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every creative has their confidence crushed. Tenacity is the one trait that will help you succeed in this industry. But you have to want to do the job. If you like it... keep pushing.
Pro
Well, yeah...you're a junior copywriter
First off, it's pretty normal for juniors to work on the low visibility projects. You're not expected to perform at that level yet. You're there to make mistakes, learn, grow, and develop your skills. At least that's how juniors are treated at good agencies.
Second, getting a job in advertising is hard enough. And a junior role is one of the hardest roles to break into, so if you got in, you must be doing something right. And you're still there. So that's an accomplishment in itself.
Third, I went through something similar to what you're going through as well. I hated my first job in advertising and wanted to quit the industry as a whole, but it was only until my second job I realized it wasn't the industry but the environment itself. Especially if your first job is at a large network shop, you get lost in the sea of faces. My second role was at a smaller boutique agency where I was able to stand out more. So maybe consider a switch. Your first job is usually any job you can get, but be selective about your second job. Ask questions during the interview and find your good fit.
Good luck!
Everyone has their confidence crushed. I've had mine crushed everyday for the past 12 years. Just keep pushing through.
To early to quit man. Just keep executing those small things and bringing big ideas to the table, advocating for your ideas and bigger projects and they’ll come your way.
Unless you’re genuinely bad at your job, but as long as you’re willing to learn there’s so many books and stuff.
As someone who’s also been in the agency world for a year (media agency) and been in similar situations, I always think back to the “that’s what the money is for” scene in Mad Men.
Obviously agency culture has changed a lot since the 60s/70s and the money sure isn’t the same but still, we’re bottom of the ladder. No matter the industry, being the young guys means having our ideas get shot down and stolen, our names left off big projects, taking the blame for when shit goes wrong, and overall just having to kiss ass and take shit from everyone. Just keep your head down and stick with it, our time will come eventually. Right now it’s just about cutting your teeth and getting as much experience as you can.
As for your CD, that’s not on you. You and your team are a reflection of your manager, so if your CD isn’t giving you good feedback, they’re setting you up for failure. I’d maybe look internally and see if there are openings on other teams. Maybe look outside too.
Best of luck, stick with it, and stay strong. It will get better
Advertising has always been a game of last man standing. Pretty much 100% of your ideas are going to get shut down for various reasons. Only when right team, right brief, right time and many other things align great things happen.
Your position is quite a privilege if you think about it. You don’t have to crack every brief. There will be more senior people responsible for those briefs to do the dirty work. Don’t worry about ideas being ignored/taken serious/recognised/exsctly fitting the brief.
As a junior, the best thing you can do is really try to bring things to the table that push the briefing and the creative. Find something you personally really want to bring and try to really keep bringing YOUR best answers to the brief.
Even though things might not work out now, people will remember the kind of ideas you bring.
And besides that, as a junior, proactive thinking (at least in my experience) is the best way of learning how to play with ideas. The same idea can become so much more interesting with a shift of angle or rephrasing something.
Relax. Let go of the expectations. Focus on bringing fun stuff you personally really like. Everything else will work out.
You got this! I’ve been doing this close to 30 years and my entire career has felt those same sort of ebbs and flows. The highlights do make it worth it, I promise. And the hard stuff, does, quite possibly, all happen for some sort of reason. And frankly, in the current financial climate, know you’re doing something right if you’re still there! Is your CD approachable enough to have a separate chat about what they think your work? Or is there someone else you could get mentoring from within the agency?
If possible find a friend or mentor who is not your CD. Most people actually like to help people coming up and you should not have to do it alone. Your CD is not doing their job if not giving direct feedback but in fairness they are probably feeling the same way you are and hiding it with experience and talent.
As a junior, do your best work every time, get it done on time, and make sure people like you. The opportunities will come.