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I have joined Infosys 2 weeks back. They have mapped me to a certain project but everyday I am getting calls for the skill sets that don't match to my current skill set. They are telling me to attend client interview and giving me just 1 week of time to prepare for a totally new technology.
Does this commonly happen in Infosys? Infosys
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Ageism is a big problem in this industry, no doubt. If it makes you feel any better, I was a mid-level at 35 (switched over from another discipline). 43 now, and made enough headway to make ACD last year.
People are going to have preconceptions, due to your age, for sure, but you can prove them wrong by doing great and relevant work, and just being a cool person in general. Good luck!
It’s even worse for women. Most people mistake me for 28, which is awesome but I’m worried about my career trajectory when people realize I’m actually 37.
44. Still mid-level. Still old. Still here.
35 isn’t old. Don’t be ridiculous.
I quit law school during my last year, could not see myself working as a lawyer for the rest of my life.
I was 31 when I got my first job as an intern in the ad industry. Got hired as an AD a year later, few weeks ago I got promoted to Senior AD (and I’m 34 - almost 35).
I have much more life experience that I can bring to the table and that helps you climb the ladder faster. Work hard, be nice to people and nothing will ever stop you.
Good luck!
I can’t believe you think 37 is old. 85 is old!
I've hired a lot of creatives. Age doesn't make a difference in the world. I find it harder and harder to guess (with any accuracy) how old somebody is anymore. Is your work cool? Do you play well with others? Can you put in the hours? Do you respond well to constructive direction? Do you have a great energy that people respond to? If "yes", then you are in short supply. Not sure I'd care if you're 70.
Yeesh, the indignant rage of fishbowl strikes again.
I'm turning 36 next month and just hit Senior level so I get what you mean. In an industry where a large portion of the creative departments are stacked with fresh faced grads it sometimes feels odd to be older and not running the show.
I think there will always be a market as long as your ideas are fresh, you work hard, and you're not an a-hole. Glad to see creative directors weighing in and saying age doesn't mean anything to them.
I know it's not old but I make the same as my 25-year-old co-workers. And most creatives my age are ACD/CD level.
Get better
35? My kids are almost 35 and I still work.
Stop whining. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.
What DDB said. 👆🏻 The older you are the more life experience and work ethic you've cultivated. (Sometimes) use that to your advantage and become a confident, reliable and creative power house so everyone just assumes you're a CD.
I’ve met interns in their early-mid 30s. Most of the mid levels when I was at Mullen were in their 30s. No one will bat an eye.
Put together a baller book and freelance yourself up a level or two. Then get yourself hired at that level
Really, 35 is old? Get over yourself .
I don't feel like I'm old but I'm asking from an agency perspective.
There’s an advantage to being a 35 mid-level copywriter as opposed to a CD. You have more options available as there’s a lot more mid weight roles around than CD. And you’re not expensive. You will be judged as a mid weight, based on your folio, CV and personality. People will think “here is a chance to get some more maturity in my team without breaking the budget.” There’s a lot of unemployed CDs looking for work, because the higher up you go, the less opportunity there is.
I find that the people thinking about age the most are the people who are getting older, not management. @ogilvyMather1 has it right. As long as you’re doing all the things she said (yes I said “she” because I can tell that the advice is coming from a woman) you will be fine.
Stop thinking about and mentioning age