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As I own a small agency, but worked at a big one previously, I will tell you you’re less of a cog in the wheel. There’s some stress because every agency wants to deliver the best work. However since most small agencies are privately owned, the owner, not a holding company, sets the tone and expectations. Interview with small agencies. You may be happier
Well... in my experience smaller agencies still have politics and stress, it is just “different” politics and stress. I swear I don’t think an ad agency can run without it (for some Godforsaken reason).
MUCH LESS!!! 😀
In my experience, you’ll never find an agency without politics & stress. Politics are a little different at small agencies because you know everyone who works there (not some mystery person up the chain). With 9-5 it can be hit or miss & just depends on the culture of the agency. Where I started it was about 40 ppl in chi & literally no one was there before 9:15 & it cleared out before the stroke of 5. My theory is it’s just the kind of clients small agencies are likely to have (smaller clients with less young go-getters so everyone is more likely to have kids/a family & holds the work hours more sacredly, just a theory though & not always the case).
There is such a thing. In smaller markets, the work and your salary can suffer, but you live more and stress less. If you have big brand/big agency experience those small market agencies will treat you like a queen. Plus, I’ve noticed all age ranges are represented more equally as the reverence for talent and experience trumps youth.
Consider going client side
I’ve worked for large network agencies and also little regional shops as well as big global brands and little regional clients. In my experience, politics is kind of a roulette. I worked at one small shop where the leadership were the nicest people I’ve met in this business, and where there was no politics at all. I also worked at another medium sized independent shop with regional clients and the CEO was a fucking psychopath and the agency was a miniature version of Game of Thrones. At both of those places it was pretty 9-5 though (except maybe during pitches, but it was much easier than at network agencies). If you have big city and or network experience, most little agencies will treat you like a celebrity and will listen to you a lot more.
Small agencies are like small towns - expect more politics and less diversity.
I left big for small, and although everyone is gone by 5, the politics are worse. Everyone is cliquey and it feels like high school.
Nope
another thing about small agencies u get to wear alot of hats, so you'll find yourself doing everyone else's job at some point.