Question

Topic: Career/Training

Should I Cut My Career & Start Allover Again With P&g?

Posted by Anonymous on 1/20/2008 at 2:06 PM ET 250 Points
Hi,

I’m a Saudi national, MBA holder from Oklahoma City University. I currently work in Saudi for a newly established business consultancy firm. I’ve been working there since I graduated end of 2005.
The greatest thing about this job is that it provides wide experience & learning scales due to highly diversified clients (once you work for a client in the fashion industry, then next year you find yourself working for one in real estate!).

I’m doing great at my current job, recently been promoted from Assistant consultant to a consultant.

During that period I was waiting for a job vacancy at P&G (which obviously took too long to happen), yet it did happen 6 months ago. P&G offered me an assistant brand manager position that I’ve always dreamt of.
Timing couldn’t been worse, I was JUST promoted. Moreover, my employer has increased my salary to get higher than P&Gs & make the decision even more difficult.

I didn’t go then, but now –six months later- I’m still thinking of going back & taking the job (or the earliest vacancy available) at P&G. reasons are as followed:

• Although I’m building great experience in the consultancy field, P&G’s name still has a special “shine” on any resume.
• I might need to leave the country after 2.5 years & go abroad with my wife (she’ll need to continue her education), and I’m planning to find a job then (not interesting in taking my education level any higher) which could be easier with P&G on my resume. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find a proper –management position- job anywhere outside of Saudi with a resume that has an unknown employer, can I?

Question is:
Should I move to P&G as soon as possible and get the name & experience that would help in or outside the Saudi market?
Or,
Should I stay where I am & build my career further, and hope that an international employer would hire me for my achievements at this company, regardless of its name or position?

To make the question even more challenging, please consider the following:
• I’m currently in a management position, which means that I have an assistant, whereas at P&G I’ll start allover again at an assistant level, reporting to a brand manager.
• Currently, 90% of my time is spent on planning & strategies, only 10% goes into execution. At P&G, I believe the split will be 50:50.
• My current salary is 13% higher than P&G’s offer, yet I’m also expecting another 5-9% increase in the next couple of weeks. However, on the other side, my friend at P&G tells me that P&G gives more frequent raises, which means I’ll catch up with my salary curve within no longer than a year or so. P&G also have more benefits such as loans & others that my current employer doesn’t offer.
• Experience I’m having right now is more diversified (in terms of industries I’m working in, and also in terms of functions: we handle marketing, finance, sales & other functions for clients). On the other hand, at P&G the focus will be FMCG products & marketing function only.
• My current employer is open to partnerships, which means that in the term of 3 – 5 years I could be a partner (although info on this topic is still vague at this point as no %s or other info is available). However, if I had to cut my career to travel with my wife, I don’t know how valid this point will be.

Any thoughts?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 1/20/2008 at 3:11 PM Member
    I am a big believer in the power of smaller companies. P&G is a great company but to them, you will be at best a small gear in a giant machine.

    I suggest that your work with a variety of clients gives you a broad range of future contacts... you are keeping in contact with everyone you touch... right? The rolodex full of warm contacts you create today will be your futuer later.
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 1/20/2008 at 8:44 PM Member
    P&G does have a good name, and that is worth something. But as Frank said, you will be focused on one market/segment, where the consulting would give you much broader experiences.

    There is also the fat that you haven't been at your current company all that long. 2 years is borderline - it may make it look like you are a job hopper. Particularly if you will be changing again in 2 years or so to move abroad with your wife.

    If you are happy with where you are at, I say stay with it.

    Exception would be if P&G would work with you on relocating for your wife's work (you join them now in Saudi, and stay with them at your new location).
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 1/20/2008 at 8:56 PM Member
    It sounds like the only reason to go to P&G is to have it on your resume for "insurance" (and there's no guarantee that would pay off). While that might be a good idea, if you're enjoying your current situation, are adequately compensated, and are given increasingly better opportunities than that's a huge current benefit. In fact, if you continue, it's possible that you'd be able to setup a branch office of your existing company. Also, your existing employer may have a great network to help you if you should move.

    If it was me, I'd continue to become more valuable with my current employer, and learn new skills as possible to round out my resume.
  • Posted by mop on 1/21/2008 at 8:27 AM Member
    I have 2 very close family members who went the P&G route. Both of them became giants in fortune 500 companies. (And I do mean giants.) They both give a good deal of credit P&G for giving them sound training in brand management.

    Having been a marketing professional for over 30 years, one thing I have learned is that risk is always a part of success. Intelligent risk, to be sure, but all the same, there is a part that just comes down to gut instinct. Money is not the only barometer of success.

    You already have your pro and con list. Now just relax. Let it go for a few days. Then trust your instinct. You are a bright guy. You will make the right decision.
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