The advertising industry is notorious for high turnover, with people hopping from one agency to another as a rite of passage. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average turnover rate in the advertising industry hovers around 30% annually.
Understood. You need to focus on No. 1, and when you see a new opportunity, you want to jump on it. But here’s a hot take. What if staying there is the way to get where you want to go?
25 years ago, I started working at Deutsch LA. The first day was like any other, but a month later, and 17 years later. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Year after year, friends in the industry, headhunters, and even family told me it was strange for me to stay at the same company. But I’ve always prioritized what I do and who I do it with. Look at the career equation in a different way.
To be clear, staying in the same place does not mean staying put. I’ve done a lot of work. We were just working at the same company. Here are some tips that took me from entry level to agency leadership.
act as if the boss isn’t there
That doesn’t mean taking the day off and working on your short game. However, people look differently when responsibility is placed on them. If no one else reviews the content, would you leave it as is? Or would you take another look at it and tighten it up a little more?
Ask yourself, what would you do if you were in your boss’s job? What if you had a client job (and responsibility and pressure)? Often it will lead you to better thinking.
Default is “Yes”
A few years ago, I was asked to lead the business development group. I was young for this job and didn’t even know where to start. All I knew was that I said, “Yeah!” Before the question ends. Then, 10 minutes later, reality set in. I had to find a way that would actually help me achieve my goals.
The first pitch I ran was terrible. The second one was just a little easier. Now that I’ve done it hundreds of times, what seemed like a lot of work at the time now feels like a walk in the park.
If someone offers you a new opportunity, jump on it. Even if it scares you a little (in fact, especially if it scares you).
You can wear whatever you want, but please be sure to wear your team jersey
Our sport is a team sport. Whatever your company offers is greater than your contribution. So please help your colleagues. Not because you have to, but because you can.
Instead of trying to be everyone’s manager, be everyone’s go-to assistant. Don’t think your job description is the be-all and end-all of your role. You have unique superpowers that you can leverage to advance your entire team. Doing tangible things for others helps you build lasting, authentic relationships, and a win-win team approach creates more success for yourself and those around you.
Value a culture that values people
People aren’t the only ones looking out for the next big thing.
Agencies are often looking for their next big thing, thinking that some silver bullet might give them an edge. The strongest organizations are built differently. They invest in identifying, training, and developing talent that serves the whole. This is what creates the cultural texture of a company and the runway to build dynasties, not championships.
Perhaps the following companies are worth a look. But let’s also think about the long game. You may decide that staying put might be the best career advancement you’ve ever had.
