EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Jack Haley

John: Today, we have Jack Haley, one of our most senior writers. How long have you been here, Jack?

Jack: I think we’re coming up on my two-year anniversary in a couple of days.

John: That’s great. So, why did you first join Vyral Marketing?

Jack: Well, I’d heard about an open position after college in 2014. I’d majored in Journalism and Advertising, so I was looking for something along those lines. It was tough looking for jobs, they all wanted people with at last two or three years of experience. However, Allison McMickell is my cousin and she managed to get me an interview here with you. The rest is history.

John: Excellent. Now you’re one of about 20 people that worked in the old office. What were your first impressions of working here?

Jack: Well, it was definitely not what I was expecting. I didn’t even know which building to walk into. The only thing I saw on the door was a sign that said, “This is not Vector Marketing.” When I walked in, it was one big room, it was super casual and people were wearing flip flops and shorts. It was casual and professional at the same time.

John: Alright and that was about two years ago. So why are you still at Vyral?

Jack: Good question. I like what I do and I like being able to stay with the company since it has grown. I’ve learned a lot about how to grow a business, and not just about copywriting. It’s been a well-rounded education for me.

John: In terms of your mindset, you came right out of college and probably thought businesses operated in certain ways and that you had to act in a certain way. Have you had any breakthroughs in the way that you think?

Jack: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is that I took things too personally. I’ve learned that it makes no sense to get offended by someone trying to help me do something better. We all have the same goals and we’re all trying to get to the same place.

John: In terms of your friends who are out in the workforce, what makes your job different than some of your friends’ jobs? What makes Vyral different?

Jack: I think a lot of it has to do with the freedom that we get here. They always have someone looking over their shoulder and breathing down their neck. I can go at my own pace and make sure that I’m getting everything done well and correctly.

John: What could we be doing better as a company?

Jack: People touch on the training a lot, and I agree. There isn’t much structure to it. I enjoyed my training and it did prepare me well, but it was kind of a baptism by fire. It worked then, but it might not as we get bigger and bigger.

John: How about the other employees here? Do you enjoy working with everyone?

Jack: Compared to my other jobs, these are my favorite coworkers. Everyone is pretty much the same age, so it’s really cohesive. We all understand each other and we know how to have fun while working professionally. I’ve never run into anyone that I don’t like to work with.

John: Okay, and what are some of your favorite memories while working here?

Jack: One that I was thinking about is my first Friday of working here. At the old office, we worked right next to the VIP Lounge, and the guys working here invited me to come along. It’s an old dive, with leather recliners and sofas, and they had a free buffet with Swedish meatballs and chips and whatnot. It was nice to socialize with coworkers in a social setting, and that was when I knew that this was a place that I could work at.

John: Now this might be a little more difficult, but have you ever done something where you’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from a coach or a client?

Jack: Yeah, some of our real estate nurture emails have gotten good responses from clients. We’ve been forwarded a lot of emails from happy clients, and luckily we get more emails about them being happy than upset with our work. I think that’s a good sign.

John: A lot of people that are thinking about working here will be watching this, so what do you tell those people?

Jack: I’d say that if it intrigues you, take the leap. This is a unique place to work. You have the freedom to make decisions and suggest changes that change our business. Upper management will listen to you. Multiple people here have had the opportunity to go off and start side businesses. That experience is invaluable and you can’t do that anywhere else.

John: So what kind of person should not work at Vyral?

Jack: Probably a loner that doesn’t like to work in groups. Everyone here is on a team and we have to coordinate with one another. If you don’t like working with other people, you probably shouldn’t work here. You probably shouldn't have a job in marketing either.

John: Alright, that’s it, Jack, thanks!

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