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Toronto ad fish 🤠 I’ve spent most of my career working as a copywriter in London (6 years here, 2 years Toronto) and the market is pretty different here. I’m planning on moving back home but wondered….how do you find work in Toronto? Agencies barely post openings, is the recruiter scene strong? Is it mostly who you know?
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The industry is contracting, in terms of both headcount and revenue, while the number of people trying to find work in it still seems to be expanding. Your anxiety is well founded. I know people who have moved back in with their parents in their mid 30s. It’s dire.
I don’t mean to be unkind when I say that you might want to try and find another way to make a living. Not just beyond advertising, but any online gigs, as A.I is coming for many or most of them. Instead of competing against hundreds of equally desperate people for scraps, try to find other ways to make ends meet. Do you like dogs? Be a dog walker. Are you charismatic and physically coordinated? Bartenders and baristas earn a decent living. Service industry work might not appeal to you but it beats being hungry and homeless.
I just paid a guy $200 to clean my couch. He does four or five couches a day despite not knowing much about how to promote his business. You can apply what you’ve learned in your career solving other people’s problems to your own venture. Might as well get a head start on the rest of us as half of our jobs won’t exist in 10 years.
Good luck, sincerely.
What about customer service? Some banks and insurance companies still use onshore remote personnel for that.
Try to get anything in the meantime. Who cares if you work PT at a restaurant if it means paying rent.
I’ve reviewed your post again and other people’s comments, and I understand what you meant. I don’t know online gigs that don’t pay peanuts. The only tip I have is… When you are applying for jobs, you could try branching into Market Research, Media Planning, Media Buying… if you are struggling to find a Strategist role.
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Yes, I’m branching out to roles in Social Media and Account Management. TBH I would even do admin, data entry, brand ambassador. I have zero ego. Would even babysit or do dog walking, but I had an accident and didn’t fully recover, so I’m applying to ODSP.
I attended a Nabs workshop on how to beat the ATS and they reviewed my resume. Was doing a bunch of things wrong, so I’m starting my resume from scratch.
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Not when you’re unemployed
No suggestions for online gigs, but the best thing you can do (if you can manage it) is to put money aside however and as often as you can. Having 3 months of living expenses saved up and put away will help ease that fear a bit. Unless, of course, you have already done this and you’re still experiencing crippling anxiety.
Ad people lost their homes and couch surf or stay at hostels?? I can’t believe this. Their salaries are pretty decent. Are you talking about those who were laid off??
You are being accusatory that I was trying to be “funny” for “comedic purpose”. In expensive cities such as New York/Toronto, there are people who work 2 jobs and still can’t make ends meet or struggle to stay afloat. That’s what I thought the OP was referring to.
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It sucks to be unemployed and broke, but the worst part is not having anyone to talk to or ask advice. It’s hard for me to ask for help and my intention wasn’t to be a pity party.
I didn’t include that I’m also disabled (applied to ODSP, still waiting for an answer) and struggling with my mental health.
Unfortunately I can’t be on my feet for long and can’t even ride a scooter. Would have been a great Instacart person or dog walker 💖
You’re most welcome to ask for advice in here. Almost everyone with more than five years experience in this industry has dealt with unemployment and might have useful pointers for you. I know from personal experience that it can feel very isolating, and being able to talk about it is important.
It’s healthy to vent when things are shitty and it takes strength to share what you’re going through with others, even anonymously. Don’t feel bad about it!
Hope you get on ODSB. 🤞🤞