Weird Sunday night existential crisis.. Idk what to do next (cont’d in post)

You’re better off IMO, at least for now. In-house tends the be more secure. I also preferred it as there wasn’t as much backstabbing and competition.

Worked my entire career in-house specializing in ecomm. I guess if i had to I’d keep going that route.. would like to get into an agency. I keep building and boosting my portfolio but i feel like I’m damaged goods and agencies have zero interest in hiring me. They probably see “in-house” and dismiss me.

In Ny. I’d stay in-house, but i feel like the big companies here (Facebook, google, Spotify) won’t look at me without agency experience. Anywhere else worth going is probably on the west coast.

This may not be what you want to hear. But, if your book is good enough, it doesn’t matter where you came from. Do you have someone on the agency side you know, who can give you an honest critique on where your book stands?

Going agency side, you may need to start at the bottom pay your dues. Creative advertising and e-commerce are different beasts. You are now competing with lots of people fresh out of portfolio school or people with 1 yr agency experience for jobs And to get hired even as a jr cw at an agency you will need to display strong enough conceptual ability in addition to writing craft.

It can absolutely be done if you are willing to put in the work, just recognize it as a significant adjustment from where you are now - if I were in your position i would be making friends with agency creatives, hitting them up for critiques of my book, studying what makes good advertising work and possibly looking at portfolio school

The simplest solution here seems to be find an agency that specializes in ecomm/demand gen? You can probably find root higher up in an agency like that, or at a digital agency. Stay away from the solely creative or creative-led agencies as they are focused more on concept.

Btw I was in the same boat as you a few years ago. Came from a web design background, thought that experience might count for something, it didn’t. But it did give me an edge while at the agency and helped me move up quicker

@Cd1 i know... people keep telling me that. The problem is that my current company isn’t doing great.. rumors of layoffs have been traveling like crazy; my last company had layoffs, so it’s not always so secure.

My biggest thing, even after sleeping on It, is the fear that I’ve silo’d myself a bit. Yes, ecomm is the future of retail and digital marketing is growing... but outside of Jet there’s not many ecomm businesses... and even less companies here that are promising (the big ones probably won’t look my way). I’d have no problem staying in-house if i knew that i could make a career at Facebook or Google, etc.

I’ve got a decent book. I also understand I’d have to start over, which also makes me anxious. I can do It, but I’m about to turn 30 next year and terrified by how the world perceived a 30 yo junior. I would like to start inching toward settling down and all.

@OP Don’t worry about the age you’ll be. I’ve worked with a few people who made late-stage career switches in advertising. No one cares as long as you’re good at your job. Plus, there’s an added benefit in most people assuming you’re more senior than you really are.

If you’re worried about being 30 and starting over, then do it and do it NOW. Before you k ow it you’ll be asking yourself the same questions about the number 50. Voice of experience here.

OP I didn’t get an agency gig until I was 41. Was always in house before that. As my therapist says, the future will reveal itself.

@CD1 what was your progression? I’d love to know - was It normal 1-2 years junior: 3 or so years CW/AD; etc.?

Yes it was a fairly typical progression, but going freelance opened things up for me later on. I started as a copywriter in 2000 at a .com, did that for a year. Then moved in-house, stayed there for 3 years and was promoted to senior, moved to another company, two years same level (people didn’t used to get promoted very quickly back then). Then publishing, where I became a director. I went freelance in 2009 because I had two side gigs that I loved and realized I’d rather freelance. it was all in-house work - I had given up on trying to get into agencies but then got contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn. And that’s how I got my first agency gig. I think you can’t attach yourself to any outcome or tried-and-true career path. I was so grateful and excited but now, am super happy I didn’t get into agencies back in the day. It’s too political and frankly it’s very mean, and I’m saying that as a woman who worked primarily in fashion corporations. At least the sexism is being addressed now. But my heart probs would’ve been broken by what advertising is actually like.

Also, I’ve always worked in digital, was there for the advent of ecommerce. Things are always changing so staying on top of what’s current will help keep you in demand. Best of luck to you!