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Working for a Competitor
pneumonic
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Need to be talked off the ledge.
I work at an advertising agency primarily on one account. I was approached by a recruiter that hails from a competitor to the account that I work on.
Pay is several thousands more. Benefits are substantially better. Opportunity to learn, as well as the mobility and job security is greater. I haven't signed a non-compete.
The agency that I work at isn't particularly healthy, and while I've been given an offer letter, my title and role at the competitor is kind of vague. I would be coming on board as a consultant and they would find out what I'm particularly good at.
Would I be an idiot for taking it considering how this might look to my coworkers and current client? Would I be an idiot not to take it given the higher pay, benefits, and all that comes with it? If this was anyone else it wouldn't be a big deal, but I feel like this could be a cluster because it's within industry...need perspective.
Thoughts?
I work at an advertising agency primarily on one account. I was approached by a recruiter that hails from a competitor to the account that I work on.
Pay is several thousands more. Benefits are substantially better. Opportunity to learn, as well as the mobility and job security is greater. I haven't signed a non-compete.
The agency that I work at isn't particularly healthy, and while I've been given an offer letter, my title and role at the competitor is kind of vague. I would be coming on board as a consultant and they would find out what I'm particularly good at.
Would I be an idiot for taking it considering how this might look to my coworkers and current client? Would I be an idiot not to take it given the higher pay, benefits, and all that comes with it? If this was anyone else it wouldn't be a big deal, but I feel like this could be a cluster because it's within industry...need perspective.
Thoughts?
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Appreciate the additional perspective...the reason why it feels so personal is because I'm going from a smaller, more tight-nit company to a national corporate entity.
Moving agencies is VERY common. Don't hesitate.
However, it sounds kind of like they're promising a rainbow bridge to a pot of gold. My suggestion would be to try to parse through the sales job of the recruiter and see what it would actually be.
Then feel free to make the best decision for you, without too much regard for your bosses feelings.
From what I gather, consultant is just the term they use for someone who isn't a manager, so fears allayed there.
It helps to hear about others and their experiences, so if anyone has anything else to add I would be great fun. Thanks again.
What's your market and job role?
From the perspective of NYC/LA, there might be somewhat more job security in a client job in the 3-5 year range but all it takes is one change in management or an arbitrary increase in KPIs and suddenly you're out the door and it is far more difficult to find an agency or in house job from that posture.
That being said if you want to stay having a pocket offer is a good way to negotiate from a position of power.
And whilst you can take the offer to your current employer, don't do that until you have a solid offer (a contract, not a letter of intent) because if you are dismissed from job A and then job B fails to materialise you are screwed.
Nusquam Findi Factionis
My Digital Pin Lanyard
Will you be a self-employed consultant? If so you're not going to get benefits, so you'll need to be prepared to buy your own health insurance, fund your retirement accounts, and pay the full payroll tax from the deal they're offering.
This is usually dependent on the relationship you already had, and how you approached it. If you come at it like "hey I got this offer, match it or I'm outta here" then yeah that's going to fuck you over later.
But if you approach them in a totally different way - "I'm extremely happy here, but this offer came out of the blue and is too much to turn down. I have to think about what I can do for my family with this new opportunity. I really don't want to leave, however, as I'm really happy here. Is there anything you can do for me on this offer?"
Edit: This could take 5-7 years or more... but it's super worth it. Also GETH WHYYYYYY???????!!!!!!!!!!
I decided to take the client-side position for a few reasons...
1. It is higher pay, the benefits are amazing, but I make enough money to be very comfortable right now so while this was a nice directional nudge, it wasn't the be all end all.
2. I feel like I'm hitting the peak of opportunity at my agency, which is a smaller shop. While I'm seen as a do it all super star where I currently work, I increasingly desire a mentor or coworkers that I can exchange ideas with, which I don't really have at my current place...
3. I get to learn several new technologies, learn how to navigate a larger corporation, and manage media from the client side which I believe will give me more control over the larger strategic vision, but we'll see...
4. I'm feeling increasingly isolated. A pointlessness to my work. It might be a lack of mentorship as well.
My direct boss was really upset. Director tried to tell me that they could switch me to other accounts to reignite my passion, but it's kind of hard to go from defeating sauron to living life in the shire so to speak...Given the size of the agency and the personal nature of the team...I get it...but I've automated a lot of processes and mentored other team members to the point of making myself almost redundant! So they'll be fine...
The title "consultant" is really just a misnomer...I'm an employee of the company.
@kaliyama - vertical is finance and I would be managing a portfolio of digital media. The company isn't very cut throat...very family orientated despite its size and interested in maintaining work-life balance. The team seems highly intelligent...and the opportunity to grow in various directions strong (some people went from IT to this team, or onto HR, etc). In the future I'd likely want to move into Boston and continue managing digital media/paid search in some capacity. In your experience does going client side tend to hinder a person's ability to transition back to the agency side?
Awesome, you never know what the future may bring! Advertising is all about the networking.