Over 40 in Advertising

I’m 49 with two young kids. I left agency life in 2024 due to burnout, moved brand-side, but the company was toxic and I was let go in September. I’ve been job hunting hard—mostly agency roles—but get… more

At what point did you resign to the fact that you’d have a boss who was in middle school when you were a few years into your career.

Got laid off a while back and I’ve been freelancing ever since. I really just want full time work and have been applying like crazy with rejection after rejection. The thing is I’m even applying at pl… more

Salaries / freelance comp is half of what it used to be. I know the industry is struggling, that all job markets are struggling, and the economic climate is rough. But WTF? In the late aughts I was in… more

Have you ever had to partner w someone who is half your age? I find the nicer, more respectful I am, the quicker they are to condescend to me, and order me around/direct me. I try to treat them as I w… more

Ugh, had an interview for a great role but the hiring manager is so young and I could tell he was uncomfortable with the idea of having an older woman report into him. I tried to turn it around but I … more

Considering leaving this industry to become a teacher in NYC. Particularly leveraging my experience to become an art teacher. Anyone else considering this or know of people who have?

Question for the bowl: we read a lot about people struggling in their 20s and 30s, but finally catching on in 40s and 50s (great Vanity Fair article on Pedro Pascal who didn’t get hot — or work — for … more

I’m over 50, and though I’ve recently made it to Associate Creative Director, it feels like I arrived late. I still work like a bee, and honestly, I think I only have this job because I settled for a … more

Has anyone considered not putting work dates on your resume? With 20 years of successful ad agency experience I feel like this screams I’m of a certain age and immediately overlooked due to agencies t… more

Started a new role recently and I’m being more micromanaged than I have in my career. My boss has zero trust in me and zero interest in anything I have to say if it doesn’t align with their point of view.
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Has anyone left a major market like NYC for a smaller market and found work more easily (either in advertising or out)?

Hi, I’m 50. I’ve been unemployed now for a while. There are so few opportunities at my level. I’m at a point where I need to expand my job search. I’ve been on the agency side my entire career and so … more

Any advice on how to manage work while trying to take care of a parent undergoing chemo treatments? My company provides three months paid leave, but the road ahead is much longer than three months. Th… more

Any ideas on how to break into pharma advertising?

Folks with experience: we keep seeing media centers of gravity lose traction — TikTok, just the latest. Question: are we ultimately locked into a maximally fragmented media future. And, if so, what … more

Happy Holidays all! Any good resume inspiration out there? For context, I’m mid-career, been at my company for 9 years and wouldn’t rule out a pivot in the next couple of years. I’ve been bad about up… more

Any advice on managing teams, helping them grow while fully remote? Beyond endless zoom calls.

Veteran ADs, if you already had the concept approved, and have 1.5 days to work, how many versions of adlobs would you create to show...to sell the concept/show look and feel and put a line/picture to… more

Have you partnered with anybody who's likley, nearly half your age who has only worked on social? New art partner is insisting on some pretty cheesy VO suggestions and I need help letting them kno… more

Is it me or is it hard to find creative positions? especially when you’re not in the field? Because of circumstances I’m in a law office where I can’t really use my skills. Any thoughts?

Do you think Millennials and Gen Xers treat their birthdays differently into their 40s? (A group dinner event, cocktails, taking a day off from work, having coworkers make a birthday announcement, soc… more

At what age are women seeing a change in work assignments, drop in opportunity or trouble getting hired?

Age biased?

Is it me or does every Ad/Creative/Branding Agency seem age biased. I look at their About page staff photos and almost all of them are under 30. Only the principals seem over 40. This seem… more

Based on what I’ve seen in almost every bowl here, I’m fortunate to have a job—especially at over 50, working in the creative department of an agency. But the truth is, I’m constantly burnt out and st… more

I have been applying to companies but I have not received a response of any sort nor am I able to contact anyone directly. A month later I see the job has been reposted, Is this now a common tactic of… more

What's your process when concepting big ideas for campaign platforms and proof of concepts? Would love some hints for getting started and unstuck. Thanks in advance.

Hi there. Is anyone working with a CFP (fiduciary) that they have been happy with? I’m , looking to get a handle on where we are and any adjustments to be made for our financial future. Thanks!

If you were over 40, had 2 kids under 5, lived in NYC, but were dying to move to burbs (specifically CT to be a little closer to family)…how would you go about confidently doing that, given our volatile AF industry?
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"Not looking for ACDs or CDs" feels a bit like, if I want to market myself as a Sr. Copywriter (which I know is a lower rate, duh!), why is it okay for you to tell me I can't?

At what age did you feel it was harder to get hired?

Need advice for interacting with Millennials of equal and/or supervisory levels. Have you ever found that if you are too nice and treat them like friends they see it as a sign of weakness, and then co… more