Starting to think about making the switch from agency to brand side. Any tips from strategists who have already made the jump? And is there a level at which it makes the most sense (i.e. should I wait until I make Director and then make the switch, or does it not really matter)?

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I’m at director level and I kind of feel like it’s too late. There are fewer opportunities and it’s super competitive and the jobs typically require specialized knowledge. But there are plenty of opportunities at the manager level to get a foot in the door and prove yourself/work your way up.

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☝🏻this. Same experience. Same hurdles. Shared POV and approach.

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Noooo! It’s a matter of language. I actually think it’s much harder to move to agency from brand. From agency to brand you need to find ways to translate your strategist resume into the way brands speak about marketing — on the brand side we look at ad folks like purists of marketing + you know how to avoid pitfalls of working with underwhelming agencies!

I do agree though that you’ll need to gain a broader view of the world on the brand side, since many agencies plop strategists in a lane where the work you do is very exploratory and dependent on the agency’s capabilities. If you’ve worked with Director level people in your target industries and companies you’ll know better — but we’re all just trying to figure it all out as we go, just like everyone else, and often relying on our agencies to come through and save our asses. Context is everything.

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I don’t work client side but it’s so true that everyone is trying to figure it out. So many folks on the client side go from one competitor to the next so they don’t have the experience of working across categories. Also seems like even at the c-suite level, folks are trying to figure things out.

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