What are the perks/drawbacks of working at a creative agency vs media agency? Could be quality of work, work/life balance, compensation, etc

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Ah I see the condescension isn’t lost here from the creative folks

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I guess the truth is like that sometimes.

I don't think this is quite your question, but I've worked as a media planner at full service agencies (that prioritize functions other than media) and media only agencies.

Work-life balance was better full service but that's simply a function of the accounts I was on. Pay was also 33% higher than media only agencies, and people seemed more pleasant overall. There wasn't a churn and burn mentality and there appeared to be a lower turnover rate. BUT full service agencies typically don't have a robust suite of media planning tools or very many people with deep media knowledge. Lots of condescension from other functions because they think media is just the purchasing of banner ads and print insertions.

If you like media and you want to be hone your skills as a media planner/buyer, I'd say stick with a media only agency. The hours and pay likely won't be as good, but you'll learn how to do the job well without having to defend the value of what you do. If you'd like to impact a broader set of work (and theoretically make truly integrated marketing communications plans), go full service.

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It’s a totally different skill set for the most part. Not sure you can look at it apples to apples

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I can’t speak for creative, but media is live, breathe, die excel. You can’t hang unless you know your way around a spreadsheet.

Work/life balance in my experience is a function of the account you’re working on and the management you’re under. Compensation is shitty in the first couple years, but I think that’s any agency job. The key is to find a client you enjoy. My first couple jobs were automative and it was boring AF.

As for perks, there are many events, dinners, etc

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Do you like art or science? Do you prefer to create an ad or have an algorithm create it. Start there.

Is your question more about a media planner’s experience in a media-only agency vs. a creative agency? I know someone who left a media agency for a creative agency because the work-life balance would be better. But she was at Mediahub (for whatever that’s worth).

Planners function as “strategists” at creative agencies correct? Or am I totally off

Planners and strategists are mildly interchangeable on the creative side.

I can’t imagine working at a media agency. I suppose the work life balance could be better, but you get paid peanuts. I found out what a peer at a media agency makes and was shocked..... it’s so much less.

The work seems boring too and often just downstream. It definitely does not require the same levels of intelligence and insight, or the understanding of research. I guess they use MRI and excel more?

If someone went from creative to media, from my perspective it’s a big step down and a sign that they sucked at creative and failed out.

It’s not hard if you’re good at it. It’s fun.

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I guess a smart media planner is a version of a comms planner/comms strategist at a creative agency. Valuable skill but not that demanding or interesting.

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