What's the biggest misconception people have about your job?

Question

Hi, I’m David!

As a founder, people often think I can work whenever I want, assuming I’m on vacation all the time. In reality, it’s a lot of day to day problem-solving that needs constant attention, much more than people realize ;) Passion for what you do sometimes means staying long hours!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and struggles when explaining your role to others!

Milica Begović · Accepted Answer

Hi David! I've heard people talk about founders like that, it's kind of crazy that they would think like that :D
In marketing, there are quite a few misconceptions, too. Here are my personal favorites:
1. Marketing and advertising are the same - on top of that, people think we write copy, nap&drink all day as if we are recreating Mad Men.
2. Marketing is easy - people who think they can do it on their own, so they don't hire professionals
3. ChatGPT does all our work - just no with a face slap on the side
4. In marketing, each day is the same - our days are pretty versatile and there's always a new challenge to face, especially in SaaS

Natalia Toth · Answer

@milica_begovic the 'marketing is easy' part hits me hard, too!

Answer

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about HR is that we only handle hiring and firing. In reality, our role is much broader and more strategic.

Natalia Toth · Answer

'Marketing is easy'

Arindam Vaidya · Answer

I am a GTM guy, I have heard people say it's backend sales :D

Olivia Jane Mitchell · Answer

Definitely. People often think HR is just about enforcing policies and procedures. But we actually play a key strategic role in shaping company culture, developing talent, and driving employee engagement and performance. HR can have a huge impact on the overall success of the organization when done right.

David Patrykowski · Answer

@milica_begovic I also have my fair share of work in marketing and I completely agree!

Mia Charlotte Anderson · Answer

People often think HR just deals with hiring, firing, and boring paperwork. But we actually do a ton of strategic work partnering with different departments, analyzing workforce data to identify gaps and opportunities, developing programs to boost employee engagement and retention, ensuring fair and equitable treatment, and aligning HR initiatives with overall business goals. It's way more than just processing new hire paperwork (though we do that too)!

Answer

The biggest misconception about being a software developer? That I just type a few lines of code and boom—the app magically works. In reality, it's more like writing code, watching everything break, spending hours on Google, and then fixing something that wasn't even the problem in the first place!

Answer

Thinking this is a very prestigious job, but in reality it's all a bunch of strawmen

Answer

As a marketer I think a lot of people assume it's just social media work and influencers. It's the "prettiest" part of marketing maybe but there is actually a lot of strategising, budgeting etc. going into it as well

Answer

The biggest misconception people have about my job is that it's purely technical and lacks creativity. While there's a strong emphasis on logic and data, much of the work involves creative problem-solving, communication, and adapting to diverse tasks. People often overlook the need for adaptability, empathy, and collaboration when working with different user needs and scenarios. https://luxseniorcare.com/

What's the biggest misconception people have about your job?

Replies