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Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Hello.
My job application status in portal says it is under review since one month but I haven't recieved any calls or mails. Does it mean I am still in consideration or they have put my candidature on hold?
Daimler Truck Innovation Center India Daimler Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India
Has anyone worked for IKEA FOOD?
Visual Storyteller
Senior Art Director - Mid november to mid Feb
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So... MRCL. It’s an intranet, right?
Friends. Leggings are not pants. That is all.
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Absolutely; it seems like mid-40s is more or less the upper limit. At that point your salary and willingness to speak truth to power start to work against you. My advice: get out in your mid-30s. Go client side or join a consulting firm; your experience will be more valued there than if you stay at an agency.
I was pushed out at 46 and frankly can’t believe I lasted that long. I’m doing consulting work now and make more than I did on the agency side. The math is pretty simple - an agency bills out your hours at a 2.5-3X multiple of your salary in order to cover their fixed expenses, your benefits, profit, holding company ‘tax,’ and all that overhead (C-suite, accounting, HR, IT, etc.) You can bill your time out for the same rate or less and you get to keep it - minus taxes and healthcare costs of course. :)
Somehow I squeezed through as a Copywriter/Creative Director until I was in my mid 60’s. Then I switched to Marketing Comminications and Branding Strategist that lasted for a couple years.
I still get some work from past clients, but it’s very rare. Then for a while I sold women’s shoes at Nordstrom My advertising background served me well. Sorta.
I was a terrific salesperson, but absolutely terrible ringing up sales. Not surprising for a creative who built a career coloring outside the lines.
By mistake, I once hit the wrong keys and charged a woman &118,000 for a pair of shoes.
She was appalled. “Do you know you just changed me $118,000,” she said indignantly.
“Yes, ma’am. But they were very nice shoes.” Fortunately, she laughed.
I still believe in using my talent and energy to make a difference and prove I’m still valuable. In both projects, I’m in way over my head.
I’m trying to make Earth Day 2020 (April 22, 2020) a climate changing event. Trump is no longer just threatening America. His disastrous presidency threatens the planet. If he wins,
Earth will lose.
I’m not ready to reveal specifics because, “A hatching bird does not sing in its nest.” (I Ching)
My advice to others is not to try to change the world. Changing one life is admirable. Initiate your own project. Volunteer for a good cause. Give your time to any project that matters to you.
Find your own way to “pay it forward.” You will be surprised at how much it will give back to you. Jack
I wish someone would've told me when I was right out of school and eagerly joining the industry that I'd have a big SELL BY day stamped on my forehead by 40. I'm not even there yet but I'm bracing myself and planning for a future beyond agencies.
During a high-profile pitch one summer, the managing director of my office - one who has been lauded recently in the press for some other enlightening thinking BS - looked right past me and said "we need to find young people for this pitch video [to show off our agency to prospective client]." Dear Fishbowl, I was only 34.
34! And with a great rep and on the cusp of being my best. I should've known when the only people I saw past 50 were chairmen and c-suite. And yes, they are mostly privileged white men at that, of course.
I'm doing my best to change things, but I can't do it alone and by god, I'm tired. Full stop.
I teach at MAS and I DO tell them that most of them will be toast by the time they’re 40. Some believe me. But I’ve been teaching there for over 10 years and I’ve had some students from Way Back When complaining that they’ve been fired and can’t find a new job. It’s all I can do not to say “I told you so!” It’s hard for people to believe it’s going to happen to them.
Yup, soon as I hit 40 something happened, don’t seem to fit anywhere anymore, the vibe is just different, looking to go client side.
Every designer in these threads talks about UX as their salvation. Isn’t that pretty much like becoming an insurance adjuster? You make decent money, I’m sure. But... you do UX all day. Not trying to be a jerk (but probably succeeding anyway).
I just wanna survive at this point, and I kind of like how different UX is from advertising. But the market is getting saturated.
I was laid off at age 48 with 3 others my age 2 years ago. I kinda saw it coming being the new CCO was making it super difficult for me after years of busting my ass working until 9-11 at night and weekends most weeks. My wife and kids never saw me. Since, I have gone client side and have been killing it, but now and the will hear something that cuts deep about age that someone will say in casual conversation to make you realize ageism is everywhere. I too look younger than I am for the most part which I think helps a lot, but that doesn’t last forever, and I don’t really have a plan b. I think about it a lot. In a sense it’s a little consoling to commiserate, but seriously, something really should be done about it. It really is an industry blemish and super unfortunate
I hope you got a decent severance. Legally, over 40 is a protected class in NYC. Google it
I’m looking to leave- I’m at an ok small agency but I don’t see this lasting long. I’m 49. I might switch to UX (I’m taking classes) or instructional design/e-learning (I have some background in teaching online courses).
42. Started my own consultancy.
@partner 1, looking for anyone to work with you? Sounds like a dream job!
I’m 55, got cut two years ago. Have been freelancing steadily since (knock wood) but the leadership positions I’m eminently qualified for have not materialized. Took me the first year of freelance to adjust my expectations; I will b v happy w a parallel move at this point. Still good money, but I kno and accept that my career will not reach the heights I once saw as possible/probable.
Right around 40. It's like a light switch.
Why hasn’t there been a slew of class action lawsuits against the holding companies? If everyone knows that blatant ageism is a thing, why not take it to court ?
SVP2, years of recordings.
Haven’t been aged out yet. I wear skinny jeans and Adidas Superstars to work to try to look hip.....but little do they know that when I get home, I throw on my comfy cargo pants and Newbalance dad shoes.
I turned 40 and that was it
Been living on the street checking fishbowl ever since
Thanks Cindy, great reminder!
Not to mention if you’re gay and/or a person of color, your expiration date is sooner than you think in the ad world
Truth. 😐 and/or a woman.
Made it as an ECD until 54 before I hit my expiration date. Took a lesser position to pay the bills and for insurance. I still love doing the actual work. Most days.
Holding companies have institutionalized this practice. They should be held accountable for it.
Holding companies, a tentacle of out of control predatory capitalism, is what has fucked this industry up for everyone.
UX’er here — I feel ageism just as much as you guys. Remember that UX at an agency is still an agency, and the 20-somethings I mentor are fast, smart, and seemingly born presenters. I think client side is probably the way to go
So we were back then. And so we still are. Being a great presenter is hardly a generational thing. It’s a personal skill that can be taught. Come on now.
49, and yes, people think you will be way more expensive than you probably are. most agencies are Hamburger Hill these days... throw as many 20 somethings as cheaply as you can at whatever. if they crash and burn who cares, next, not my problem, is most often the sentiment.
Agencies have become a race to the bottom in favour of C-Suite earnings, and older people have responsibilities and expectations in life, that agencies have no interest in subsidising.
Even my own mother was laid of just before her retirement because they figured, ah, close enough, bye bye now.
Respectfully, staying on top of tech and trends doesn't remove that age comes with a higher paycheck, higher working standards, and a base level of respect. I'm not there yet, but there are people here who by all accounts are doing these things, but still being pushed out because of their age. I applaud you for hiring a wide range of ages; I encourage you to ensure other departments in your agency do the same. Better yet, lead the charge against ageism, be the model.
58. Just let go as head creative at a digital agency I helped grow from 30 to 100 peeps. Was the oldest employee. Freelancing now.
I was let go “days” before my 39th birthday. I’ve refused to admit my age at any company since I still “fit-in” with the 20 year-olds. I removed the years I received my college degrees from my resume, and read to remove any jobs from over 12+ years ago...
I’m damn proud of a lot of the work I’ve done and like many of you can only show a small shade of projects on one portfolio site. But, still can’t even find freelance work. To say that it’s frustrating is an understatement
God this is depressing