Job Q&A
by Michele Marrinan
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Monster.com: How did you end up at SmarterKids.com?

Karl Ring: Coming to SmarterKids was a friend-of-a-friend thing. I sent my resume over to her, and she helped funnel it through the channels along with some helpful reminders that my resume was in the pile.

Mc: What experiences helped you land the job?

KR: I started as a customer support rep, which I had been essentially doing in some capacity since I was about 14. When you come right down to it, every job requires some form of customer support. In addition, I had sales experience, which also came into play working in a call center.

Mc: What did you think about SmarterKids.com when you first started?

KR: Having come from a much larger company where it was easy to get lost in the shuffle and to feel like a number, it was great to go to a company with a much closer-knit feeling. I love the fact that I'm in a smaller environment where your suggestions and your contributions have a direct effect on the company as a whole.

Mc: What is your day like?

KR: I am the customer support operations manager, which means I manage and administrate all of the customer contact methods that we use in the call center: traditional phone, email, live chat and Web callback. I also handle telecommunications administration. Everyday is different, as a good percentage of my job involves troubleshooting and problem solving.

Mc: How is working for a dot.com different than other jobs you've held?

KR: I think the energy of working at a start-up (even though we're post-IPO) and the pace of the industry makes for an interesting mix. On the whole, I've always worked for established companies in well-established industries. The difference here is it still feels fresh.

Mc: How has SmarterKids.comhelped you develop professionally?

KR: I've really learned to try to anticipate needs for change and to make necessary changes as quickly as possible when needed.

Mc: What's important to remember when hunting for a dotcom job?

KR: Make sure you're getting into a company where you feel good about the philosophy and the idea behind the business, since you'll be expected to bring a lot of energy with you when you get on board. You just can't do that when you don't believe in the work you're doing.

Mc: How do you picture the rest of your career?

KR: It's hard to say. If you told me three years ago that the job I have now is what I would be doing, I wouldn't have believed you. But here I am, and I'm having fun doing it. So I guess that's what I'll keep trying to do -- keeping myself challenged while still having a good time.