And Carrie On

One of my favorite parts about higher education marketing is the community. Acquaintances become friends and sometimes even family.

We learn from one another, have a place to get honest feedback, and can get advice. Because our work at the leadership level can be lonely, this aspect of our work is meaningful and important.

This summer, I was having a conversation with Matthew Gann (follow him if you haven’t!). He asked me a random question…

What are your non-negotiables in a job offer for you to consider?

I had never thought about it before, and it’s a conversation I will keep with me because it has value. Much like I tell people when talking about leadership, you have to know yourself first before you can lead others, it’s important to know what matters to you when considering positions. This will help you suss out whether a potential opportunity is a fit, outside of the more transactional aspects of compensation and ability.

I also think this same set of non-negotiables could help you determine when it’s time to begin looking for a new opportunity, that perhaps you’ve accomplished what you set out to do at your organization.

After this conversation, I started thinking about what my non-negotiables are. In the process, I realized these are the exact reasons I love my current institution so much, and why it’s such a fit for this season of life.

Four Non Negotiables for Me

1. Not a yes person – I want to work with a leader who wants my expertise as a marketing and communications professional. Authenticity is a core value for me, so it is important to have a place where it’s safe to offer a different perspective, especially if I think there’s an aspect that hasn’t been considered. I see my role as a trusted advisor, so I want to be in a place where there’s enough trust that the leader knows I will offer the perspective, but I will still support their decision and not undermine if it’s different.
2. Reasonable budget – Marketing work can be expensive, and I want to work with a leader who understands this and is willing to help champion resources when needed. I am a huge proponent of optimizing, targeting, and repurposing as a way to stretch resources. However, to do the work well, investment is needed. As such, I want to work at a place where the leader is willing to champion this, even if they are not there on day one.
3. Organizational vision – I want a leader who knows what the end game is and what success looks like to them. As higher education professionals, there are so many critical facets to our work including workforce, community engagement, strategic planning, and enrollment, just to name a few. Having a leader understand what makes sense as institutional priorities matters. In my opinion, having this vision for the organization helps everything from being a priority, which ultimately means nothing is a priority. I’m not looking to have a priority du jour.
4. Eager campus culture – Finally, the people at the place matter so much! I want to be at a place where people are looking to grow, want to try new things, and are open to partnering in new ways. I say eager because I am a collaborator at heart, and I want to be at a place where there is a willingness to collaborate and improve. Additionally, I’m a “fixer” by nature, and if there’s something that needs to be addressed, I want to be at a place where the campus is committed to figuring it out.

Your Thoughts

As you reflect, what are the non-negotiables for you? I would love to hear your thoughts and keep the conversation going.