Great anti job-description. Almost makes me want to apply.

I want to hire people who state their ideas using positive language

Well, it's always interesting to hear what people think about marketing people. With this much insight into what you don't want it sounds like you're the best marketing person in your company. Maybe you should be doing the marketing and should get someone else to do your job.

Ex-Market Development, Product Marketing, Business Development and General Marketing person who now lives in Hawaii and is thinking about moving back to the BA. I guess I should just stay put.

Kirk

Not sure if I should comment, having applied to your firm, but here goes anyway.

First, always and never (like the title of your posting) are not marketing words at all.  They are for people who are content with the way things have always been done; people who don't take risks.  There's no place for that in marketing.  I'd rather implement a bad tactic and revisit it than do nothing because I was paralyzed by the fear that it wouldn't be perfect.

Second, brand is important.  Many, many companies succeed with mediocre products because of the strength of their brand.  Think of GE, Honeywell, and Ford -- no one would say that their whole portfolio consists of kick-butt products, but customers are comfortable buying them because of brand.  Brand is a component of the overall message and helps sell the organization while your USPs sell the product.  Hell yes the word is misused, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.

Third, you are totally right about knowing markets.  Research is a component of that, but nothing substitutes for being close to the customer.  Keeping marketing locked in a room at the factory just assures that products won't meet real customer needs and won't be successful.

Last, many would treasure a role where they could focus on just one thing and be successful.  But that's not the way business is.  Multitasking isn't a bad thing, but it devolves into schizophrenia without a clear understanding of priority.  When smart folks know what's important, they'll work on the right things at the right times.

And, in case you can't tell, I have no problem telling others how I feel.  Hey, that's an obligation of a professional employee, in marketing or any where else.  If an organization has a culture that stifles respectful disagreement, then it's neither a healthy organization nor a productive work environment.

Your thought in posting this was probably to engage in conversation exchange...maybe? But have you considered the damage and negative PR you've created as an unintended consequence for posting lists like this one?

I would like to think that most professionals out there who are hiring for a Director level position (or any position within their company for that matter) could do so with grace, poise and professionalism, rather than posting a list of all the qualities you don't want in a person. Do you honestly think that will make people WNAT to apply AND work for you?

Your HR ads are full of arrogance. Try a little more information on what your firm is about, the qualities you are seeking, WHY Jive Software is a great place to work , write it in compelling language, and place another ad for the Director position.

Just a suggestion.