By: Mercedez Thompson, MA, CP APMP, Shipley BDC

The leaves are falling, and my chrysanthemums are blooming – it’s the season for change. Without exception, this time of year always brings on self-reflection.

And when I think about what I’ve accomplished this year and where my career has taken me, I can’t help but be thankful for proposal management and the role it has played in my professional growth.

Proposal management can be a challenging field, with demanding deadlines, constant multitasking, and the occasional lack of appreciation from the technical teams we support. Every time I mentor a professional who is new to proposal and bid management, I warn them that our job is not easy – rewarding and often fulfilling but not easy.

Despite the difficulties, another season has passed, marked by an uncertain economy and shifting employment trends. As I reflect on my 12 years in professional marketing services, I am consistently grateful for what proposal management has given me.

• The ability to write for a living. While not all proposal managers consider themselves strong writers, each one of us must possess writing skills. With a Master’s Degree in English, my career path could have led me towards teaching or writing. However, proposal writing has provided a unique opportunity to apply my writing skills in an environment where they are highly valued and can make a tangible difference in the success of the company.
• The option to flex my design muscle. Again, while this isn’t a one-size-fits-all I find it gratifying to have an outlet for my creative tendencies. I take pride in creating high-quality, visually appealing documents that capture attention and effectively convey the intended message. And when my design falls short, I have the option to call in backup from graphic designers who specialize in this area.
• Furthermore, proposal management has honed my project management skills. As a proposal manager, I thrive in juggling tasks, developing strategies, managing time blocks, and running productive meetings. The proposal world is the perfect environment for these executive functioning skills, constantly pushing me to improve and deliver exceptional results.
• Flexibility and versatility. In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend towards flexibility in various professions, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the adaptability of our professional skills goes beyond work-life balance and hybrid environments (which are also really cool and super important). Proposal management allows us to apply our expertise in different functionalities and industries, opening up diverse paths for growth and development. This year, for instance, I successfully transitioned from the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry to IT consulting services.
• Security. We all know the age-old tale that marketing departments are the first to get cut in a downsize. When push comes to shove, a company views marketing as a luxury—a mistake, certainly, but that’s for another article. However, proposal positions enjoy more stability because they are directly connected to driving revenue. As long as organizations need to generate income, the value of proposal managers remains clear, providing a sense of job security and peace of mind.

As I prepare for the colder months and look forward to holiday gatherings with family and friends, I am reminded of the many benefits my career in proposal management has provided. From a solid salary to endless growth opportunities, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences this field has afforded me. We might not have it all figured out, but just give us time; after all, there are few problems we proposal managers can’t creatively solve together.