Is anyone else feeling disillusioned with advertising overall? I got into this to try find creative fulfilment while having a more steady job than just being a starving artist, but lately it feels like all I do is spin my wheels going into all kinds of burnout, stress, and insecurity and it's all just for making Instagram posts for brands. Is anyone feeling really excited or inspired by their future in the industry today? Could use some optimism 😭

I’m reaching retirement in the next few years. Amazed I’m still in this biz…grateful to have had the career I did. But Man!!! I cannot wait to be done and I’m sad for the younger talent coming behind me. Sad, because I just wouldn’t advise anyone I cared about to hop onto this hamster wheel of an industry at this point.

I just need another 3 yrs. POPOP!!! 🤞 And then I can focus on rediscovering my passion for creating—if for no one but myself.

If you’re in advertising and on the ascending side of your career…I truly wish you the best. But I hope you’re able to find a way to push to make it better, take a stand to insist it gets better—or can find a way to get out now (for your own peace and fulfillment).

I miss when agencies FIRED shitty clients…and survived.

And on that note…my apologies for sounding like a sour grandma!!! I’m really not. I’m just…done. Well…almost.

Good luck to us all! Cheers.

it’s so hard to be creative when your job is draining you outside of work 😭

following because i too, could use a hefty dose of optimism.

Right there with you, bud. My therapist recommended I seek creative fulfillment outside of work, but like you, that’s why I got into this business. I feel bad for complaining because I know how hard it is out there for folks without jobs, but I don’t know the answer to disillusionment aside from lowering expectations or detaching passion from your career - both super difficult in this capitalist hellscape.

I think things are definitely different than when I started in this industry. I also think it depends on your team and your client. I had a great team and great client to work on but I still had someone who was willing to invest in me and actually wanted to see everyone on the team excell past our time with them (this was even during COVID). After that CD got let go and we soon after that lost the client we worked with, I felt like every CD and client I've had after then has treated everyone on my team like a number and a machine and only pushed pushed pushed us to do more more more in shorter amount of time with little to no reward for it. That's where I start to feel the same way. Maybe I was spoiled before but I've just seen a shift in the industry in general where people aren't seen as people anymore. Young creatives are chewed up and spit out because they don't feel like they can say "NO" and mid and senior creatives aren't invested in like they used to be and are just expected to spin all the plates and hats without properly being mentored to move up, so they just have to jump ship and find somewhere else to work and figure it out as they go. Maybe that's just the company I work for or my experience but feels that way.

Yes, I feel the same. Advertising, Marketing and Communications, I have the skills, but feel so incredibly burned out.

Honestly, at this point, I'm willing to just be an admin assistant and be able to pursue creativity outside work.

Sorry, not very optimistic! But I wanted to reassure you that as a fellow creative, I feel this too and you're not alone. ❤️

Advertising is awful now. Grateful that I started in the field back in the day when concept is everything. Now, it’s just sad. But the $$$ is still better than anywhere else. There’s no creativity. Really sad

I have been in and out of the industry for a looooong time and have heard this same type of comment from creatives the whole time.

My advice would be to curate who you’re paying attention to, because the whiners will bring you down, and the industry is what it is. Best to find some nugget of goodness and focus on that. It sounds like the people around you are sucking your energy. Even cranking out IG posts can be interesting in the right situation, with the right people!

Also be sure to find some time for yourself outside of being in advertising. I know it is very hard when you are working long days and weekends. But job does not equal life. That will help re-fill your pitcher.

I've been in advertising for over 25 years and unfortunately, the industry is not at all what it used to be. It was so much fun for so long, that even when I wasn't paid well, it still had perks and allure. Now it's just a drain. The holding companies have destroyed the fun, creative culture and I don't know that it will ever return. If you are young, I would say move on. Some in-house places for a cool client could be a good option. I wish you the best of luck. It makes me so sad for the young up and comers b/c Advertising was amazing years ago - worked hard and played hard. Now you just work hard.

I feel the same way

I have a creative outlet outside of work. It brings in a little money and I am allowed to create anything I want. If there’s one key thing I learned in my 20 years in this industry…it won’t fulfill all your creative needs. Bottom line you’re limited by the client. Even if the client allows out-there campaigns, there will always be limitations. You have to find the fulfillment elsewhere.

Having now gotten laid off twice, the second being a year at the new company and through no fault of me mine (laid off despite getting exceeds on performance), yeah… started to become convinced I’m not cut out for it. Feeling like I’ll never find a job again. I’m a hard worker, and I think I just need the right opportunity, but maybe I just suck lol.

I feel the same. I used to really love making work, I started out as a designer before I became an AD so I’ve been doing this for a while. I also make Instagram posts and it feels like no one is ever happy, all they want is more, for less, and quicker, and as long as you can accomplish that it’s on to the next thing.