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Ask an MLB Executive

Number 6 Jan 19 2009 11:04 PM

So, let's say, theoretically of course, that you somehow landed a surprise interview with a honcho in marketing and licensing at MLB tomorrow. And let's assume for a moment that you care about marketing and licensing, as I do (though, admittedly, the main draw is MLB). At the end of the interview, he asks if you have any questions. What do you ask?

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2009 05:49 AM

This confused me at first -- I thought you were talking about an interview in the sense that a journalist would do one, but you're talking about a job interview! I thought, wouldn't I have been asking questions all along?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2009 07:21 AM

When do I start? (more later)

Edgy DC Jan 20 2009 07:50 AM

This Mets deal with Citi --- are you concerned that the logo creep could further degrade your product? Pooling brand licensing marketing and revenues --- how do you keep Congress from cracking down on anti-competitive behavior like that? Do you worry that dressing guys up in seven uniforms in order to have seven looks to sell is starting to make the players look clownish? I should just show myself out, shouldn't I?

metirish Jan 20 2009 08:03 AM

In the future do you see sponsors names on shirts like they do in other sports notably European football or as you call it soccerball?

Number 6 Jan 20 2009 11:26 AM

Yes, it is indeed a job interview. Well, it's a job interview despite the fact that there's no actual job, just more an "impress me and we'll see what happens" kinda thing. Edgy, those are great questions. They might be tough, but they're fair. It depends on the openness of the honcho, but I may try digging into the second one a bit, especially. Thanks for your thoughts. metirish, I got a good laugh out of soccerball. Thanks.

attgig Jan 20 2009 12:00 PM

Whenever they ask if i have any questions for job interviews, i ask about the intangibles. Things that I can't figure out from websites and newspapers. things about the corporate culture, where they see the group contributes to the overall company's vision, the coworkers and people they work with, and what people do for a good time if you get that far. It's more than a job, it's 8+ hours of a day that you're dealing with these people. let them know that you're a person too and not just a machine.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2009 12:12 PM

Ask the dude what he loves most about the licensing biz and as he answers nod your head and put on a look like your being orally pleasured by this information. When he finishes talking say, "I totally agree!" I also ask what happened to the dude who used to have this job. Was he whacked? Did he leave for someplace better? Finally, remember: You always call the shots. Act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. When ordering food, find out what he wants and then order for the both of you. It's a classy move. And you can't go wrong with side 1 of Led Zeppelin IV.

Number 6 Jan 20 2009 02:49 PM

Awesome, JCL, just needs a blacklight to nail the scene. And attgig, that's definitely something I do both as an interviewer and interviewee; I make it a point to discuss culture, generally; I'm a believer in love-where-you-work (even if you don't always love-what-you-do), and the people and office culture are a huge part of that. I just returned from the meeting. It went very well. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I hit all my points soundly, and the conversation was very comfortable and fluid. Anyway, who knows what happens, nobody's hiring these days, but this was something I needed to try. Thanks all, for your suggestions (and jokes).

G-Fafif Jan 20 2009 05:04 PM

She will have the knockwurst. And a Coke. Two knockwursts, two Cokes.

Number 6 Jan 20 2009 08:25 PM

="G-Fafif":20klvipm]She will have the knockwurst. And a Coke. Two knockwursts, two Cokes.[/quote:20klvipm] Apparently there was a reference in this thread that I totally missed. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2009 08:34 PM I was doing an impression of Damone in 'Fast Times' and g-faff was doing Rat taking his advice. Number 6 Jan 20 2009 09:23 PM I was impersonating the little-known character from that film by the name of "whooosh." metsguyinmichigan Jan 21 2009 08:33 AM ="] And you can't go wrong with side 1 of Led Zeppelin IV. Side 1 of Led Zeppelin IV vs. Side 1 of Rush's "Moving Pictures" Oh, wait... John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 21 2009 08:40 AM I do hafta say that Damone's speech is pretty good, at least the part about acting like wherever you are being the place to be -- brilliant piece of advice, and definitely works with the ladies. Edgy DC Jan 21 2009 08:42 AM "Can you honestly tell me you forgot? Forgot the magnetism of Robin Zander, or the charisma of Rick Nielsen?" G-Fafif Jan 21 2009 09:02 AM Another summer at Perry's. I can't.