If you’re in the communications industry, you’ve likely debated working at a marketing agency or in-house for an organization or nonprofit within their marketing and communications department. Agencies are known for providing a fast-paced environment with an opportunity to touch many aspects of client work, are typically known to have pretty creative office spaces (think lush greenery walls, perfect for amping up your selfie game), and stimulating work that changes often. While some thrive off of this type of scenario, others lean more towards the consistent day-to-day expectation of working on relatable projects that an organization may yield. Wondering if an agency work environment is for you? Check out a few of the reasons why we feel an agency it’s where it’s at.
Kickstart your career.
Whether you’re fresh out of college, or a seasoned professional, agencies provide a unique opportunity to improve upon your already established skill set, mentor your co-workers, or learn something completely new. At an agency, you’ll likely be responsible for managing multiple clients, representing a variety of brands and working across a multitude of industries. You’ll develop a range of skills, gain a variety of insights and build up a diverse portfolio that you can be proud of.
“I worked in-house for a couple of companies for 10 years of my career,” said creative specialist Allison Richter. “Now that I’ve transitioned to working on the agency side of things, I feel empowered to learn new skills outside of my original scope of work; each client has unique needs which really allows me to push my creative boundaries.. Plus, I’m able to teach my colleagues how to improve their own graphic design skills so we’re all more well-rounded.”
Another great benefit to working at an agency is you can get to know more about which part of the marketing and communications industry you like best. As our Founder always says, ‘Finding what you love to do is key, but realizing what you don’t like to do is just as important.’. If you love working with people and managing processes, account management is for you. You can flex your creativity through writing and graphic design, or get technical with data analytics. Ad agencies give you the ability to work with multiple departments, get inspired by your coworkers, and understand what truly goes into driving business results. Additionally, working at an agency (usually) means working with a small, close-knit team. Everyone’s role is crucial to the success of the business and to the success of your clients, meaning leadership will recognize your unique impact for the team.
Keep it interesting.
In addition to strengthening your skillset, working at an agency also means you get to act as the marketing arm for a variety of companies, spanning a multitude of industries. This means that even if you have a set role on your team, you’ll get to do something different every single day.
“My position allows me to work on a variety of projects that I’m passionate about, spanning across a variety of companies, industries, and communications tactics,” said senior account coordinator Presley Price. “Each day has its own unique challenge to overcome. Working with so many different clients pushes you to see each company from a different perspective than if you worked solely on that account, while also building your expertise in industries you never thought you’d be able to understand.”
Another great benefit of working at an agency is being surrounded by other marketing professionals. Being fully immersed in the industry will help you keep up-to-date on all the latest trends, best practices, and industry jargon. You’ll be able to benefit from the input from co-workers that may not be very familiar with your client. For example, discussing digital strategies for the banking industry may yield a unique return if applied in the Real Estate world. Their outside perspectives may lend to ideas you wouldn’t have imagined by working closely to the client day-to-day. With your team’s combined experience, you’ll be able to provide each of your clients a variety of ideas, creative influences, and industry knowledge to help them succeed.
Expand your network.
Working directly for an organization or nonprofit can provide great benefits, a wealth of knowledge in your respective field of focus, and opportunities for long-term success. But, it may also keep you siloed and limit the options you have to meet more individuals that are within your industry. Yes, those contacts you make within the organization are great, don’t get us wrong! But, they represent a very small fraction of like-minded, creatives such as yourself. An agency environment will completely flip that environment on its head and provide ample opportunities to engage with people at all levels of seniority, across industries and even across a large geographic territory, depending on the agency’s business model. If you’re new to an area, just starting your career path or are looking to expand your network and build long-term relationships, an agency might be the better fit for you.
Work hard and play hard, too.
If you do the math, you may find you spend more time with your co-workers each week than your friends or family. A company’s culture permeates the personal lives of employees and can impact most areas of business, including talent acquisition and retention, overall job satisfaction and client relations. Agencies have a reputation for having great company culture, and for good reason. Agency offices typically operate by a work hard, play hard mentality. Teams are often brought together by the volume and urgency of their work. A typical day can be pressured and fast-paced, but fun all at the same time.
“We help each other grow and lean on one another inside and outside of the office,” said account coordinator Merritt Malone. “We’re constantly pushing one another to be the very best versions of ourselves and to provide the best services to our clients. Nothing feels better than succeeding alongside your colleagues and friends.
Working at an agency enables you to fully grasp the power of good marketing and public relations, accelerate your personal maturity and professional development, and learn something new every day. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-energy work environment where you can learn, network, innovate and be recognized, an agency could be the best fit for you.
Interested in seeing if Flourish might be a good fit? Send us a note with what you feel you can bring to the team and we’ll chat.