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How the hell did any of you make it to manager?
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Hi folks, how is thoughtworks as an organisation?
Asking because I don't know much about it and have received recruiter's call today. Currently I am working in Deloitte. How is thoughtworks hikes, wlb, does it provide any benefits apart from fixed pay? My research gives me a mixed review: some say it's good, some say that thoughtworks is not stable enough like big 4 or other organisations. Pls help Thoughtworks Deloitte
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Good salary for a mid level planner?
Hate to say it but uber is definitely in tune
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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.
I’m 54 and would love to get pushed out:) But we keep winning accounts with the campaigns I create with my teams. My advice for you youngsters? Stay as close to the revenue as you can. Create work that wins pitches. Make clients ask for you to be on their account. Not even an evil holding company will cut someone who’s valuable to an account. I’ve been dreaming of going remote freelance to escape agency life. Try something new. Can anyone out there tell me what that life is like? Seems ideal. No?
Creatives are like air hostesses; people prefer to be served their peanuts or pretzels by someone who looks fresh and friendly, not by someone who looks dried out and tied because they have clocked up far too many miles in a pressurized cabin.