Related Posts
Rising Star
Community Builder
Additional Posts in Creatives
FCB Health Chicago - What’s it like?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
Sign Up to see all discussions
- Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
- Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
- Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
"" is an unusual email domain. If correct, please proceed to the next step
Messaging rates may apply
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Share
Embed this post
Copy and paste embed code on your site
Preview
Download the
Fishbowl app
Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile
Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl
Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl
Messaging rates may apply
It's never impossible.
At worst, there's a statistical probability.
I start a new job in March.
Just got one. Took a full year.
I think the moral of the story is don’t wait till you need a job to get a job. Build that network.
But also be prescient and see catastrophes like pandemics and populism coming at least 5 years beforehand.
The job market is brutal right now, and the numbers don’t tell the whole story. They say unemployment is low, but that doesn’t count the people underemployed, ghosted after multiple interviews, or sending out 1,000 applications just to get 3–5 responses. Even healthcare brands—where creativity goes to die—are getting 400+ applications within hours.
AI has made creatives more self-sufficient, which means fewer jobs and way more competition. Recruiters say hiring is tougher than ever—more vetting, more interviews, more hoops to jump through, but salaries haven’t kept up with inflation.
Remote work is fading fast, not because it doesn’t work, but because companies are trying to save dying cities and squeeze more control. Now, being in the right location matters more than ever. The days of getting poached with job offers in your inbox? Gone. Now it’s 7, 10, even 14 rounds of interviews—and if you fumble that late in the process, you’re back to square one.
A lot of creatives I know have never been out of work this long. Some are losing everything, forced to reinvent themselves just to stay afloat. And freelancing? That grind is just as tough.
If you’ve got a job, don’t take it for granted.
Took me a year too.
I put in a LOT of work. Checked LinkedIn jobs EVERY DAY. Wrote to ECDs and Recruiters out of the blue. Didn’t settle for online application processes- hunted down the hirers behind those job posts, made a human connection. Failed constantly. But eventually, something will turn up. Something aligns.
Took me 4 months to find a new opportunity that was the right fit! Plenty of jobs in marketing out there- just not the right level- not the right level of pay. Too many companies looking for cheap workers. Stay with it! You’ll find something!
The market is really bad- but I am interviewing like crazy right now so it seems like there is some type of movement. it’s pretty insanely competitive.
ACD is low level?
Seems like it’s turning around. Recruiters are knocking on my door again.
Nearly so. I’ve been looking for months.
Took two yrs...
Took me 2 months after getting laid off.
That is insanely fast in this market. Consider yourself lucky.
Abysmal. Took me an entire year and I have an A-class book. Messaged almost every single person on my LI. Was in a dangerously low mood. Real soul crushing stuff.
Took a job that I'm now discovering is an absolute dumpster fire, although a significant raise from my last gig. It seems like there are more jobs in general, though. Good luck.
depends on what role you're looking for, got 500+ applications in and 2 interviews, competition is fierce out there with limited open jobs.
You gotta do more than just apply. You have to network, use your network, work on your book, etc.
Took nine months for me.
It’s brutal. Especially on FL. I’ve gotten more calls and interviews for FT than for FL gigs. It’s been 5 months and cone in second three times so far. Currently in the middle of my fourth job candidacy process. Like a lot of people, I’m getting reached out to by headhunters and internal recruiters.