Question

Topic: Career/Training

Might I Become A Scapegoat As An Intern?

Posted by Anonymous on 6/4/2010 at 4:24 PM ET 125 Points
Hello fellow members on marketingprofs. I'm well on my path to graduating from college with a degree in Business Administration and dual majoring in Finance and Marketing. I've recently found my place as an intern in an company specializing in importing various brands of products and marketing them.

I've been appointed as the key guy to develop a new loyalty card program for one of its premium brands. I think it's a good job given that I'll work mainly on my desk and maintain the Customer Database, contact my customers and at the same time design the whole loyalty card program, and for a very good remuneration.

However, I'm worried that if I the project isn't rolled-out or if the whole program becomes a financial fiasco, it might look bad for my reputation. Any insights?

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  • Posted on 6/4/2010 at 4:49 PM Accepted
    If the program is a failure, it certainly won't help your reputation ... even if you do everything right. There's a taint that follows failures, and it's hard to shake regardless of how you spin it.

    The best you can hope for (if the project isn't a success) is that you've set up the metrics so that you can say: (a) the concept and strategy were correct; (b) the project missed objectives because XYZ. And it's important that XYZ be very specific and supported with quantitative data.

    Everyone understands that not all projects are successful. The "crime" is if you don't know WHY it wasn't successful.

    So do what you would do anyway: Document everything and set up clear metrics and success criteria. Don't let it become a totally subjective thing that management will want to sweep under the rug. And make sure you are in learning mode throughout. They can't take away what you KNOW, so you'll be able to recover from any possible tarnish to your reputation in the event the project doesn't meet expectations.

    Of course, the best outcome will be to deliver a wildly successful loyalty program that meets all expectations and makes you look like a real hero. Focus on that, and not on the possible risks.

    Good luck. Let us know if we can be of further help.
  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 6/5/2010 at 12:48 AM Accepted
    I don't think they would be setting you up for failure (which is what comes to mind when you say scapegoat). Interns do cost money, even if they are not paying you, and they wouldn't want to spend the resources unless they hoped to get some positive result out of it.

    But, I also agree that if the end results are not good, it won't help you. But, you can also put it all behind you and just not use the internship as a reference or on your resume if the results are bad and it looks like it was your fault.
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