Currently working in pharma as an art director. For the past year I've been working on the brand from hell (impossible clients, pushover account team, understaffed creatives, etc.). I regularly breaking out in hives from stress. I'm sick of my agency, I’m sick of this industry, and I’ve been heavily considering moving to consumer. My only reservations are the pay isn't as good, the job isn't as secure, and the workload can get intense. Is it worth it to make the jump?

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If you have the flexibility in your personal life, then go for it. Just stating the obvious - bad clients and pushover accounts exist everywhere. Consumer stakes are just as high if not higher than pharma so be prepared for the hives to return. You can always come back to pharma if it doesn’t work out …

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Unless you’ve worked consumer before you may have a tough time getting into consumer.

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“…I’ve been working on the brand from hell (impossible clients, pushover account team, understaffed creatives, etc).”

This describes every account I’ve worked on for the last 5+ years. Unfortunately that’s the nature of this business, especially in the pharma space. If these factors are giving you hives from stress, I don’t see consumer rectifying that situation for you. The things that are causing you stress are not unique to pharma.

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Which office are you in?

I’ve always found consumer to be toxic. It’s why I left 5 years ago. Try to find a better pharma agency.

likesmart

Yeah don't do it. You don't want to have toxic AND low paying!

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Two thoughts for you:

1. An account from hell is a HUGE opportunity for YOU. Make yourself the 'go-to' person on the account. If you have a terrible account team - be on the calls and make good arguments for the work. The fastest way to promotion is being a shining star on a difficult account. See the opportunity not the obstacle.

2. If you're really sick of your agency, try another healthcare agency before you jump to consumer. I worked in consumer for many years, and I can tell you, it much more political. More backstabbing. More posturing. And the work has virtually no purpose.

My closing thought -- you're an art director. So I'm guessing you've been in the industry for just a few years. If you're sick of the industry - get out now. Do something completely different. Screw the pay cut. Make yourself happy.

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Im in a similar boat. I definitely don’t see it being less toxic in consumer though

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It isn’t less toxic. It’s often more. It’s why so many of us left consumer.

OP should try (if possible) to find a less toxic pharma agency.

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So considering the pay, security, and workload are worse… what do you expect to be better, exactly?

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Once you've gone pharma, you're not gonna do consumer. Your best hope is to help a small business grown on the side, hope you can make something cool enough to replace your book, and then burn your resume.

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Like others are saying: unless you have tons of consumer spec work and your pharma work is highly conceptual AND visual, you’re gonna have a tough time getting into consumer. Coming from someone who used to work on consumer, the toxicity, competitiveness, and office politics are far worse over there

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Jump if you can

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If you can’t manage the stress and workload of pharma, you will drown in consumer. The pace is 3x pharma with far more work.

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