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Enthusiast
Finally left TCS last week and feel the most happiest person ever.TCS was my 4th organisation and I had joined TCS to settle for long term but after 1 year I realised this is the worst organisation one can be with.No first year hike for laterals, no support provided to hard working dedicated employees, only support and leaves are gifted to employees who do nothing and know nothing except dodging work and getting escalations from clients.Forced wfo, forced completion of useless trainings etc.
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I think it’s a few things but the biggest I’d say is being autonomous. Not having to be told what to do. Handle putting together a client facing deck or a director outreach deck with little oversight, including a bit of storytelling.
I was going to say this. Usually being ready for senior level means you don’t need any hand holding.
Pro
Senior: typically 5-7 years’ experience, leads mids, has been on many productions, reliable concepter, bigger/platform thinking, has client rapport or is capable of developing it
Mid: 3-6 years’ experience, leads juniors and interns, solid hardworking creative (can write/art direct but needs guidance), typically works on some concepting and a lot of executional work
Junior: 0-2 years’ experience, learning the ropes, might be assigned to executional creative (banners, paid social)
I don’t think it nec requires any experience managing other creatives, that’s more for ACD level and up, imho. But I do think you should be able to be the sole writer on an account and pretty much be able to nail it every day, even with tough deadlines. Plus not need a ton of rounds to make your creator director happy/ be able to hit it out of the park fairly quickly. CDs & ECDs promote people when they no longer need much managing and redirection. Ideally you should be a strong enough writer so that your work can win an entire pitch on its own, beating out the work of other CWs who have more experience than you. Then you’ll get promoted.
Might not be the right answer but I had an ECD tell me that you know you’re ready for a promotion when you can prove that you’re capable of doing / are already doing what that next role would require you to do. So mid-levels will be helping younger creatives with their work, will be volunteering to handle more on their own, etc. Again, not sure if it’s just led to me doing more than I’m paid to, but it’s been decently fruitful!
Also, some of the best seniors I know had 5 years of experience under their belt, and some had 3 when they got promoted. Everyone grows and progresses at their own pace and you’ll know when you’re ready to take that next step!
I’ve made it to senior without ever leading other lower level creatives.
You’re not wrong.
I’ve never had to lead lower level creatives as a senior. Unfortunately, I do think experience plays a big part in it. But I’ll try to give specific experience you need:
Productions - you’ve been on a few and know how it works. Not to mention it’s your ideas being produced. You don’t need hand holding through the post production process and make good/smart judgement decisions.
Client facing - you present work in calls and can interact with clients appropriately on productions and in day to day meetings.
Quality - you’re consistently bringing work that hits the target of being on brief and being creative/interesting. Within this, you also show you can tap into a brand’s tone or look and feel faster than those at lower levels. Who may need revisions because their work is “off brand”