New here and would love some advice. Currently considering a role at R/GA California, and am curious (aka worried) about the work-life balance. I’m currently at another agency and we *never* receive emails at 5 pm. Anyone at R/GA have any insight into the work culture, especially in California? Note: this role pays 40% more than what I currently make so I’m leaning towards taking it, just trying to figure out if it’s worth it.
Chief
Universally at a big agency in LA you can expect to be working past 5PM.
That being said, R/GA LA is not one of their bigger offices and R/GA in general isn’t known as a sweatshop, so I’d expect more of a 9:30-6:30 lifestyle. Also obviously depends on your client as well, but that 40% raise comes with the higher expectations and greater workload of a big network agency.
Worked at RGA for 5 years (no longer there). Worked until 630 minimum every night but definitely had frequent busy periods / projects /accounts that had me working 11/12 hour days or longer depending on the deadlines. It’s the kind of place where you will need to put in the time and effort but can get some great experience out of it, and I always loved the people. But it’s not an easy place to just “coast” and you don’t go there for the work life balance
This is the first accurate response
Super high-grind place. Work life balance is leaned more towards the work part but depends on the account like everyone here is saying. My group works a ton during the week but not as common on weekends, other groups it’s more of a steady daily thing including weekends, other groups are more 9-5. I don’t regret taking the job at all and love the work and accounts, so it depends on what is worth it to you.
Very much depends on the account. But in general, emails after 5 are unavoidable at r/ga.
Cali has a different mindset. In my experience with the office the majority of work happens from 9-3p.
You will work long days, it’s really just the culture. I average at least 10-12 hours a day.
Yep
So R/GA LA and SF is run as one combined California office. The clients include Google, Patreon, Reddit, Slack, Roku, Opendoor.
You can set some boundaries as an individual and people will be mostly understanding (bc the people are great), but you’ll have to be comfortable swimming against the current as the work culture is not chill at all. Even for work that is so-so, the mindset at R/GA is to always do your best work on everything. It can be motivating but grinding at the same time.
Expect emails past 5. And most likely until 7. Also, most offices work within the network, so you could be working on a client in NY, so early mornings on the west coast may be a thing.
What department are you Director?
5pm emails are common in most companies, so expect some here. And the leadership team in California care for their people, so you'll be ok.
Appreciate this, thank you.
Pro
La or sf
I believe they still have both offices but everyone is for the most part working remote, just combined it into one CA office structurally
You have to define this for yourself. Are you willing to sacrifice your WLB for more money?
Honestly it’s not that crazy IMO!
Any RGA folks have deets on how the Creative teams & projects are? What Clients does RGA LA work on??
I coast some days. Some days I’ve worked until 9pm, but I will say the people are great and supportive. I have to be on call on weekends at times but taking time off is encouraged.