Creative Director Discussions
Jobs

I’m interested in a position at my current agency, working on another client. It’d mean no longer working with my current CDs who I love, but seems like a cool opportunity. Do I casually ask my CD about it and express interest? Don’t feel like my work is done on my current team, but the client is very cool and has great potential.

what’s the going rate for VP, CD position in LA (at a media platform started by a celeb)

Need advice: If you were asked to complete an assignment as part of an interview process (for a high level CD position client-side), how would you politely decline this request?

CD role at a large agency on a single global account and leading a team of creatives dedicated to this account. 18 yrs experience. What’s it worth?

What is a normal amount of paid time off to ask for when negotiating a new role as a full-time Creative Director in the United States? I’m coming from Australia and am unsure of the standard. I heard two weeks for your first job... but since I’ve got 15 years experience, I should expect / ask for more than that, right? Thanks in advance!

I was planning on updating my portfolio during the break but I’m feeling very “meh” about the work that I created in 2020. I did a launch this year and most of the pieces don’t seem portfolio worthy. What kind of work should I be putting in so that a CD would consider hiring me?

I just became the first Creative Director at a small-ish (70-80 employees) digital agency. Our current workflow doesn’t really allow for the traditional CD approval/involvement process. A few people are open for change. Several creatives feel threatened that they won’t have as much creative freedom now. And strategists are concerned about efficiencies with an added person to account workflow.

Any advice or insights on how to best navigate this new CD role within this type of environment?

Does anyone have intel about culture at Goldman Sachs? Their latest CD position looks appealing, but finance can be so damn dry.

Possibly moving to San Francisco within my agency network. What’s the salary range for CD? 3 years in the role, 13 in the industry, worked in UK and Australia, some recent awards (D&AD etc). Seeing ranges from 150 to 200. Also, position is not a CD amongst others at the same level, it’s a head of department role (if that makes any difference). Any input or thoughts welcomed.

How can I pivot from working as an ad agency art director to a commercial director/DP? I’m trying to get on as much commercial production experience as possible in my current role to build up experience. I’m also doing a lot of side projects - I have a couple shorts in some no name festivals and am getting better on each project. My original thought was to work my way up to Creative Director and pivot from there but I’m not sure if that’s the correct route. Any advice is appreciated!!

Hey all, any Tombras folks here know the CD/team looking to fill the jr writer role?

Why take ft role when pay is so much lower than freelancing? Seeing CD salaries of around 200k, but as a freelancer im doing 300k with my daily rate. Am i missing something? are ppl sacrificing ton of $$ for job security?

Hey, amazing recruiters, I would love to have your input.

I’m someone that has always been paid above my position level. I make the equivalent of a CD. Mostly because I have a good reputation of overdelivering and few awards. And I like being an ACD.

But with covid, I wonder if it’s better to be a cheap CD than a expensive ACD. What do you think? In your experience, do you have more CD positions or more ACD positions?

If I was freelancing as a senior designer and the company asked me to move into a CD role, managing the entire 15 person creative studio, why percent pay increase should I be asking for?

Stepped into my first CD role and looking to keep my leadership skills sharp as time goes along, as well as hoping to learn as much as possible to be a good leader for my team. What are some great books or podcasts that you'd recommend?

Been an art director for 12 months but grown in my role significantly & my boss told me my next promo was “political”. I’m managing well over 1.5M a year, 9 brands. Functioning with little to no oversight on a day-to-day basis, w/ only strategy checkins with my CD. 100% client facing. I’m managing 1 direct report and from 2-8 copy and art freelancers at any time. I feel like all my stretch goals are ACD focused. Yet still need SAD before ACD. Does this sound like an art director? Pharma agency.

Anyone make the jump from agencies to tech? Any advice on what salary you’d request for an ACD (or CD) role at a Bay Area tech firm? They tracked me down and have been pretty aggressive about moving things along, so I may have some leverage.

Anyone experience this during the interview process.. I’ve met with the ACD and CD, so far so good, got the impression that they thought I’d fit right into the role (which would be a title bump). Now I’ve been asked to have a follow up call with the ACD. Any thoughts on what they would want to discuss? Not sure what I should be prepped for.

At the start of the month, spoke w a CD I knew about a spot at his agency. He said my salary request was a bit high & told me his cap. Fine, still interested. After a couple of weeks of nothing, their recruiter calls me on Thursday to tell me more about the agency and the role, then says the salary parameters & it’s $5k less than what the CD said. I told her the number he said & she said she’d talk w him. Did I just ruin my shot? And when should I follow up?

At the start of the month, I spoke to a CD about a spot at his agency, an agency I really want to be a part of. He said my salary request was a bit high & told me his limit. Fine, still interested. After a couple of weeks of nothing, their recruiter calls me on Thursday to tell me more about the role and the agency. Then says the salary parameters and it’s $5k less than what he said. I told her the number he gave & she said she’d talk to him. Did I just tryin my shot? And when should i follow up

Any tips for asking about a job as I reach the end of my internship? It’s coming towards the end of my contract and I wanted to have a chat with my CD to ask if there is the potential of a position at the end of it. Obviously with COVID I am not expecting anything and, if there isn’t, no hard feelings at all. Does anyone have any tips for how to broach the subject?

Are art directors in charge of the creative strategy or is that the CD’s role?

I’m curious about salaries for brand side CD roles? I’m talking about roles where you lead all creative for a brand, maybe you are building an internal agency, and the role is global or has that potential. I think salaries from NYC, LA, SF and Chicago would be most relevant. I appreciate anyone who’s willing to share!

Potentially looking for a CW partner for a first time CD role in NYC at a good award winning agency that is getting better and better. NYC or willing to relocate (eventually). If interested, send me a message with your book and I’ll share mine!

hi, I‘m a Marketing & Advertising graduate looking for a creative position. my absolute goal is being a CD in the distant future. i was thinking how to approach this and decided to look for copywriting positions. however, i‘m self taught in Photoshop and Illustrator and I mostly enjoy doing the visual concept creation but i am nowhere near a graphic designer skill wise. so yeah, this is the dilemma and i‘m looking for any constructive advice and what you would do if you were in my shoes.

CD here with DTC and HCP experience looking for a new gig. Anyone hiring?

I have a foreign friend that is interviewing for a Creative Director role at a big Pharma Agency in NYC. Because he is from South America, I’m gonna Zoom call him to help him practice for the interviw (in English).
Since I’m a strategist, I’m not aware of what questions are asked for a Creative Director role at an interview. Can you folks help me listing the most important questions HR asks, so I can help him practice?

CCOs and ECDs:

I love the ACD position and I don’t want to be a CD. I am a great executer, love concepting and producing work.

But I’m still want to get raises and bonuses. Do you see a problem? Would you have someone like me in your team?

I'm in a bit of a pickle.

I'm interviewing for a CD position in-house and I have absolutely no idea what salary range to ask for. I have 6 years of experience, and am based in Australia. The company is known to pay quite well also, knowing to pay above market rate.

The range out there is so broad between agency and in-house, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, not to mention worried that I could either undersell myself or ask too much and not get the job.

When applying for a Creative job, is it acceptable to contact the CD directly in addition to completing the standard submission form? Or is this annoying for CDs to deal with?

Seeing 100+ applications for each role makes me think I need to explore other ways to get myself noticed.

Thanks :)

If I just got a job for a senior creative position at an okay indie agency, but then got an offer from an in house creative department for a CD role a month into my new role, would it be bad to take it? Is it a bit of a shit bloke thing to do?

So when a recruiter tells you CD level candidates will not be considered for a Copy Sup role, that’s ageism, right? Of course a CD knows the rate is lower, however some creatives don’t mind.

Besides hiring a new actually talented creative director, how have earned PR peeps explained “mediability” to creatives? I feel like mine keeps giving us the most mediocre ideas then gets super defensive when we try to explain why they won’t work.