I’m interviewing for an associate strategy director role and got feedback from the recruiter that there’s hesitancy about me moving forward because I don’t have enough client relationship / agency experience (I’ve worked agency side only 2 years, so fair). Does anyone have any advice on what to say in response as I interview with senior leadership?

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Agencies are always pulling this BS thinking, as if what they do and how they operate is some esoteric alchemy. It's absurd.

Anyway. You were client-side and therefore are exceedingly familiar with how clients think (and what they want/need to hear). This is priceless. It's the harder side of the equation (brand side has serious people and usually more grounded responsibilities; agencies make decks filled with idiotic fantasies, with truly special breakthrough thinking sometimes sprinkled in, if you're lucky).

Two years is plenty of time to get familiar enough with the client/agency dynamic. That part isn't rocket science. And it's really only superficially different from collaborating with internal groups anyway.

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I’d acknowledge the concern but reframe it. Highlight how your agency experience, even if brief, combined with your other roles has given you strong client-facing skills. Maybe share a story about managing stakeholders, handling feedback, or driving strategy. Show them you’re ready to grow into that side of the role!

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