Imagine being on the verge of switching jobs. You’ve seen the job posting, applied for the position, done interviews, and aced them. The works. When you resume at your new workplace, you’re asked why you looked forward to joining in the first place and one of the draws for you was the ‘vibe’ you got from the company’s social media pages. In your words, the company looks like a “Great place to work.”
Or imagine having a challenge regarding a service being provided by a company. You’re mildly upset and in the usual fashion, took the drastic action of ‘dragging’ them on social media. But you’re met with warmth and after a few conversations, you’re smiling at your phone, like you would when talking to a crush. In the end, you decide not to drag but remark glowingly about how you’ve been treated.
Or you come across a topic you’re familiar with but the way it’s being explored hits you differently. You go, “Whoa, I’ve never thought of it this way before.” In the end, you make a few new decisions and you’re better for them in the end.
Now, you’d wonder: what does all this have to do with being a makeup artist or a bespoke designer? The answer is simple. I make the company I work for look good. Always. Just like any of those guys do to their clients.
It could be a ‘simple’ social media post, a thought-leadership presentation to be made at a conference, a press release announcing a new milestone or product, an email newsletter to sales leads, a piece of communication aimed at sparking a conversation or changing behaviour, anything. My job is to ensure that whatever goes out lands well and isn’t just seen as information, but a story about an organisation that truly cares about people and does the most to show it.
How do I know this? I think I’ve just been fortunate to hear new colleagues talk glowingly about how they saw what Avon do when they were on the outside. Every bit of engagement, be it a comment, testimonial, share, email, etc., that I see, tells me all I need to know about how the work I do is being seen.
Sure, there are challenges. I often go home on Friday with a silent prayer that nothing offends any of our members because a negative comment online just might mean that my weekend is over and I have to mop up. There are moments where I’m just stuck, staring at my laptop for hours, waiting for the right words or content idea. It happens but it’s the life I chose, we move.
In all, wins, losses, struggles and everything else considered, I love my job. Four years in, I feel there’s still so much more I look forward to doing and learning. There’s still a lot of ground to cover and while some days might be tough, I cling to the fact that what I do helps my company make a difference in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. And really, that’s enough for me.
Beautifully written Deoye! And straight from the heart too. Thank you for all you do!!!
Thank you so much ma.