Astoundingly Dull Question

[Flagg]

Apologies for this one but I thought a few of you out there might have a few pointers on this one. I'm currently writing out an application form for a new job. Two of the questions are driving me fucking crazy so I'll put it to you:

Describe your skills in:
1 - Reading the Business Picture
2 - Commercial Awareness.

Now I know I have those skills but what the fuck is the difference between the two?! Does the fact that I'm asking this mean I'm wrong for the job?! What?! Help!

 

[Silverlily]

Ok, keep in mind I a. do not know what job you are applying for, b. have a background in retail and service industry, and c. just woke up.

They're are two different things. 1. refers to the company while 2. refers to the product or service it provides.

My guess is Reading the Business Picture has to do with understanding how your department fits into the company big picture. Also, how your company stacks up against competitors and what are the internal and external influences on how business is done.

Comercial Awareness, again a guess, has to do with product or service knowlege. How it is doing compared to predictions, what changes are necessary to keep it marketable, what trends are going to influence the consumer.

Don't feel bad about not knowing what was meant. Most people don't like forms primarily because they are written for the general public and subsequently are clear to no one.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

 

[Cheyenne]

Ok, keep in mind I a. do not know what job you are applying for, b. have a background in retail and service industry, and c. just woke up...

They're are two different things. 1. refers to the company while 2. refers to the product or service it provides.

Ditto what she said. Except I would have guessed that the Reading the Business Picture was at the next level up- how the Business compares to the industry it is in and the business market place as a whole. But I'm not in retail/service industry and definitely not a marketing type person, so I could be way off on that.

 

[Mortto56]

Flagg!

I'm not a business person by any means,but what I get out of it is this:

1)..Reading the Business Picture=
Having an overall veiw of how a company does business.If they provide a service or a product,and how they market their service or product.
Being able to see what trends are out in the market,and being able to direct your business to accommodate your customers in a quick and timely fashion.

2)..Commercial Awareness= Knowing the product or service the company has,and being able to change curtain aspects of it to make it more desireable to the customer.
Being able to see what niche of people your product or service would fit into.
And last but not least,looking at the competition to see how you can make your product or service more attractive to your customers.

Well thats my opinion anyway.
Good luck on the job.

 

[Deborah]

This is an astoundingly dull question.

But very good answer Kitten Eyes.

Regarding "Reading the Business Picture" and the "external influences" Kitten Eyes mentioned, those of considerable importance are things like the stock market, interest rates and what the government might do. For example, the strategic oil reserve issue hit the front page of every paper over here Friday. What Congress does, what the EPA does and who is elected President will likely have great impact on the "business picture."

Flagg, why do they ask shit like this when you are applying for a job as an exotic dancer in drag?

 

[Deborah]

Cheyenne, I didn't see what you posted when I posted. After I saw you posted, you'll never guess what came to mind. Right, Magic. LOL!

Now, speaking of "Commercial Awareness," Carson Products Co. is pretty lame in that regard in my opinion. I visited their web site which you provided. It sure looks like they cater specifically to just a small segment of the market with their Magic. If they only knew.

I'm beginning to get the "Business Picture" here. Flagg is applying for a job as an exotic dancer in drag, one who uses Magic. Talk about an innovative method to market a product!

 

[Cheyenne]

Good point. Just waking up myself, I wasn't thinking about Magic. But it is a good example. They have a much larger market than their target market and they aren't taking advantage of it. I still think the reason for that is probably 1) lawsuits in case someone leaves Magic on their pussy for 20 minutes - 30 minutes and 2) that it wouldn't be socially acceptable to actually advertise a product to make your pussy bare! Except maybe in adult stores.

 

[Expertise]

Flagg these are current "catch phrases". The definitions of which are based on both the context of the question and the business you are in.

Reading the Business Picture and Commercial Awareness are almost interchangeable in some regards. They usually refer to external (to the entity) situations/factors.

Reading the Business picture can refer to your companies relationship to the market, to an other company, another company's relationship to the market.

Commercial Awareness tends to be more macro in nature but along the same line as the above.

I realize this is a vague and not particularly helpfull response but it is the best I can do without more info.

I'll send you my e-mail if you want to enlighten me a little more. With more info I might possibly be of more assistance.

 

[Weird Harold]

Two of the questions are driving me fucking crazy so I'll put it to you:

Describe your skills in:
1 - Reading the Business Picture
2 - Commercial Awareness.

When in doubt, show confidence. Answer both "I'm the best you're going to find."