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Although Amazon has instituted a hiring freeze and layoffs are probably on their way, I went through the loop for a security engineer position at AWS. Before I attended the final interviews, Amazon placed the hiring freeze and called me to ask if I wanted to go ahead or cancel my application. I decided do go ahead Right now I'm waiting for their response and the position I applied to changed from "under consideration" to "no longer under consideration". Thoughts?
Hi fishes,
I'm in a non technical role and trying to switch to testing profile. I have knowledge in Java, selenium, TestNG, Cucumber, Postman. I've been trying to switch but companies are considering me as fresher and providing package less than my CCTC(4lpa,4 yoe). I got selected in one company but they're not sending OL. It will be really helpful if someone can refer me in your company.
Need this switch badly due to less CTCC.
Amazon Infosys Tata Consultancy Accenture IBM Cognizant
I just got an email from a recruiter from Google!
Omgomgomgomg
He said that the position is in the Bay Area or New York. I haven’t replied the email. I don’t think we can move to those cities, but I don’t want to lose this opportunity. Does anyone know if Google does remote jobs within US?
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How about Oreos and milk right now?
This is such a nice thread OP. I wanna work for you 👏🏽
Send me your link: asktheCCO@gmail
Let’s give a steady round of applause to the OP. The engagement is sincere, elaborate yet on point and very helpful overall. Kudos and thank you.
Totally 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
For 25 years I spent my life in buildings until midnight because that’s what everyone did. The last year has shown me that I don’t need to do that. I’ve also done some of my best work over the last year. I don’t ever want to go back to those buildings. Not for 3 days a week or 2 days a week. I literally never want to step foot into one of those horrible buildings ever again. How do I make that happen when I know most agencies are going to want us all back? I don’t need culture. I don’t want to team build. I want to get an assignment with a deadline and completely kick its ass. Get alignment early and I can probably get it done a day or two before it’s due. I just want to keep doing the best work of my career but never have to leave my home. How do I convince them without sounding like someone who doesn’t like being around other people?
This speaks to me so much. Don’t make us go back!!!
I spent a large part of my career not chasing awards. Solid work for conservative clients. The last five jobs I’ve interviewed for want to know about my awards.
Many would say “Screw them, you don’t want those jobs!” But yeah. I do.
How do I get competitive in this job market?
Those last three sentences hit me hard. Thanks.
Somehow, applying/networking for my next/second job feels even more daunting than the process of getting the first one did. What do you think are the most important things to have in your book or to share with potential new employers at this stage? What do you look for when hiring mid level creatives? Thank you for doing this!
Coach
You just need 10-12 strong pieces in your book. Great concepts and executions. Don’t worry about having big brands or famous work. Just strong examples of your thinking. It can even be spec still. I want to see what you’re capable of coming up with, not just what’s been produced.
Which title/period did you enjoy the most in your career? Are happier now that you’ve made it to the top? Or is being a CCO vs being a lower level creative like apples and oranges.
I generally find that I’m constantly trying to climb the ladder, but I’m not sure if the destination is all that it’s cracked up to be.
I’d say the best job in the business is senior creative. Before you become a CD and get embroiled with client problems and management stuff. Sitting around thinking of ideas and execution is so fun. I really enjoyed that part of my career the most. Beyond that level, you’re in management.
im in an incredibly lucky position being consistently booked as a freelancer at design lead level at highly reputable agencies. It feels great to be able to freelance hopping around making great money, doing great work for agencies. I wouldnt mind considering myself to have reached the top of my field, considering my income and the lead individual contributor levels I am getting. However I wonder in the back of my head if this is okay to continue for the rest of my career this way. I am 30 now and was wondering your thoughts on continuuing to work as a fulltime freelancer. Ofc the managerial titles (like cd) are cool but not sure if I want to go management route...will I be okay in life to continue my freelance practice for the rest of my career and not do the managerial route? Im certainly happy with my freelance salary, at around 300k so can I stop my career ladder ambitions to stay freelance? Am I not thinking of something? Would love to hear any gut feeling you may have here. Bless you for offering help on here.
wowow!! love to hear it, congratulations!!! i mean hey sounds like you are having no problem getting booked so your book must already be at a solid place to not have to worry about putting more stuff in. I also considered mysef extremely spoiled. lets enjoy it!!!
Creative department who is so arrogant, silo’d and dismissive of anyone not in the inner circle. How dare anyone not in creative department be creative! It’s been fun stealing work from them at a new shop. Why are creatives so precious and against working with different types of creativity and solutions? The business is changing around agency creative departments and they seem u willing to change.
I can’t believe how long these responses are and how many people have taken the time to argue with this obnoxious person. Don’t feed the trolls folks
I’m a creative towards the beginning of their career, I was promoted this week to Mid-Weight / Mid-Level after just a year, I’m having a great run with work, yet I feel very deflated and disillusioned with the industry.
I’m worried about my future life prospects and mobility to move industries the further I progress. As a creative, there doesn’t seem to be the transferable skills that you have with account management and strategy, so you effectively become wed to advertising. Which worries me as you then HAVE TO be a ECD/CCO by 45 otherwise you’ll ‘age out’, which terrifies me so so much.
I’m 24 and all I can think about is ageing out. How do I mitigate this? Also, in short, do you feel this career is worth it? I worked so hard to get this job and I’m worried that it’s worth continuing.
If you’re talented, you can have a nice long career on staff or freelance. You really need to stop worrying so much! I was a senior writer at age 40. Then, 5 years later, an ECD. As a writer, I didn’t want to get promoted because I enjoyed writing. So I stretched it out as long as possible. How many other jobs will pay you to come up with ideas and go on shoots? Not many. Just try to enjoy a pretty decent career choice. My two cents.
My bosses always praise my work, I’ve been put on high profile accounts and my ideas tend to go far in pitches. But none of this has translated into opportunities at the agencies I want to work at. I keep thinking I’m one campaign away from my big break but it’s just not happening. How do I get noticed by top-tier agencies?
You need more visibility. PR your work. No one outside your office knows you did that great stuff. You need some shameless self promotion. Modesty will get you nowhere in this business:)
My CD went to out get some cigarettes like a year ago and still hasn’t returned
Over the past couple of years, I’ve grown more frustrated with the lack of creative control in our business. It seems backwards to me that it’s often the people who are least creative (clients) who have the final creative say. It’s like being a figure skater in a competition and the judges are the manufacturers of the laces.
Coach
Agencies used to lead clients and “sell” the work. Today, it feels like collaborating with clients is valued more. Unfortunately, this recent approach hasn’t been producing great work.
I’m currently working at an experiential shop but I really want to be doing through the line campaigns. Do I need to get out so I’m not pigeon-holed? Or are traditional shops beginning to see value in non-traditional experience?
I love when I see portfolios with a blend of both experiential and traditional. Traditional shops are very interested in experiential thinking. It shouldn’t hinder you at all.
Community Builder
Been looking for full-time for the past 2 years after I was laid off two jobs in a row (agencies lost clients). No trouble finding freelance work, get extended frequently on the jobs I book. Make it into deep if not final rounds, but can't seem to get the offer.
The key is not giving us. Keep pounding away at it. It took me a year and a half to land my first job. It frustrating as hell, but you’ll land something. Make sure to edited your book down to your very best pieces. That key. When you interview, act like you’re REALLY into the agency. Flattery will get you everywhere. Mention some of the agencies work you like. Be into them. And very casually mention that you have another offer you’re thinking about when you follow up. You’ve gotta game the agencies a bit to close. When I think a candidate has another offer, I’m much more interested. It’s triggers my competitiveness a bit I suppose.
I worked so hard to get where I am. But I find myself now slowing down and losing my motivation. I often wonder if I’m ready to get out of the agency business and go brand side. Or maybe I’m just burnt out. How do you continue to find your motivation as CCO?
When I get into a rut, I need a new challenge. You win awards, accounts, get some PR. Now what? So I’m always looking for a new hill to climb. I’ll probably leave the business soon and try something else.
Enthusiast
I have more TV experience than my direct bosses. When I try to give my thoughts to make the work better they shut me down and don’t want to hear it. How do I navigate this? I feel like I need to water myself down to make them comfortable. Is this a bad sign that I need to work elsewhere?
Coach
Guys TV is dead. VR is the future.
I just discovered this thread and I could use your advice, if it’s not too late.
I’m (more than) ready to move up to a CD role and want to start interviewing. But after many partners, I’m finally working with the best one yet. We push each other to make great work but, more importantly, we really enjoy each other’s company. It makes each day feel like hanging out with a good friend.
My question is, will going out as a CD team limit our chances of landing opportunities? Do you ever get inquiries from people offering themselves as both a single creative or as a team?
I want to keep working as a team but I also want to move up and don’t want to kneecap my chances. Every CD at my agency has always been a single CD, so I’m wondering if this is just the way it usually is.
Thanks in advance. This thread is the most useful I’ve seen on Fishbowl.
Thank you for your insight. Very helpful.
Work life balance. Help.
Looking to have kids soonish and I don’t know how to disconnect, not sure how I can stay at the job I’m at. I love my position and my agency and am making the best work of my life and it shows. But it’s at the expense of everything else. When kids come I will not be able to commit myself like I do now. Only hoping I get better and faster and more efficient but would love advice on how to rebrand myself moving forward.
I have three kids. They are grown and out of the house now. Here’s what I did to not shortchange them during my career: I worked until 5:30, then shut off. Ate dinner with my kids, read them books, and put them to sleep at 7:30-8:00. Then, I got back online from 8:00 to 10:00 and dealt with work stuff. Both work and the kids were satisfied. When they get older, they are more independent and won’t need you as much. You want them to not need you as much. After all, as a parent, your job it to help make them independent adults. If you coddle them and do everything for them, you’ll make them weak and dependent. You want them to push out against life on their own to make them stronger. All with your hands out ready to catch them if they fall. Good luck.
What do you do if you're not loving what you do anymore? There was a time when I did but setbacks and time has weathered me. Not sure I wanna do this anymore and not even sure I'm good at it. Time to move onto something else?
Step back and ask your self “if I took money off the table, and didn’t need it, what would I love doing?” Then, look at that ideal job and ask “can I switch careers and find a way into that type of role? Will that role pay my bills? There’s nothing worse than looking back with regret. I’ve meet numerous people who regretted becoming a lawyer. But they were too old to switch careers. And that’s sad. It’s much easier to switch careers while you’re young. You don’t want to wake up everyday to a job you aren’t into. That’s not healthy.
Landing interviews but no offers. My book is getting me in the door, so it has to be me. What can I do to self asses?
I normally interview really well but my current gig is toxic and may have jaded / changed me more than I thought...
There’s on tip I can give you. When you are setting up time with the agency, slip in that you’re also “talking to a couple other agencies.” That always peaks my interest in a candidate since I don’t want to lose someone good to another shop. Agencies are competitive with each other. If you are waiting post interview and a couple weeks go by, let them know “hey I have another offer I’m considering but I’d rather work at your agency.... where do I stand?” This usually will force the decision. Many times I’ve had my creative manager come in and say “so and so has another offer, do you want to hire them?” I’m forced to decide and the other offer makes the candidate seem much more valuable. When I was starting out, I did this with a great creative shop once and I immediately got the offer.