“Walk in the shoes of the customer… be interested, not just interesting.” -- ESRI CEO Jack Dangermond, on evaluating writers*
Note: I waited 13 months to show some grace to Esri / candidates in hiring process. No GD Esri Redlands dropdown.
Error: Not reading Glassdoor b4 applying. 2011 marketing candidate: Esri is dysfunctional. Mr. Dangermond, are you paying attention?
Roll 2,555 days. Rings true still. What else lurks beneath the tree leaves at 380 New York Street?
Esri belies basic human dignity, civility and respect. The constructs of interview fundamentals and clean, clear communication are debased in a sea of gobbledygook. One wonders how employees are not dripping cognitive dissonance.
Sent resume with requested portfolio link; provided Mo/Day/YR (1st/last days of college), 4 phone screens , sent work samples direct to head hiring mngr; 11 In-person interviews
Position mission: Attract and grow a new, first-time, non-tech audience.
-via pivotal, top-notch teammate who consistently exhibits clarity, trust, emotional safety and ‘let’s get this done’ mojo. Only 1 who succinctly communicates what Esri needs their new writer to do from day one on the job. In 5th grade lingo << jackpot.
Esri Live Interview About 8 hours
Parking directions incorrect
Interview order reversed – Upon my arrival, key hiring mngr moved from early am to dead last. Not cool. That line item in the AM carried a huge valuation in my decision to interview.
And to get there, I slogged through corrosive customer, er, candidate brainwashing.
“I’m not sure why I was chosen to interview you” … from more than 1 nice, smart, well-meaning human
Zero context ?? “What’s your approach” “To what? Quilting? ”
Brander freaks at my casino client story … only to learn Esri hosted a casino co. few weeks after
Bit my tongue from asking: Have you considered the courtesy of reading any of my portfolio pieces? Or did I just land in your presence as a piece of data… not even a potted plant?
Conveying what was said to me form one interviewer to next… and seeing eyes glazing.
Banal. Frustrating. Gut-wrenching… after the massive amount of care, energy, research and attention I gave this endeavor and each individual.
My Costly Mistake: Believing Jack Dangermond. Clearly, I was over-interested.
I was also not convinced mngt. can properly identify marketing writing that works. Not a bad thing to tackle early am, but when my chain is being yanked … my business intelligence is better served as a cash consultant.
Me to (over-valued) hiring mngr: “Pardon, does ESRI WANT effective writing?”
A: “1/2 of the company does, 1/2 doesn’t. We’re divided… we’re 1 company operating like 2 separate companies. Oh… and you don’t have enough experience.”
But wait, there’s more un-fulfillment.
HR broke promise to reconvene end of day so I could share my experience. (That also kept me in the game. I’m a marketer. Being helpful is in my blood.) Didn’t happen.
Since, I’ve received 2 calls from 3rd party recruiters re: same position. LinkedIn post lists salary range: ballpark of my agreed $ amount to < ½ that.
Seems Esri Marketing Content Writer is a “science of nowhere” job description.
* Wanna know where quote originates? Go map yourself.
