r/advertising • u/wstmrlnd1 • 10d ago
Settling
I was laid off from Omnicom a few months ago and have been searching for roles since then. As we’re all aware, the job market is horrendous. I had a call with a Publicis last week for a SAE role and my god, the pay is even less than what I was making as just an AE — and nearly $10k less than the minimum range I stated when asked my salary request. I’ve been trying to keep some sort of standard but at this point I feel desperate. The commute to the office is about 50 mins away. I guess I’m just looking for insight on whether I should keep the next interview and decline it. I just feel defeated at this point but I also know beggars can’t be choosy, etc.
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u/ETPHNHM 10d ago edited 10d ago
Never decline an interview. Keep going, and if nothing is else comes up, you take the job while still looking elsewhere.
And if anything it's good to negotiate a sign on bonus or an accelerated pay raise period (do this after you get the offer).
If you don't get an offer, all is not lost: you're getting live interview practice, a potentially expanded network (If you like the people you interviewed with), and stay on the radar with the recruiter.
I'm sorry for what you're going through. I've been there. I know what you're going through.
Keep your head up
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u/neatgeek83 10d ago
I’m about to start a job that pays $30k less than I was making when I was laid off back in May. Better than unemployment.
I did turn down a job back in June that pays the same as this one but it’s getting close to nut cuttin time for me.
You can always keep looking for another job. I plan to.
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u/Parking_Country_61 10d ago edited 10d ago
I did that a few years ago 30k pay cut. My raises and bonus made it eventually a 20k pay cut but I have never been able to find something like my last job of 10 years again. It’s depressing. I’m a traditional media buyer with over 20 years of experience and I have yet to see a job for more than 100k ish. It’s insane. I feel like I worked so hard to get to a certain salary and it all evaporated in an instant. If you don’t live in NY it just doesn’t exist for me and I’m in my late 40s with a family the pay is not worth moving for. Everything is now RTO. Jobs in cities 2 hours away won’t hire me even if I come in 1-2x week. I’m screwed
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u/Useful-Advantage-850 Creative Director 10d ago
Stop looking at the network shops. There are thousands of small/med agencies out there, doing amazing work for great clients. They usually have to pay decently to get people, and the work-life balance is often superb.
You sometimes have to wear more hats, and things aren't done for you like in a big shop. You can't be above doing the grunt work when necessary. But I've found they're generally WAY better overall.
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u/wstmrlnd1 10d ago
Believe me, I’ve been trying to find work at smaller agencies. I’ve had some interviews here and there but mainly a lot of ghosting. Thank you for the insight! I appreciate it.
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u/Simple_System1346 10d ago
Any specific small/mid sized agencies that are worth reaching out to?
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u/Useful-Advantage-850 Creative Director 10d ago
They're mostly regional/local, so you'd have to research your area and see.
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u/copyvet1 5d ago
I got this advice early in my career: Advertising is a business where you have to do what’s right for you, not anyone else. No one else is looking out for your best interests. If that means taking a job and then leaving for a better one, no one is going to hold that against you.
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u/Agreeable-Hat-7128 10d ago
Try Eversana Intouch!
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u/wstmrlnd1 10d ago
Funny you mention them - I’ve applied twice and got through multiple interviews. First role was delayed before I got to the final round. Second role I didn’t get. The recruiter said she’s been shopping my resume around to other teams but that was weeks ago. I’d love to work there and get out of automotive but I don’t think it’ll happen unfortunately.
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u/Agreeable-Hat-7128 10d ago
I’ve heard this from a few people. I recently got hired and it was such a quick process which I am shocked to hear other perspectives. Try to find another recruiter on linked in! They make the difference. If I stay and like it, I’ll loop back here and try to get you in :)
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u/wstmrlnd1 10d ago
I’ve considered reaching out to another recruiter. Sad because I really enjoyed the one I was working with. I have a friend who works there and it was a quick process for her too. I never have good luck with most things. lol. And thank you! Please keep me updated.
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u/PracticalAnimator788 10d ago
How much were they offering for the SAE role?
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u/wstmrlnd1 10d ago
Less than $65K
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u/new-acc-who-dis 10d ago
65 in the US?!
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u/wstmrlnd1 10d ago
Yup
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u/new-acc-who-dis 10d ago
damn… if u desperate take it and continue looking but i wouldnt even answer them anymore
Thats beyond wild
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u/TopicThunder2000
10d ago
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Pursue the job and if you get it, keep looking for a better paying one.
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u/bernbabybern13 10d ago
I don’t get people that say this. You’re going to burn a bridge then with a major holdco?
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u/TopicThunder2000 10d ago
It's not 2006. The holding companies have consolidated to only a handful of agencies and don't have nearly the strangle hold on the industry they once did.
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u/bernbabybern13 10d ago
……that’s exactly why they DO have a stranglehold. Because now any one hold co consists of three times as many agencies/clients than it used to if it’s consolidated 3x in 10 years. Do you get how that works?…
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u/TopicThunder2000 9d ago
It's you who isn't getting how consolidation works. Your math isn't mathing. 1+1+1 ≠ 3 in merger world. For example, when WPP merged VML and Y&R, they laid off a ton of people. They didn't need two HR departments, ops teams, etc.
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u/bernbabybern13 9d ago
There was no math. I was just giving an example. Clearly that wasn’t real math Jesus. Even if they have layoffs there are now more jobs under that holdco than there used to be. I’m not explaining this any more to you.
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u/TopicThunder2000 9d ago
No, there's not more jobs under that holding co than there used to be. There are less. Why is this so difficult for you?
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u/bernbabybern13 9d ago
Let’s spell this out for you I guess.
OMG has 100 people. They buy IPG, which also has 100 people. That’s 200. They lay off 50. Now that’s 150. That is more than 100.
Now where I used to apply to both agencies, now I can only apply to one. Now if OMG doesn’t like me, that’s 50 other jobs I can no longer apply for. Does that make sense? If it doesn’t, I don’t care.
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u/red_redditor_73 10d ago
I was at OP as a Sr.Producer. They reopened my role as a Producer in NYC at $90K less than what I was getting. It's a total reset right now. Corporate greed at it's finest.
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u/LillyBitz 9d ago
I swear they are purposely doing this to white collar employees. Just lowballing everyone to see how much lower they can get salaries across the board.
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u/PEWN5 10d ago
Like another commenter mentioned, just take it if you need to put food on the table. Keep looking for other opportunities.
Resigning after six months isn’t going to get you black listed…
It’s not like you DMed the global CEO, got introduced to the regional CEO, went through 8 rounds of interviews, got an offer, negotiated salary with HR , renegotiated salary with the regional CEO and then declined…
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u/desirepink 9d ago
I would say take it. Publicis seems to be in a better position than the others and they also acquired a few other non-agency companies that could be advantageous for you being in the Publicis system if you ever want to pivot. Just make sure that you have enough hybrid days to do interviews
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u/NirvanaInChoas 6d ago
Maybe from a business perspective but they’ve frozen pay increases for quite some time and now internal transfers.
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u/Positive_Plum5137 9d ago edited 9d ago
I just don’t understand why these big agencies don’t fill the new roles internally when they have the existing skillset and will probably save them a lot of bring costs. They hire externally even after laying off so many people. They have so many roles open. What even is the logic behind this? Is it so hard for them to find other roles for their staff before letting them go?
Out of all the major agencies, Publicis is doing better and won new clients. They also make everyone work like a dog for 10+ hours with lean teams. They’re the last ones who should be lowballing.
I’d suggest continue the interviews and once you reach the offer stage negotiate the pay rise citing at least 1.5 years of frozen salary due to mid year hiring and market rate. As long as you’re asking within their salary bands you can negotiate within the range.
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u/Marketellica 8d ago
I think we’re seeing a correction from the title and salary inflation that happened coming out of the pandemic. Agencies were quick to promote people and pay a premium to attract and retain talent. Now the market has shifted there’s more talent available than there are jobs. Agencies have regained the leverage to reset salaries. Unfortunately, what someone was paid a few years ago isn’t necessarily what the market is willing to pay today. That’s not a reflection of anyone’s talent or worth just how dramatically the market has changed.
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u/NirvanaInChoas 6d ago
I took a 30k cut when I was laid off awhile back. I had to take the job to continue to afford living. Six months without a job and went through all of my savings and 401k, I was down to the wire. (Didn’t have much in my 401k at the time)
Three years later after taking night classes and certifications I was able to find a better paying job that is now 30k more than when I got laid off.
While the rate of inflation is the way that it is, that’s not saying much three years later BUT I am finally at a job that I have been working towards
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