With workplace norms rapidly changing and ever-advancing technology, competition for talent is escalating. And, for some companies, overall growth is, too. A survey by Vistage found that while some of these growth expectations are fueled by new offices or marketing efforts, high-growth companies (those that achieved 10 percent or greater revenue growth last year and forecast 10 percent or greater growth this year) are making larger investments in innovation.
To thrive at a high growth organization, it’s important to understand how this work experience differs as compared to say, working at a long-established global enterprise.
So how do you know if a high-growth, client services company (like InfoTrust) is right for your next career move?
Stay Nimble, Pick a Passion, and Keep It Cool
“High-growth means you’ll have a fast-paced environment—that’s for sure,” says Jimmy Love, Health and Fitness Industry Team Lead. “But it also is exciting. There’s never a dull moment and it flexes your agility muscle. You’ve got to be prepared for anything and have a hunger to learn—which comes with the ability to make both a difference and an impact for your clients and their organizations.”
Love added that there’s always new technology, platforms, and data trends to understand but gaining this knowledge is for the betterment of your skillset and the betterment of your team at InfoTrust. Because part of InfoTrust’s responsibility as an organization is to be on the cutting-edge of Google’s product development, clients expect digital transformation and expertise. (Most InfoTrust consultants usually have between three and eight clients each.)
“With this new knowledge comes the opportunity to explain complex topics to a variety of audiences—from technical individuals to executives,” Love says. “You’ve got to be prepared for a curveball or challenging question at any time.”
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got to know #allthethings. Pick something you are passionate about and grow that area of expertise—and for the topics you aren’t as familiar with, be quick to ask for help from your teammates. InfoTrust prides itself on having a collaborative, team environment. If you don’t know the answer to a question, chances are someone else does.
“You’ll need to be able to stay calm under pressure and keep your wits about you,” Industry Team Lead Melanie Bowles says. “Take responsibility for communication and tell the client that you heard them and that you are finding a solution—even if you don’t know what it is right then.”
Loose Structure, No Problem
If your preference is for most workdays to be predictable, a high-growth company like InfoTrust probably isn’t for you.
D2C Strategist and Team Lead Courtney Fenstermaker says that a role at InfoTrust is best suited for someone who enjoys variety and requires independent personality types.
“We’re looking for someone who is ‘process-friendly’—they like to use process as a framework, but don’t only rely on process to get work done. You’ve got to be a solution-oriented person and comfortable with autonomy to make decisions,” she says.
While InfoTrust offers a large amount of flexibility, the high-growth environment means processes and documentation are quickly adapting and updating to meet the needs of the team. Each client has their own set of needs and you’ve got to be good at context switching (talking to multiple clients in a single day). And, that includes across time zones. Because InfoTrust is a global company with clients across the world, the team sometimes chats with individuals outside normal working hours to accommodate those time zone differences.
“The truth is, growth companies simply aren’t structure-oriented,” CEO Alex Yastrebenetsky adds. “We want people who appreciate growth, but we’re all wired differently. If you value certainty above everything else, we’re probably not going to be a good match because there isn’t certainty about everything in a growing organization. That being said, people who like variety will flourish.”
Having a Growth Mindset
Working at a high-growth/client service company can be extremely rewarding. It means consistently learning, improving, and keeping up-to-date with ever-evolving technology.
“Our work is hard, but worth it,” Yastrebenetsky says. “When you build relationships with clients, you often end up feeling like part of their team and not just a vendor on the sidelines.”
And, it’s important to remember that many team members at InfoTrust don’t have an analytics-only background. Some began their careers in marketing, development, UX, etc. No matter the responsibility, having that deep knowledge gained from previous roles is able to be woven into an analytics strategy and can be utilized with clients.
“Having skills like the ability to prioritize when there are multiple requests; staying accountable and taking extreme ownership of projects and communication; task management and others will make the world of difference,” Bowles says. “You’ve got to be curious—and truly want to know more.”
As a company, InfoTrust always strives to be better. Listening to feedback and implementing it is just one of the reasons employees value working at a high-growth company like ours. InfoTrust’s continuing mission to be a “best place to work” has resulted in a few notable recognitions beyond Best Employers in Ohio, with the company being named to the following lists: Ad Age Best Places to Work, Inc. Best Workplaces, and Fortune Best Small and Medium Workplaces.
And, Love adds, that growth isn’t just about what you’re doing for yourself. The organization continues to hold its core values of impact, ownership, diversity, respect, growth, and innovation at the center of its company culture. InfoTrust has a strong drive to always move forward to innovate and improve, and makes sure our people have the time to do that. This is why our digital analyst consultants spend 85-90 percent of their time on client work and the remaining 10-15 percent on learning and trying out new ideas. By leaning outside of client work, you’ll be challenged to think differently and strategically. This “free thinking” time is where the real change is made.
“InfoTrust employees aren’t just focused on getting better, but rather still involve themselves in giving back to the community,” he says. “Our leadership isn’t interested in selling us to a bigger company. We’re growing for the right reasons—to build a positive community culture and to give back to that community that has helped us with our mantra of ‘give to grow.’”
Does InfoTrust sound like a good match for you and a great place to thrive? Check out our careers page and find an open job. We can’t wait to chat with you.
