Apr 16 2018
Fireside Chat With Market Managers and Specialists in Our Community Operations Team
By Meta Careers
Founded in 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Besides the Facebook app and Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram as well as companies like Oculus, Masquerade and CrowdTangle are also part of the Facebook family.
Thomas, Market Manager, Germany
Tell me a little about your role and team at Facebook?
I am currently managing a team of Market Specialists for the DACH market. One thing that a lot of people outside CO are always surprised about is the fact that we are much, much more than just an Operations Centre. First and foremost we really do see ourselves as user advocates and want to make Facebook a safe and fun platform to interact with family and friends. Delivering insights, designing and executing initiatives to proactively remove bad content and bad actors in close collaboration with a large variety of cross functional partners is where each and everyone can really leverage their individual strengths.
At DACH level, we played a big part during this year's launch of NetzDG (the German Network Enforcement Law) along with our partners from Public Comms and Policy. You probably don't get closer to shaping the future landscape of social media than here!
How have you found your first 8 months at Facebook?
It has been a great experience so far! I had a really engaging onboarding programme which helps you meet other Facebookers across all functions, levels and locations (I never knew there was a place called Lulea in Sweden), which means you can start to build your internal network from day one. There's also ongoing learning and development options to further your managerial career.
With so much information to digest, it was great to see how we work together as leads and beyond within Community Operations. No matter how busy everyone is you can always rely on someone to take the time to support and guide you. It definitely helped me settle in to the office and my new role, and I would like to think that I can now help other nOObs to find their bearings.
Lastly, the feedback culture really helps you grow both as a working professional and individual. If I feel I need some clarification from my manager I can openly address this, and likewise my Market Specialists certainly do not shy away from letting me know when and where they see areas of improvement which has really helped us streamline processes, close gaps and get better as a team.
As a manager in CO what is your vision for your team?
As we grow our team in size, I envision our Market Specialists being able to leverage their strengths to an even greater extent. They should become experts and go-to-persons within specific areas both within our team and across other markets. I am a strong believer that you will only be the best you can be if you are passionate about what you are doing, therefore supporting my team members in creating individual career paths is very important to me.
Talk us through a day in the life of a Manager in CO
I am a keen triathlete and my wife takes care of chauffeuring my three kids to and from school, so I usually start with a swim or run into the office in the morning. Working hours are flexible, and you also get a gym allowance which is great.
It sounds like a cliche, but there really is no day like another. Personally, I don't really like the term manager. I have no problem asking my team for advice - after all they are the experts - and do so frequently. It's really about empowering them to initiate and drive their own initiatives, and being there to support, coach or help overcome blockers when needed.
Within our group of market leads, we work closely together and meet on a frequent basis. At first sight, there are some issues or challenges which might seem market-specific, but you often find that you can take something away from other managers' ways of approaching and resolving issues. You also get the chance to contribute to and lead cross-country initiatives which prevents you from working in a market silo and gives a whole new perspective on things.
Lastly, the other big part which broadens your horizon would be the collaboration with other cross functional leads. It's great to really understand their objectives, to determine how we can use synergies, tackle challenges and grasp opportunities together!
Claudia, Market Specialist
What do you do at Facebook?
I am a Market Specialist for the German market supporting our community in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In order to continuously improve the support experience for people in our German speaking community, I collaborate with people across different teams within Facebook. These include policy, safety and other markets. I investigate account issues or reported content for potential violations to give people the power to share and help bring the world closer together.
What made you decide to relocate to Dublin and join Facebook?
I was looking for a challenging role in which I could make a change with what I do every single day.
The role as a Market Specialist gives me the opportunity to drive meaningful impact in all aspects of my work to improve Facebook and help the people in our global community. Moreover, Facebook offers fantastic opportunities for personal growth and career development to all its employees.
I truly believe that Facebook contributes to making the world a better place and that our mission to "Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together" holds a great potential for Facebook and Community Operations in the years to come.
What keeps you here?
Every day at Facebook is exciting and different as you never know what is going to happen. People have a lot of freedom to find opportunities to have an impact with their work. The general rule is, if you want to do it, do it.
What I like the most about working here is how rich Facebook is with culture and diversity. You not only get the chance to work with the smartest people you have ever worked with, you also become friends with colleagues from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
Community video
Alexander, Market Specialist
What would surprise people to learn about the Market Specialist role at Facebook?
Being a Market Specialist at Facebook gives you quite a lot of freedom to choose what you want to work on. If you identify a new challenge, have the data to back it up, you will quickly be able to find others joining you in your effort and collaborate in tackling it. We have experts in a lot of different fields and if you need support, they are always there and ready to help. A lot of our work has a real-life impact on users of Facebook. It is always very satisfying to see, not only that you can bring about great change - often within a very short time - but that users' experiences on Facebook are changed for the better. How you spend your time is mostly determined by you. You create your own schedule and priorities.
What surprised me a lot is that you are able to listen to music while working and that there is a great focus on mental as well as physical well-being. We have an ergonomics department that will help you set up your desk and give you great tips on how to improve your posture at work. Everyone has an electronically adjustable desk so you can easily switch between working while standing or sitting.
Everyone is very approachable and the department structure is relatively flat. If you would like to have a chat with a manager or director, you can just approach them. Not just Facebook, but also Community Operations is extremely diverse. You will get to work with people from all over the world, which also helps you to broaden your cultural horizons.
Sebastian, Market Specialist
What made you choose to join Facebook over other companies?
One of the most important aspects of choosing a company to start my career was the degree of internationalization. I was looking for a company that does not only operate across borders but has a diverse and international workforce. At Facebook, you can benefit from engaging with people of different cultural backgrounds and with different points of views on important issues.
What was most surprising to me when starting in my role as a Market Specialist was the enormous amount of freedom I was given in my work at Facebook. From my previous professional experience I was used to being bound to specific tasks, being limited in the number of resources, and having to overcome various roadblocks while driving projects. At Facebook, you can feel the "Move Fast" culture. Do you want to solve a problem? Let's go! You need something? You can have it!
What has been the stand out moment for you while working at Facebook?
My personal highlight during my time at Facebook was becoming the expert for the problem area bullying.
As an expert, I work with a group of people from different markets to tackle bullying. Our team work on identifying trends and behaviors so that we can protect our community. I take great pride in the work we do as it ensures people feel safe on our platform.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give someone looking to join the Facebook?
If you are looking to join Facebook don't be intimidated by the company's high profile. Connecting the world takes every one of us. Diverse challenges need a diverse team. This is why Facebook is looking for open-minded, passionate people from different backgrounds. If you like helping people and you skills match our requirements for the role, you might be just the right person for the role.
Martin, Market Specialist
What are your three favourite things about Facebook Dublin?
1) That we have 89 different nationalities in our office which allows you to learn a lot about different countries and their cultures
2) The flexibility and freedom you have in your work
3) The tasty food and snacks in our cafés and micro kitchens
Outside of Facebook, tell us a little about how you’ve settled into Dublin and what have been the highlights so far.
Meeting locals and making friends outside of work lets you experience more of the “true” Ireland and its culture. Short distances allow you to easily explore the beautiful landscape and nature of the west coast and the north, and perfect for spontaneous weekend trips. If you should ever get tired of Dublin, you can easily reach a lot European destinations from Dublin airport. However, things can be different to continental Europe for example public transport, and embracing them is prerequisite to fully arrive and settle in Dublin. The friendliness and easy-going temper of the locals help to settle into the new city and build new friendships.
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- Check out our Market Manager and Specialist roles here. We're hiring across all of our global locations!
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