"Satisfied in The Ivory Tower " 01/06/16 Edition Stephen Says Column

Stifled in the Ivory Tower

"I've been at a major architectural firm for six years and work in the interiors department. We primarily work on hedge funds and law firms. It's a very prestigious firm. I'm pretty much happy with my job; however, whenever I'm assigned a project, the senior associate or partner that's working directly with our client ends up dictating the entire design, which seems to be the same thing over and over. I'm torn because I like the job, but I hate the formula. It does not allow me to put any of my own design imprint on it. Yet I'm told that many of the major architectural and design firms are like this, so what can I do?"

Stephen’s Response: You’re right — many elite firms have a “look” that they repeat for clients. That’s part of their brand. But not all firms are like that. If you want more creative freedom, you may need to explore other firms that allow designers to express themselves more. Be discreet in your search and interviews, and don’t burn bridges.

Hunting in Seattle

"I am the principal of a major dealer. We carry one of the major furniture lines and are located outside of Seattle. I want to grow my sales team in 2016, but I can't afford a headhunter. 'Help Wanted' ads got me some results, but not enough, and we are too small for a HR Director. I have a personnel person that helps us with benefits and some hiring, however, we really need to attract more salespeople. Here is my question: how can a dealer, owner or manager be his or her own headhunter?"

Stephen’s Response: You can be your own headhunter by leveraging your company’s reputation. Use business publications and websites to post jobs. Copy listings from major manufacturers and tailor them to your company. Use LinkedIn aggressively. Network with manufacturers’ reps — they know who the good salespeople are.