It's a very different world to where we were a year ago. For those who managed to keep a job during the GFC, you may remember being miserably chained to your desk like a sweatshop worker while day-dreaming of the "glory days". It was a time where we were told to be grateful for having a job and being expected to work increasingly longer and harder as resources dwindled.
It’s amazing to see how in times like that, your resume goes from its humble home, subtly tucked away in a folder named "Misc" to being blatantly displayed on your desktop for all to see.
Thankfully, things have started to pick up since, and once again we find ourselves in a dynamic industry. Agencies are hiring, clients are spending and we as workers should finally start to see the benefits of the past year's hard slog. There’s no doubt that there has been a noticeable turnaround. However, there is an outcome that has reared its ugly head.
Agencies are losing people faster than a skunk at a garden party. The tightening of belts and decrease in resources over the past year has clearly left a bitter taste in many and we are now flying the coop.
It’s clear to see that the market is just adjusting itself, however, we are somewhat of the opinion that agencies didn’t anticipate a mass exodus of these proportions. And on this occasion we actually don’t think it’s the agencies' fault.
There is no doubt that, through tough times, the thought of doing other things is somewhat comforting, but in truth it will only get you so far. Yes, if you change agencies you can get yourself a 5k to 10k pay rise... Wow, order a bottle of Veuve and get me a Scrooge McDuck money pit. Sounds great but if you’re relatively junior, you are resetting your career button back to zero. The first two years of your career is your chance to cement your agency's faith in your ability and reputation. Money is bloody important but as any senior person will tell you, career progression is 10 times more valuable.
There are many occasions when moving on is the right thing to do, but that decision should be thoroughly considered with the appropriate amount of perspective applied. Our ability as planner/buyers to tell people what we want is supposed to be our bread and butter... If you’re unhappy then talk to someone about it, tell them why and be honest because if you talk to any manager or HR person, nine times out of 10 they will say that people tell them what they wanted when it’s too late to give it to them.
For those short-sighted rookies who jumped ship to another agency or made the clichéd move to sales, feel free to comment and justify your move till your fingers bleed. My guess, is that about 1% of you actually took the time to talk to someone who could help you figure out what the hell it is you wanted before you even started thinking about leaving.
So when you rock up at your shinny new agency, with your extra $200 a month in your pocket and realise that no one knows your name. You might realise that the grass isn’t always greener.