Welp I’m nearing my first month into this AAE position, and now I’m realizing why I should’ve really seen being hired 30 min after the last interview as a huge 🚩🚩. I’m on 4 accounts and all of the previous AEs are transitioning off completely, essentially leaving me as the account lead. I do have two directors who share my accounts but they literally started a week after me, so I’ve really been getting crash courses and left to swim. Not totally a problem, but considering my title and salary…

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If everyone is jumping ship, it’s actually going to be a great opportunity for you. I’d talk to your bosses about a one time retention bonus now, and then after a couple months of running things without the AEs, push for a promotion for yourself. This happened to me when I was an AE, and I went from AE to Sup after four months bc of how I was able to weather the storm and advocate for myself.

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This is smart advice!!!

The situation you are describing has become all too familiar in today’s agency business.

I hope it gets better, but it probably won’t, for reasons beyond the control of you or new Account Directors. Too many agency people are living this reality. Of course you should talk to your leadership about making it more sane, etc.; but you should also likely start looking as a backup & be very clear in your head this time about what a sustainable client/assignment looks like.

Hang in there & I know you will do well for yourself!

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In one of my first account management roles, EVERYONE in the AM/PM dept on my account left within 6 months of my start date. That's an AS, two ADs, a VP and four PMs of various levels.

At each person's goodbye party, someone else would tell everyone they just put in their two weeks notice.

It was terrifying, especially as someone without much experience. But it really forced me to grow quickly, to become more confident, to learn how to learn and adapt to changes.

Things might be tough now, but if you can pull through it, you'll be incredibly valuable to the company what with everyone else gone - and can use that to push for better title/pay when the time is right.

uplifting

As previously mentioned, this is the sad reality that is all too common. You need to find an agency that invests in your development and offers you proper training and onboarding. You can take the route of chasing titles or money simply by being the last man standing; however this will catch up to you and you’ll realize when you become a VP, you haven’t really built up your skills as a marketer or true business consultant for your clients. In the face of that existence, you won’t properly mentor your staff and the vicious cycle will continue.

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I’ve seen someone leverage a similar situation for a promotion to AE within a month. So if you think you can handle it, why not try?

I had a similar situation at the beginning of my career and while it absolutely sucks and is difficult, it does really give you a leg up for your career growth. I think I was an AE for about 7 months and then an AM for another year before moving to another agency as an SAM for a significant increase in salary (and also a strong team to learn from). My advice: You’ll have access to opportunities you’d not get at a larger/better staffed agency so when the going gets rough just keep that in mind - but keep an eye out for your next job too

Had the same experience early in my career. It’s sucks, but well worth it in the long run. You’ll become invaluable to the agency, gets lots of exposure and opportunities other people at your level at other places aren’t getting. Long hours are annoying but pay your dues and it’s going to help you out in the future

I had a very similar experience at the beginning of the year, and it was very stressful. I thought about leaving, and even interviewed elsewhere, several times.

Looking at it now, it was a tremendous opportunity to fast track my learning and career. I learned so many things so much faster than I ever could have otherwise. I already got promoted once, negotiated a retention bonus, and was just told I’m on the brink of another promotion to Supervisor, all within 9 months. It has been rewarding, and I am proud of myself, but it was also exhausting and burned me out quickly.

Though they’re nice, especially in a turbulent year, job security and financial compensation do not pay the emotional taxes of being a human. If you do decide to stick it out, work hard to find a balance between work and life, even if it feels like the sky is falling on your accounts. And be an advocate for yourself and your hard work, especially if your ADs are new as well. Get in the trenches with them now and it could pay off big in the medium term. Good luck!

Also been here— it seems scary, but also seasons you really quickly and establishes you as an authority on the account. Has helped my career immensely.

When you survive this it’ll be a good answer to behavioural interviews

Any agency spreading a AAE that thin isn’t a good agency. Grab the experience and leverage in 6 months to get a promotion somewhere else.

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