I read an email today and choked with surprise upon reading it. As a marketer, I felt compelled to share this with fellow marketers.

A popular job search directory hub has recently launched a "I Love My Job Photo Contest"…. The prize is a Nikon DSLR D80 camera and many other prizes".

This contest has all the usual membership drive tactics for membership recruitment purposes. And of course, you have to become a member of job search site to join the contest.

But up till here, do the above read normal to you or have you already spotted the rhetorical paradox?

What seems more like a "work life balance awareness drive", it is rather paradoxical, don’t you think that in the 1st place, if I really love my job, would I need the services of a job search directory hub … ?

And if the marketer is trying to imply that you are happy after finding a new job through the search hub and join the contest, it defeats the purpose of the recruitment drive!

This is a true life example of an unthinking marketer, who lacks in-depth understanding of his/her potential target market’s mindset and needs.

There are other more effective and rewarding marketing tactics that gives better levarge. For instance, organising Career Seminar Tie-Ups with participating MNCs or Large Locals Employers or Job-skill -Based Contests like planning and implementing a business plan etc.

I cannot stress more that as true marketers , one needs to delve deep into the needs of one’s target markets , know them thoroughly and activate appropriate marketing tactics to garner their trust.