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Saturday Wordle 280 3/6
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Has recession started??
Here is my today’s contribution
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I am not convinced your portfolio makes any difference in this market. It’s all relationships.
Not true. I have no doubt mine got dumped on pretty hard. Plus I’m old.
I’ve been there.
Doors never open when you need them to.
The issue with waiting for doors to open and hoping they’ll open for you is there a layers of gatekeepers actively trying to keep those doors shut from you. So you have to be creative and make your own doors. I know that sounds pretentious and impossible but think about how you can use your creativity to make something out there make something wild get someone’s attention, etc. ,,,,,heck, write a brief for it. There’s a solution I promise
Work on your portfolio, and ask former colleagues for honest feedback about how you can improve.
Start looking outside the industry, too. In house isn’t as glamorous but it pays. And it also helps you see how hollow and ridiculous all the “glamour” is, too.
Thanks, I know how it goes, happened to me before, but this time it feels too much... I'll keep going tho.
My guess is that your book probably isn't good enough.
So, you need to work on making it better. Spec work is fine. Or adding to what's there with all the things you wanted to sell but didnt.
Connect with internal recruiters and freelance HR folks. Always be networking and do things that make yourself stand out. Also aim wider with various resumes and diff ways to present your value for diff roles. Post content on LinkedIn about your specialty, a recent campaign you liked or disliked and why, or a pro tip about something in our industry. Try to work on something while you’re looking for work whether paid or not. Post a gig on Fivver. Sign up for diff job sites. Being hungry is not enough, taking action will put odds in your favor. I was out for 14 months. Get creative. Good luck!
Get your own clients
Do what I did - give up, accept that fact that your creative career is over, and take what you can get to survive. I was laid off from my copywriting job two years ago. 2000+ applications and zero offers later, and I’ve had to work minimum wage just so my family can avoid starving.
Young people reading this - dont fall into the consumer trap. SAVE YOUR F*%ING MONEY and invest the hell out of all your options - 401k, IRA, after tax. You cannot outrun the reaper anymore and you need a backstop in this industry. So many stories of people in their 40's losing everything because they did not have any substantial savings. I can name 2 personally who had the nicest house, cars, schools for their kids etc but now find themselves in a foreclosure/short sale situation. I am sorry people get in that position because they mindlessly spend and are not watching their money like hawks (and educating themselves on what to do with that money not stick it in a savings account). I am sorry OP this is happening maybe your next chapter will be completely unexpected and work out better for you.
It’s hard out there but sometimes the market speaks for itself. Try to watch what gigs are posting on LinkedIn and adjust your skills towards that- for example lots of content creator brand work out there, and it’s not too far of a stretch from what we usually do.
Are you making your portfolio better? Sometimes you just need a better book.
Look into consulting. Similar enough to advertising and companies are hiring
Do what I did - realize that a creative career isn’t for you and settle for something else.