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The title says it all, doesn’t it? Now, I feel like this could be a rant-esque post, so I will do my best to neutralize my thoughts. That being said, this is another gripe I have with my peers in their early/mid-20s here in New York City. I am of the belief that there is a stigma around working in NYC, which only makes the younger crowd more and more eager to prove themselves to one another. Yes, I say this as part of that younger crowd as I too was guilty (and sometimes still am) of what I am about to complain about.
Let me start by saying that in my eyes, outside of a Doctor, Lawyer and Teacher (few more but I can’t think of it off the top of my head) almost every job is a sales role. You are selling something to another party whether it’s inside or outside of your company. This is subject to change, but I’m a year and a half in and that’s the hill I will die on for now.
I go out to bars with a few of my friends every so often, as young professionals do, and I’ve talked to those with varying job descriptions. Despite how different the professions may be, there is one underlying theme among them all: whatever they are doing as a first or second year analyst/employee/associate/whatever title the person wants to give themselves at a particular company is vastly less important than they are making it out to be.
There are a few exceptions… Like those running successful start ups, those who have created apps or those doing genuine, proven, tangible groundbreaking work for whatever industry in which they are involved.
I do understand it is in human nature and part of this millennial culture to paint yourself in a more important light. But it is time we recognize what is happening here, and that is the first step to correcting this offense.
What I am trying to say here is that it is such a rare occurrence that someone our age is doing something of genuine note that this generalization will hold true in almost all cases. That, and anyone with real money will not be attending the establishments I frequent. AND I attend the bars that may or may not cater to a douchier, self-important demographic.
A typical conversation with someone at a particular bar in Murray Hill or Lower East Side will consist of said parties exchanging names to begin, then will obviously ask each other what they do, respectively. Then the fun begins. This person has never met the other so it is time to tell them that their job at an ad agency isn’t a glorified, cold-calling sales role. No, no, no. Their job at said agency is one that speaks to top executives at top consumer companies and is actually quite rewarding!
The only problem with this? The person you are talking to has a similar job… in a similar capacity… at a similar age… Which means one thing… They know what you’re spewing at them is pure bullshit. Yet, it still needs to be done because in NYC it is ever important that your occupation seem better than everyone else’s.
The profession in NYC where this is most prevalent? If you’re thinking finance, you guessed correctly. Admittedly, I was once part of this problem but now realize how my beginning, and maybe even current, role is not nearly as critical as I think (hint: it isn’t).
First, they show up to social scenes in their work clothes (read: suit and tie). That is ridiculous, if you live in the city there is absolutely 0 chance that you can’t spare 40 minutes of your time to go home and change and not look like an asshole. There are special scenarios, but if you’re meeting with friends, I find it unnecessary to be wearing work attire. Second, they’ll usually drop the name of a fancy, well-known company and talk about their “deals,” “clients” and “drinks before at Lavo”.
Well, let’s break this down from my experience so far. I would be hard pressed to find any firm ever that would trust anyone my age with the responsibilities that a senior person at my firm should be trusted with. Upper management at EVERY SINGLE COMPANY knows that you know nothing and they don’t expect you to know anything. Yet when you walk into a bar and run into someone you want to impress, you know everything. “Everything” as a 23-year-old simply means the coffee and breakfast orders of everyone on your designated desk.
Further, the every day work for a junior is simply writing up thoughts to later be re-packaged by those superior to you. Or even better, getting handed a presentation and being told to fix grammatical errors or find logos of certain companies to add to the aesthetics. Regardless, at this level you are doing the bitch-work that is later to be a small part of your boss’s important pitch to his genuine clients.
Oh, and those free client drinks that they’re bragging about? If they are one or two years in, odds are they say maybe two words throughout the conversation with aforementioned clients. The real business talk at these events is for the grown-ups, not the 23-year-old who knows squat.
These events usually consist of standing next to your boss, waiting for a topic you know a little bit about, saying one thing and praying you don’t sound dumb. They may occasionally tell you that you’re lucky to be so young and living in the city, and then you can tell them a story or two. But for the most part, it is just standing there and trying to decipher their business talk. If you go to an event and there is another person your age, that’s best case scenario because you can both be dumb together.
Finally, some of the people you meet through work, especially on the client-side, are going to be insufferable. They are on the buy-side, they want you to prove yourself to them and some of them are quite blunt and rude about it. Ass-kissing and shmoozing are part of it, and let me tell you, it sucks sometimes.
So if you’re intimidated by that girl or guy that said their job is super important and they talk to top people at top companies… don’t be, because 9.9/10 times what they are feeding you is a crock of lies.
Maybe this prompts you to take a step back and wonder if you’re guilty of this. Maybe you’re reading this calling me a dumbass for even writing it. To some of you this may be obvious, but it is comforting to have it in writing, isn’t it?.
Image via YouTube
Respond
It’s 10:15 on Wednesday, and I’ve done maybe 2 hours of work since Monday morning. Has anyone noticed? Nope.
Same, but I’m on track to finish my novel so who cares
I meant reading one, not writing one.
Kindle Cloud Reader
3PM Update: I have been no more productive.
I hear you. There’s an hour left in the work day and I’ve spent most of my time here at work studying for a licensing exam so that I can quit this job and make actual money.
Everyone still needs maps.
@MarcoPolo
How goes one get into cartography?
I stumbled into a geography degree. GIS and cartography was the logical career progression.
One usually goes to school for it. Also check the Reddit postgradpoliticing, DC group is organizing another meet up.
where’s the best place to buy a nice framed map for the office
I know my job isn’t important, and I’m totally okay with that.
Advertising/Marketing/PR professionals are some of the most self-important people out there. Many honestly believe they’re somehow changing the world for the better, especially on the creative side, by “giving a voice to the downtrodden people of America” or some bullshit.
One of my colleagues – an individual who epitomizes the very worst of the millennial stereotype – thinks he’s waging a war against the elites or social conservatives or some other imaginary baddie.
Hey, asshole, you’re writing banner copy for a managed IT solutions provider that targets SMBs owned by Baby Boomers who don’t know any better — you’re not the hero, you’re the bad guy. How about showing up before 10 AM some day? And instead of bingeing Sex in the City at your desk “while your creative juices get warmed up,” why not do something worthy of a paycheck?
/rant
I used to work in marketing and I could tell that most of the people I worked with liked marketing because it’s seen as a glamorous field. Really though, there’s nothing glamorous about the vast majority of marketing jobs. I haven’t worked in a big agency so I can’t comment on that but I’m assuming it’s not that similar to Mad Men.
Hill staffers are the worst.
I am one. Can confirm.
@realDonaldTrump
When I was 22 I wanted to feel important. Now I just want to grind it out and go to happy hour.
Care if I tag along?
HMU when youre in D.C.!
I work for Dr Pepper in Texas…My job is needed here.
As a fellow Texan, I sincerely thank you for your service.
Thinking that your job is important. PGP.
This sums 90% of my DC bar experiences.
I can’t decide what’s worse: the Hill try-hards or the people who are entry level at nonprofits who act like their work (typically office management) is literally curing cancer and anyone who works for the private sector is the worst.
You mean all those consultants AREN’T that important?
Seriously, consultants can be so insufferable about their self-importance sometimes.
This explains why I left DC and moved to baltimore
Exactly- I go up to Baltimore a few times a month to go out with college friends and have a more chill bar experience. Plus Camden > Nats park.
We’ve got a Baltimore PGP groupme going if you’re looking to find out the latest happy hour meet ups.
Baltimore PGPer here, add me!
My IG is on my profile send me some contact info and I’ll toss you in the groupme. We got a brunch planned for this weekend
Yes please, my ig should be on my pgp profile.
One of the reasons I love Philly. As long as you avoid certain after work drink spots (which are sufferably filled with 30k millionaires) you never need to interact with these types
Can confirm 1000%. Tons of people from college ended up in NYC and became so self-righteous about their jobs/city. Philly grew on me largely because of the friends I’ve made here and their more carefree attitudes
Justin’s Cafe in navy yard is pretty chill and has a great HH. It’s also 1 block from my apartment so I’m pretty biased based on location.
Worked and then went to grad school in DC. It’s your choice where to hang out. I don’t understand why you’d spend your time hanging around people you don’t like. Why not go somewhere else? Honest question. If you really hate those experiences so much, why not buy a six pack and go watch the planes take off? Or sit at the Mall? I have very little free time so I just can’t fathom spending it doing something I don’t like.
Surprisingly, even as a lawyer, you have to be able to nail sales as well. If you’re on the private practice side, the only guaranteed way to make partner is to have a big book of business. The shmoozing skills required to get that book have surprisingly overlapped with sales for me so far.
Came here to say that too. Selling yourself and your practice is a big part of moving up, other than the actual practice.
Exactly. The days of the service partner are over, and it’s client development is only vaguely lumped into discussions of “networking” when you’re in school or a young associate.