How impossible is it to make the switch from pharma to traditional advertising as a junior/mid level?

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As a junior or young mid level, you have enough leeway to present a book of spec work. I don’t think your pharma work would put you ahead of the competition, but interesting spec/side projects could get you noticed.

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Spec spec spec.

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But do it soon. The longer you stay there, the more difficult it will be to get out.

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Not impossible but it gets harder every day u grow older and more specialized in pharma.

Do consumer spec work. But also use what u have: logos, insights, creative briefs from ur pharma clients. Do consumer spec work for them too. Also, assuming u do digital work, either show ur best real work if it’s creatively better than meh, or create spec digital work that flexes ur digital experience. That can b ur bridge into general adland

I have a friend who started off in pharma, moved to an brand internal creative team, and then went agency side. Not impossible, but as others on this thread have mentioned, the shortest line from pharma to traditional might be spec or independent freelance work.

Pretty damn tough if that’s all you have in your book. Most likely a no for me to hire you. Just keeping it real.

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