Question

Topic: Career/Training

What Should I Do With My Career Now?? Suggestions And Informations Please

Posted by Mushfique Manzoor on 7/28/2004 at 9:40 AM ET 125 Points
I am a Bangladeshi, did my BBA major in Marketing from IBA, Dhaka Univeristy, Bangaldesh. I have worked 2 yrs in Trade Marketing as Territory Sales Manager in BAT Bangladesh and then joined Novartis Bangladesh as Brand Executive of Ovaltine (aka Ovomaltine in Europre, its a competitive brand of Milo of Nestle). In the Brand Executive position i worked for 2 years and was the only sole person in charge of brand management. In December 2003 Novartis globally divested the brand along with other consumer goods brands, which resulted in myself being laid off. SInce then i have not been able to get a brand marketing job in Bangladesh. I have been doing my part-time, MBA from same business school of same university with a major in Marketing. I have tried Unilever, Nestle, Reckitt Beckiser but none of these are willing to take in Brand Executive level. They only recruit Management Trainee. At this moment a Freight Forwarding company with operations in 20 countries want me to join as Project Manager to set up operations in Vietnam and Nepal. Will accepting this offer be good for my career which i always wanted buildin brnad management?? Your suggestions please.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Mushfique Manzoor on 7/28/2004 at 10:57 AM Author
    Thanks Jim Deveau

    in fact my MBA is about to be finished in December this year. Are you suggesting, after completion of MBA, i should start from scratch again in good MNCs like Unilever, Nestle???? apart from very 4 MNCs in Bangladesh, all other local companies in FMCG dont really practice Brand Management as this is a 3rd world country.

    would you pls expain how much this "operations set up" for a Frieght Forwarding Company (Logistics Business) experience will help me in my career??

    a wishful thinking is if someone here in this forum can lead me a to a brand management job anywhere in english speaking world :-). wishes sometimes do come true, don't they?? Would appreciate your responses.
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 7/28/2004 at 2:17 PM Member
    Do you have international experience? If not, then that aspect of the freight forwarding position could be beneficial for you.

    Are their opportunities with the frieght forwarding company to be involved with branding it in these countries? If so, then that could be one way you hold continuity between your branding experience and desire to stay there. You could 'talk up' that part when you add this job to your CV.

    One risk to taking this position is that it moves you a little away from consumer goods, which may make it challenging to get back with one of the top CPG companies. Industry experience is often important to these companies.

    I think what you need to do is really think how much you want to stay in branding. My experience is that what you want to do as your career progresses changes a lot. It wouldn't surprise me if 5 or 10 years from now, you won't be anywhere near branding, and will be very happy with your work. I know my career has taken many turns. I was aimed at branding/product management for a CPG when I got my MBA, but have gone a totally different route now some 10+ years later.

    There is always the option to join one of the CPGs yoiu talked with at the management trainee level. Yes, this would be a step down, but it would be the way to get back in to the brand management track at a CPG.
  • Posted by Mushfique Manzoor on 7/29/2004 at 1:51 AM Author
    Dear Paul

    can you please tell me where to contact for Brand Management job in Africa& middle east?? can you refer me some places?? i am really sorry if i am asking too much from you.


    Dear Peter (helpUhire)

    I dont have any international experience so far. but taking this Freight Forwarding offer will give me some. so its a Catch 22.
    there is no Branding in Freight Forwarding as in FMCG. from 3rd world countries FF companies carry Garments to US and Europe and this is doen thru' B2B selling.

    waiting for your suggestions
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 7/29/2004 at 2:59 AM Accepted
    Mushfique,

    How did this job offer come about? Do you have a sympathetic relative at the freight forwarding company, did someone find you through a personal/professional network, or did you apply for the job opening yourself?

    Regardless of your answer... I'm inclined to agree with Mbarber about TAKING this offer. Some reasons:

    » Brand management jobs are scarce.
    » Any experience you get in "operations" is like earning a medal in the battlefield of business.
    » Project management assignments, especially multinational, are also valuable.

    Hey, it's not as if you're selling french fries or sacking groceries to subsidize your dream career, is it? ;]

    Seriously, the job offer wouldn't have come to you if the employer didn't see you as smart and competent. Take it, and keep your toes in Branding by finishing your MBA... and by participating as an EXPERT in this forum to answer the Branding questions that new members post every day! Wishful thinking about future job opportunities may eventually come true if you demonstrate your talent, creativity, commitment, and communication skills here on a regular basis.

    - Shelley
  • Posted by Mushfique Manzoor on 7/29/2004 at 6:28 AM Author
    Dear Mbarber and SRyan

    thank you very much for your advice.

    Mbarber
    honestly i was not inclined to accpet a lower position now in my career. thanks a lot for the support from a far flung country.

    SRyan
    just to clarify, i dropped my resume in 2 headhunting firms in my city Dhaka in Bangladesh albeit asking for opportunities for Brand management position. but one of those 2 firms asked me to face interview for this Freight Forwarding offer and the rest you know.
    thank you very much for your support.
  • Posted by Mushfique Manzoor on 8/9/2004 at 2:38 AM Author
    Thank you all for your time and suggestions. I have decieded to accept the offer I have from the said-company. Wish me luck.

    Mushfique
  • Posted on 5/29/2006 at 11:50 PM Member
    I have started work as a Product executive to a Business Manager in a EAC Holdings (distributor house) since 1997 to 2002. I love to manage brands but not in a distributor environment. Then I was headhunted for a product manager role in a household electrical appliances company and worked there for the next 3 years. No proper brand management was done as this company did not believe in it but more on sales. My responsibilities were to source for new products, worked on catalogues and POSM, arranged roadshows, print materials e.g. newspaper and magazine. Now I realised that my interest is not in electrical industry but in FMCG instead. However, I have been turn down several times for not getting the brand position. I understand marketing but why the MNC will not give people like us a chance to take up the job instead of recruiting brand personnel from other MNC.
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