establishes procedures and policies governing customer correspondence and the handling of customer complaints. Requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of experience in the field. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to top management.
Alternate Job Titles: Customer Service Director | Director of Customer Service

The median expected salary for a typical Customer Service Director in Seattle, WA 981040 is $118,003.

Marketing Director (My Boss. She is smart, dedicated, hard working, and 8 months pregnant. So really, this will be my job for about 6 weeks starting next month. She does all of this, and in addition has been spending an inordinate amount of time managing a “program” that I argued bitterly against, and ultimately chose to leave the company over in December. It is not her job, and in fact is written as a part of mine in the JD we put together when I lobbied the corporate structure all the way back to New York to create a new position specifically to tell people not to do this sort of program. But as illustrated here, I’m a little busy at the moment)

Directs and oversees an organization’s marketing policies, objectives, and initiatives. Reviews changes to the marketplace and industry and adjusts marketing plan accordingly. Requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of experience in the field. Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to top management.
Alternate Job Titles: Director of Marketing | Marketing Director

The median expected salary for a typical Marketing Director in Seattle, WA 981040 is $156,166.

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To put this into perspective, and without revealing my actual salary (something I cannot do). The job titles and resposibilities I perform, on average, would result in an overworked department of 6 people with salaries totalling $526,292.

I do not make 1/6 of that amount ($87713)

I do not make 1/10 of that amount ($52629)

To put this into further perspective, until 3 weeks ago, I had three other jobs. I was able to offload them by hiring a contractor we were massively overworking to full time, salaried exempt status, and by bringing in a second contractor.

Haven’t had a drink since Tuesday, I swear.

I have $54 in the bank, and $1 in my pocket. I get paid next Friday.