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I literally got my life back from going in-house.
I was one of those ad people who could recite every ad ever made, what it won, and would shoot down ideas because Ogilvy Mongolia made something similar in 1993. I thought that winning awards and my peers respect was what it was all about.
Then it came crashing down a few years ago. From a puddle of mental health issues I slowly built myself back together, and have for the first time in my career I am content, and not full of crippling fear of not being good enough. To make it even more surreal, I was for a few years one of the most awarded creatives on the planet. Still I felt awful and inadequate. Makes no sense.
I’ve worked in-house the last 5 years and I work with beautiful smart and creative people that also care about me as a person. My pay increase let me pay off all my debts and buy a house. My great WLB and WFH forever policies have let me travel and see more places than I would in decades.
I am for the first time in my life actually happy, and it feels great. :)
Agencies did nothing for me. Toxic environments, terrible WLB, super competitive, one-way-loyalty, and an industry that is slowly sinking. I can not imagine myself ever returning, unless I am forced to by layoffs.
Mind sharing your company? Looking to make the jump brand side after over 8 years waiting for even one agencies to actually even half way live in to what they sell to candidates.
I went in house and hated it. The culture was toxic and the pay was comparable. Sure the hours were better but when you hate every minute when you’re in the office, it doesn’t matter.
sorry your experience was bad. which industry? and what’d you do about it?
In house is extremely vague, what type of company/brand, what industry? Can’t help unless you want to be a bit more specific.
IMO Glassdoor is not a reasonable yard stick to measure a prospective employer by…
retail/e-commerce. discounted luxury brands. cash infusion/re org recently and i’m being interviewed for one of two new hires to support a marsci team. interviewer seemed really pleasant and the work is interesting. they come from a consulting background so not sure if they expect 40+ hours or that’s what they’re trying to escape themselves
I moved in house and love it. A difference of .5 stars on Glassdoor is a silly reason to choose one employer over another. There’s a bunch of pro cons to consider, and it’s important to know what you are looking for in a role. The industry and company culture will be a huge factor. For me, the work life balance of in house was a huge draw vs the crazy agency hours I was working. Ultimately you need to have a sense of what would make you happy.
Voile be worth posting about the actual company on one of the bowls and getting first hand feedback from current employees
I maintain that in-house is always easier on accounts.
Depends on what kind of person you are. I went in house 14 years ago, and never looked back. My old agency life was extremely short lived, and despite the frequent parties, this particular place was trash. People were disrespectful and inexperienced, and my time outside of work was 100% not respected.
I work in old-world financial services, and yeah- it’s about as sexy as it sounds. But my w/l balance is paramount, I’m now remote forever, and the creative team is working to get people opportunities if they ask for them. I just worked on a project to help close a multi-billion dollar business deal, and I was recognized and heaped praise up and down so we get recognition when we deserve it. My team and bosses are respectful and care about our work without taking credit for themselves.
It all comes down to team/company culture at any particular place. I’ve thought about leaving for more interesting industry from time to time, but I find if you enjoy where you work, the people you work with, and you can take opportunities to try something new from time to time, it trumps the work itself.
I make over 140k + rsus + bonuses and work maybe 20 hours a week, 30 on a "tough" week. (In a FAANG)
Sure I make less work but my books filled with bigger spots for a big brand, not just a bunch of Verizon and Twisted Tea preroll.
If you're a non creative I imagine it's even easier because you get to BE the client and make my life hell, but I'll put up w it for this much cash and free time!
Hiring? 😦
I picked the wrong in-house. I’m at the Mickey Mouse club. Hours are agency-like, but now I just get gaslit by my boss saying the company values w-l balance, while telling me everything is due now per talent/VPs, and filling 8hrs of my day for meetings alone.
Do your homework - I didn’t. I just said “oh not agency? Ok” now I’m looking for anything
hope it gets better soon friend. i’m trying not to fall into this trap myself
As others said, depends where. I hated going FAANG. Super toxic and life sucked.
Your manager matters a lot more at FAANG since a lot of them stack rank at annual reviews. I loved my tech job until I got a bad manager and then it was torture.