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It be like this :
Can I join in Nokia R&D unit for java, spring boot backend developer role considering current situation of layoffs in product based companies ?
Exp - 4 years
Tech stack - Java, Spring Boot, Microservices
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Are Creative Directors rich?
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Visual Storyteller
My whole career I thought I wanted to be a creative Director. Mainly so that I was guaranteed to make some thing at the end of a nine month project development and also so I have final say on things. Turns out neither of those things are true and frankly it's more fun to just put on your headphones and work than to sit annoying meetings all the time and have to please your superiors.
I already have been acd for a while. I wouldn’t want a CD role thats mostly all managing and meetings. But it seems like freelance CDs are often called in to do the work, rather than manage? So that appeals to me much more.
It’s pretty lame how the job of a creative shifts away from creating.
I went freelance 10+ years ago because I didn’t want to be a full time CD. I preferred actually doing the work, rather than managing people and dealing with politics. Not sure how my decision will play out long term, but it’s worked out pretty well so far.
Coach
I’ve been at an ACD level since around 2015 (different agencies). I have somehow thought I wasn’t ready, only to work under CDs who are completely incompetent, and for whom I have to cover constantly.
At the same time, I have seen the other side of the curtain and frankly I don’t like it. My wife is a CD in-house and all she does is back to back meetings, performance reviews, approve hair splitting decisions. She’s not creating anything anymore and wishes she could still do that.
If I don’t have a chance to create anything, then I don’t know why I’m in this business.
But I’m getting old and being an old ACD starts raising eyebrows, so I’ll make the jump next chance I get.
100% agree. I was a digital creative director for 18 years and I switched to a technical creative director position that’s considered an expert in key technologies in order to improve our online brand and user experience. I find that as you move up the management totem pole you become more of a manager of people versus a manager to solve creative technical challenges. And let’s be frank, anyone can be a people manager with zero creative skills. There are too many people in management that have zero creative and technical capabilities. They need to go! The value is in your creativity and problem-solving skills while dealing with numerous people and project complexities. I find this more rewarding than simply being only a manager of people. And as the world is changing, companies are looking for more experts versus people managers. Also, the money is in the expertise. The question is, do you want to live in Microsoft office and in meetings all day? Or do you want to dabble in various applications and technologies to actually bring solutions to the table for your company and for your clients?
Going on year 4 of ACDhood. Never leaving.
Hold onto that job for dear life! Sounds like you found the dream combo.
No.
I’d rather be a working CD, much like the ACD role I currently have but with better pay and less hair. But everyone’s different, there’s plenty of ACDs I know that can’t wait to stop actually doing the work.
However, I found that if people have the ACD title for too long, it starts to look like you’re not capable of becoming a CD in peoples eyes.
I have a desire to go back to a senior copywriter. At least I’ll be producing creative instead of being a glorified PM.
AD2, 12.5% from my current salary. Why, you need a senior partner?
Not every CD is a good leader and I think that those who want to be a CD need to take leadership skill development classes. Seriously. Personally, I can’t wait to lead and help younger creatives bring their ideas to life. I love mentoring and helping those navigate this sometimes horrible industry. I had great mentors, so I hope to return that to young folks when it’s my time.
I highly recommend staying acd as long as possible.
Coach
Yeah, but after you stay ACD too long, people start wondering if you haven’t progressed because there’s something wrong with you. It’s stupid, but that’s how people think.
I’m ready to move up.
How could you possibly know?
Why would you want to stay at this level? I definitely don’t want to ever be more than a CD tho. Too much work.
Every level comes with somebody above you that you have to please. Where did this idea come from that CD’s somehow have ultimate power? We don’t. All we have is more meetings, and then we have to figure out how to find the time to do the actual work that come out of those meetings because expectations have risen. You must be a “working” CD meaning you have to have all the executional and concepting skills needed on a daily basis as everyone below you. My boss(es) are looking at me asking why I can’t be more than a person who comes up with huge ideas. I have to blow them all out on my own now too. And run all the management.
CD is the new ACD. The agency is littered with them and they don’t seem to hold sway over much.
That sound pretty agency specific. At my shop, if you have a CD title, it’s because you run at least one piece of business. That was true of my last two places before it as well.
I definitely think ACD is the sweet spot.
ACDs used to be a super senior creative that the agency didn’t want to lose but wasn’t ready to promote yet. Now it’s barely a senior role. If you are on the more experienced side, make the leap.
Climbing down the ladder feels good. Taken a few steps myself. Haven’t adjusted my title here yet.
Community Builder
Love being a CD but everyone is different. Smart that some people realize the grass is not always greener at the top.
And who liked green grass anyways?
ACD (at the right agency) is the best job in advertising. IMO.
Senior enough to not be micromanaged, you get good projects, can usually pass off grunt work to juniors, and just get to do the work without all the client bs and agency politics (and status meetings) CDs and up have to go through.
Coach
“At the right agency” and “in the right team” are key though. My last FT job I had lots of autonomy and my job was pretty much as you described. Then for some reason my GCD thought hiring a CD and putting them over me was a good idea. It became hell. The CD had less experience than me and was the most insecure individual. Would micromanage, give awful direction, throw wrenches on projects all the time and throw people under the bus.
Yes.
I wish I could go back to senior creative. The little bump in money I got is not worth managing others and being a middle manager. But onward and upwards. 🚀
Love this question! I feel like everyone is always in a rush these days to get to the next level. And I know there are some shops out there that will still pay you a great salary (like if you were a CD elsewhere), but keep you at an ACD /Sr title if you want to keep doing the work.