What to Consider When You’re Thinking of Applying For a New Creative Job.
Vol. 044
What to Consider When You’re Thinking of Applying For a New Creative Job.
The pros, cons and process of staying at your current position or applying for a new creative job.
A quick bite:
Changing jobs! Whether from one fulltime job to another, or transitioning into or out of freelancing — the process is a bit scary. But, with a bit of thinking, planning, and assessing, you can make a grounded decision. Here’s a few things to consider when you’ve come time the crossroads of “should I stay or should I go?”
Continue reading below…
Looking for jobs is as exciting as it is scary.
Whether it’s a move from Job A to Job B, or a transition into or out of freelancing, there’s a lot of factors to consider. Your inclination to find a new job may be a financially-motivated decision, a decision made due to management, work, projects or simply “the grass is greener” motivation.
When you’re making the choice, be sure your head is on straight. Try to take the emotion out of the equation, and think logically about your choices. Remember, oftentimes the grass is always greener. But sometimes it’s not. I’ve freelanced at 10+ different agencies: all different sizes, workflows, management, etc... most of them had similar nuances. I.e., most of them had some perks, and most of them and some internal/underlying bullshit. It’s inevitable!
A job move feels like a huge deal, but at the same time, it's completely ephemeral. In many ways, a change is the biggest little deal (or littlest big deal?) out there.
A job chance could prove to be the stepping stone that blasts your career into outer space: you'll work on that one project with that one client that connects all of the career dots, and you'll start making millions. Or, maybe that'll happen next week in your current position, and you just don't know it yet?
Regardless of where, why or what your creative job transition looks like, it's worth considering a few things:
Make a pro and con list: what are the pros and the cons of your current position? What are the pros and cons of a new job? How do these net out?
What is your current job situation lacking that is causing you to look for a new job? Or, maybe it's not lacking anything, and it's simply the intrigue of the unknown of a new job that is interesting to you. If the latter is the case, try to articulate what exactly it is that's alluring about finding a new job. i.e. are you excited about new coworkers? Better projects/work? More money? More/less structure? Forcing yourself to identify what you’re hoping to find in a new job will not only help you narrow your focus, but will ensure you’re making the right choice for the right reason.
A few common reasons you might leave your current creative position and look for another as well as thoughts for and against these reasons:
Networking: A new job could be great for building a larger network in your industry. Though, there are absolutely other opportunities for networking all the time. Checkout Eventbrite, Facebook, and local design publications for info on networking opportunities.
Money: Probably one of the most common reasons for a job change. If you’re looking to work at an agency, consider that many design agency jobs will have you working 50+hr weeks. This is fine (I work 50+ hours most weeks) but it does affect how you should view your salary. Let’s say you take a position as a mid-level designer for $75k. If you work 40hr weeks, that’s $36.06/hr. But, if you’re working 50hr weeks, that’s $28.85/hr. Ensure that you understand your new positions standard work week and expectations so you can accurately assess your compensation.
Structure/Management: Before making a move, consider having a transparent and open conversation with your superiors — ask from them exactly what you need, or make note of what’s not currently working for you. If you need them to be more assertive in their management style, simply ask! If you need more thorough reviews, request for them! If you need to step up from doing "this task" and start doing "that task", tell them exactly that. This may come as a surprise, but your boss can't read your mind. So, talk to them.
Better projects/work: Tell your employer what you want to be doing. Additionally, you can focus on carving out time for passion work outside of your day job. While yes, it’s idyllic to have a job that pays you well, you do awesome work, and you love what you do. But sometimes a job is simply an opportunity to money so that you can pursue your passion outside of work. Oftentimes the expectation is that you get to pursue your passion and make great money — but that’s not always the case.
Consider the work, responsibilities, freedoms (or lack thereof) resources, connections that you currently have. How are they? Do you want more or less? What would this potential new job offer? Be sure to be realistic.
Additionally, consider the process of transitioning. While change is absolutely a positive thing, be sure to consider what that change might entail.
Staying at your current position:
Benefits of staying: you're plugged in, you have the workflow, responsibilities, intricacies figured out.
Downfalls of staying: you're feeling stagnant, your boss sucks, your coworkers are lacking, you hate the work, you're not paid enough.
Leaving your current position:
Benefits of leaving: shiney new job / work / people, new space (if COVID doesn't hold us back), more money/benefits, new learning
Downfalls of leaving: need to tighten up portfolio, the job might not be what you thought it'd be, the hours could change, the commute may suck,
When wavering on a choice, my parents taught me to make the decision (internally) and sit with that choice. Like, truly commit to a decision, accept that as "reality", and sit with that thought for a few days. How does it feel?
Make the job change (or not) in your head. Sit with it, and note how you feel. Are you anxious (or are those nerves just excitement?) Do you feel weird? Do you feel there is an opportunity for growth? Do you miss your old job? Take note of how you feel when making the decision internally, and that could help your decision making.
If you’re considering going from a fulltime job to freelancing, or vice versa, here’s a few further thoughts.
The benefits of freelancing:
Freedom of schedule
You can charge what you want (the trickier part is establishing yourself and conveying your value to actually charge what you deserve)
Unlimited (unpaid) vacation time
Have more control over the clients and work you do
Manage clients/projects
The downfalls of freelancing:
Nothing is guaranteed: work, pay, clients, projects — nothinng.
You are the CEO, salesperson, marketer, project manager, account manager, creative director, designer, production designer, copywriter... you wear all the hats.
Hard to disconnect — when you stop working, the business essentially halts.
You need to make more to be a viable business: you pay for everything: health insurance, no 401k match, all computers, hardware and software, insurance, etc.
The benefits of taking a full time creative job:
You only have one job: show up and be decent at it and you're essentially fine.
Pay is guaranteed
Paid vacation time, health care and 401k match
No concern with bad clients — you have a buffer people around you to correspond with clients
The downfalls of taking a full time creative job
Oftentimes only 2 weeks of vacation.
9-5, 5 days a week at work
You do what you're told — you don't have a lot of control over your day-to-day and your role in the business.
Very little say, if any, in the direction of the business
Remember, nothing is permanent. There are benefits and consequences of every decision: that's life. Sometimes the results of a decision are profound and life altering. Others, they're nominal. You'll never truly know how things will net out until a decision is made (or not made).
All of this to say, you definitely don't want to find yourself 5 years down the line thinking: "what if?" What if I would have taken that job? Or, what if I woulda asked for what I needed and stuck it out just a little longer?
Living with regret is to live in the past, and you don't want to find yourself in those shoes. Living with too much anticipation for the future may spur anxiety — that's not beneficial either. If your job, current or future, challenges you, pays you, respects you, connects you, and fulfills you, consider riding it out until it doesn't! And, remember, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
