So yes, I'm still on the job hunt. Recently I've been working through an agency that specializes in placing marketing creative types. It's been okay so far, they're very supportive and kind. The wait has been very frustrating more than anything. Being unproductive is what's been killing me.
I've purposely removed the names of the people involved and the company at hand due to tentative pending legal action and advice from my recruiter.
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Last Monday, my recruiter told me about a position that was open near me for a beauty company that was seeking a Social Media Coordinator. I was stoked! The position started the day after and they reviewed my resume, references, and portfolio. Supposedly they were impressed.
I went in that Tuesday, showed up nearly 45 minutes early, wearing a professional dress with coiffed hair and subtle yet fresh makeup. With my backpack packed ready to start a new adventure in a field I had been dreaming of, my excitement was following me as I took the elevator up to the 17th floor of this beautiful building.
The recuriter who met me had a short meeting with the man and woman who had "hired" me. After the recuriter left I was escorted back to this small office with the man and woman. They set me up at this new desktop right next to a window which had the most beautiful view of inland Orange County. The woman interviewed me shortly asking about my experience and whatnot. She seemed impressed and asked me to draw up a social media plan only giving me the website address, instagram name, and facebook link on a post it note.
I opened up my laptop and desktop and began working on an organized and intensive social media review and plan for this company. Utilizing my Google Analytics tools and other social media measurement tools, I did the best I could with what I had and felt confident with the review and plan I had drawn up in Google Drive.
1 pm rolled around...that was the time I was scheduled to work too on my first day. The people who had "hired" me were at a meeting the whole day and even stopped by with the lead international director of this company. I mean, things had felt great up until this moment when I was about to leave and told the woman, who was the marketing director, that I would take more time and explain the whole plan to her the following day.
But, she asked me to explain it to her then. I figured she was so impressed after screening it and telling me "You really know what you're doing, huh?". It made my heart glow so I went into detail and explained the whole thing. She asked me to share it...with "contact@(insert company name).com" and within seconds of me sharing my plan, she informed me:
"We actually haven't hired you yet. We are going to have to review and talk with Reha and we'll let you know soon."
I was dumbfounded. Absolutely dumbfounded.
Right away, as soon as I stepped outside, I called my recruiter and even she was confused. She said that she was sure that this was a permanent hire position. All afternoon her and her colleagues attempted to reach these people. (Who, might I add, I saw leaving the building 10 minutes after I walked out, and they were carrying all their files and laptops and whatnot).
It took a day to hear that these people are now across the globe and will be for the better part of a month. They're around the globe with my social media plan, my hard work and resources. Sure, my agency paid me, but that's not the point.
The point was, I was idea fished. I was robbed and lied too. Now there's a big cosmetic accessory that is going to most likely benefit under my plan and idea and I'll have no credit to it. The heartbreak that happened here....it's just frustrating. This is what artists must feel like when they're ripped off and their images are taken. But I don't even know how to fight this? I can't prove visually that their productivity is my work. I'm just....I don't know.
I'm working with a client right now who wants to use another person known for stealing off of freelancers. I was going to go with the plan, because I was sure that this person would respect the entity they were answering too and I would be protected by this entity whom I had formed a bond with earlier, but now, I don't know. I have nightmares of people taking credit for my work and even though I have a small business umbrella, how do I protect myself and my work?
Anyway, I'll figure it all out. Have you ever been idea-fished? Not been given professional credit? Guised?
Let me know below. I'd like to know and see how we can all work through these learning experiences together!
