The Culture and Values of Good Organisations !

It was summer of 1990, and I had just appeared for an interview with two companies , Colgate Palmolive and Procter & Gamble . Though I was more interested in the Industrial marketing side , but knowing these companies reputation , marketing skills and the packages , I thought of trying them as well . 

I couldnt make at both the organisations , but I will share the treatment that I recd from these companies was phenomenal , which still remains etched in my mind.

Colgate Palmolive , after I had appeared for an interview with them at Madras ( now Chennai) , sent me a letter saying that they valued the interaction with me , and they would keep the cv under active consideration and as and when a suitable opportunity comes up , they will contact me . They did ask for the telephone nos of two close family members who could be contacted in case such a situation comes up . ( Please note that those days there were no mobiles or pagers ) . The communication made me feel wanted and not " rejected" or "turned down ", at any point of time .

The second cae is that of the two member team from P&G. The interview was conducted at the campus , and  I was amazed at how considerate they were . They treated me almost as if I were the only person they would interview that year.

As they asked me , I remember, on some new marketing concepts like positioning , segmentation and marketing myopia , I answered them well .

One of the interviewers, Bala, a portly character , who had prior experience with an advertising company , and who was more friendly, direct, and more accessible, In the middle of the interview, asked me “What do you understand of the responsibilities of a brand manager?” 

I gave in my view , a careful and perfect academic answer saying what were the key responsibilities .At the time, I thought I’d delivered the perfect answer and was self patting ,until I was about to leave the place at the end of the interview. Bala put his hand on my shoulder and said something I’ll never forget: “Jagjit , I think you might have a great career in this company, but I have a piece of advice for you. The next time somebody asks you what are the key responsibilities of brand management, and trust me, everyone will, sound like you’re more certain of your answer. But , Please be direct and do good homework . Academics and Practical reality are different ."

It was hard to believe. Here was a P&G senior executive- manager training me during the interview process on how to handle the rest of the interviews.

It helped me get into another good market research company , MBA- Marketing and Business Associates . But my respect for these two companies remains intact even today . 

Think Bigger, Better, Bolder, Beyond and Before Others ! Be Somebody! 

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