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JUMP Magazine: Issue one
JUMP is Econsultancy's multichannel magazine in support of the multichannel event, JUMP. In this first issue of JUMP Magazine we focus on a number of areas that will help you to join up your business, including why brands should launch print catalogues and magazines, how to track inbound telephone calls with web analytics, emerging multichannel job roles, and why retailers need multichannel returns policies.
Head of Digital, Regions at ThirtyThree
10 August 2009 09:21am
We tried to recruit a Head of Digital Media for the National Trust (salary c. £50k – based Swindon) recently and it didn’t go so well. We had a decent response in terms of numbers, but not as many as we hoped, and a few good applicants declined their invitation to interview, and we don’t know why. Does anyone have a view on this? Would anyone consider applying to this job? If not, why not?
We just want to try and get a bit of feedback from industry types and a feel for how the job / the Trust / the salary level / the location may be perceived.
We did advertise it on this website. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Mark
Technical Project Manager (MBA, MBCS, CITP, CEng) at Naxtech.com
10 August 2009 09:48am
Hi Mark,
if you send me the spec I'll be glad to give you some feedback.
regards,
Denis
www.naxtech.com
Managing Director at 70 Fathoms
11 August 2009 14:43pm
That's odd. It's hard to get people to move, for fear of going somewhere uncertain but wouldn't think that issue applies to the NT. Likewise... perhaps something odd in the job spec.
Integrated Marketing Consultant at Personal
11 August 2009 17:10pm
Hi Mark - I'd be interested in receiving the role spec.
From the outline you've given I suspect the main obstacles might be:
I think the role spec may shed more light so please do send that on - very happy to offer more detailed feedback.
Best - Sanjit
13 August 2009 19:07pm
Hi Mark
I noticed this role - great brand (I'm a life member), right sort of salary for me, overall a good career move....but in reading the description found it was a BIG job!
I think the key issue is where is this person going to come from? If I remember correctly the role managed a team of 20-25? That's a big step up in management skills and strategic experience, given the level of salary. The sort of jobs I'm looking at cover one element of a 'Head of' role (e.g. Online Marketing) with maybe 3-4 reports and these jobs pay, £40-50k. The NT job would be a big step up but this would't be reflected in the salary.
To me, this is such an important job for the NT and its so important that you get the right person - you need to be paying another £20k. I know it's a charity, and likely to put other Senior Manager noses out of joint, but £50k in my mind is a false economy.
Hope this helps
James
CEO at Econsultancy
17 August 2009 16:41pm
Hi Mark
Haven't looked into it in any great detail but I suspect it is partly the location (Swindon) but mostly the salary.
As has been pointed out, if this was a serious role, taken seriously by the client, then it would be at least £70k and probably more.
In retail terms the National Trust is a pretty major player I imagine and so the potential with the website (members, sales etc.) is *huge* - tens of millions worth I'd guess if you look at it globally. So is the role only worth £50k.
To put it in perspective I was talking to an agency recently who are looking for a client services director to head up one of their accounts and the basic is £160k with OTE of £250k. Client-side typically pay less but I think you still need to be aiming for OTE of six figures. Or you need to downgrade the job / responsibilities.
18 August 2009 10:36am
Its in Swindon... seems pretty obvious to me .-)
Integrated Marketing Consultant at Personal
18 August 2009 11:11am
I think the previous comment is a little 'off-message' - we're discussing the role proposed by the National Trust (NT). The NT have state-of-the-art offices in Swindon and are a major local employer known for their enlightened employment practice. Besides the NT, there are many major employers in the area and Swindon is indisputably an economic hub for that part of the country, with knock-on effects on property prices and salary expectations.
CEO at SciVisum.co.uk
21 August 2009 16:23pm
If "a few good applicants declined their invitation to interview" then the question is why they applied, and then dropped out.
What new info did they receive? What level of contact did they get? Was there a meaningful phone call; or just an invite to interview out of the blue?
SEO Manager at Amnesia Razorfish
30 August 2009 06:59am
Having lived in the London and still knowing a lot of people, i think it would likely fallback to the location of the job. Ive known friends who could have moved to Glascow or Edinburgh for a better paying job turn it down because its not London.
I also agree that if they can get 70k in London why move out to Swindon, you might also be targetting a younger crowd that want to live somewhere exciting. Im sure if you approached more established/family orientated staff it Swindon might be a more suitable match.