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While we’re at it, favorite restaurants in SoHo?
Coach
Hi Fishes... Need 11 likes please
Rising Star
Additional Posts in Advertising
Rising Star
Any great resume-writer recos? I need help!
Going in house is the move, right?
How’s RGA for a CW?
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I’ve seen account people do it. But it’s like starting all over again. The switch isn’t impossible but the question is are you willing to start from square one and earn your stripes as a jr.?
Pro
I’ve also heard that Jr. jobs are dwindling, but it could be a recurring trend that picks back up
Reach for the stars! If you do end up jumping right into a CD role, you MUST update here.
You don't have the chops to be a copywriter if you flub the writing of this post this badly, then immediately get bitchy about it. You wouldn't last a day for numerous reasons.
If that’s really your goal then I highly suggest you learn how to write with clarity and precision. This post did not hit that mark for reasons even a low level writer would understand.
Can’t take writing criticism well either? Oof. Well anyway, good luck with that copywriting journey. I’m sure it will go great for you.
If you want to be a copywriter right now, you need to be better than AI (not hard atm, but it will get harder). If you want to be a CD, you need to do your time in the junior/midlevel/senior trenches like the rest of us. No CCO or GCD is going to hire you at that level with only a couple years’ experience.
How would you rewrite your post to grab more attention? To be punchier? To inspire action? Then I’ll tell you.
Account ppl will be writing copy with AI sooner or later
they are, trust me! 💔
No one starts out as a creative director
OP forget what I said. You should absolutely go for it
I like this dude’s optimism!
I think (hope) OP meant, when I get there.
It’s a slog. You need to do good enough spec work to get hired. Then you kind of write in a vacuum bc you’re not in the meetings and don’t know much anyway (your background dealing with clients could help on that score). Then you need enough experience to move up while doing work that gets you noticed. And eventually you become a cd but realize there is always someone else’s opinion that matters more. Or it’s all on you. And you have to do it in an industry that seems to be shrinking and placing less value on creatives and esp jr creatives all the time.
That said, if you get past all the annoying stuff, it’s pretty great.
you make a good point but being an account person... leaves a bit to be desired sometimes. i feel like we all got into this to make cool stuff!!
Rising Star
Get an MBA and control everyone’s copy!
OP, you asked “how is it out there RIGHT NOW for CDs,” not “How is it out there right now for CWs.” That in and of itself implies (even if unintentional) that you were looking to transition straight into a CD role. The fact that so many interpreted it that way should tell you it’s because of how you wrote it, not because of some anti-Account Person agenda. I can speak for lots of Creatives that there are certainly some Account people capable of transitioning into great Creatives; I personally know a few who have. If it’s something you’re passionate about, go for it! It’s tough, but it’s fun as hell. However, if you get this defensive and snarky about good feedback—let alone bad feedback—you’re gonna have a bad time. Especially if you’re making half your current salary while you’re at it
One crucial part of a CD/Copy job is leading creative teams and helping them hone their writing and ideation. Do you feel like you could help juniors and ACDs in refining their scripts, culling down big crazy ideas into actionable executions a client would buy? I suspect as an Account lead you’ve seen it all and could bring a lot to the table. The trick is identifying the good, weeding out the bad, and supporting and elevating the best. If you believe you can, you should! Go for it, friend!
this is the part that appeals to me! where my positions have allowed it, I do love helping my teams, providing inspiration or bouncing ideas and guiding the process based on the brief. and having the actual Creative chops/the future of the Creative career path is the part that worries me a little more.
Garnering from the comments that it is NOT cool to be a CD since nobody was able to say if it was or not. 👍🏼
It’s cool - you’re not. Easy. Solved.
I have seen this done! And very successfully. Work toward building a book, even if the copy is invented from archived briefs. You could also build examples with briefs from an account you are not serving to challenge yourself. Have some writings to show and advocate for yourself! I disagree with the complete replacement with AI, as humans still need to drive and train the machine. Go for it!!
Valiant troll, OP. I’ll give you that.
So are you thinking you’d jump right into being a CD/Copy?
Build your book with some freelance side projects and spec work. I made the switch from account to copywriting. It was a grind but it’s possible if you leverage your network.
I also agree that your post is confusing. There’s no point asking about the current CD landscape when that’s 10-15 years down the road for you.
Ideas are more important. So make sure you can do those before you continue your writing craft:
Concept use to be king now it’s content
lol