Agencies, Startups, & Corporations - Oh My!
Throughout the course of one's professional career there are some common decisions that need to be made: salary requirements, locations, degrees to pursue, and potential paths. However, the type of organization you want to align yourself with is sometimes an afterthought. Oftentimes we're too preoccupied with a certain title, or a specific job function, that if we get an interview, the type of place that it is usually comes after the excitement. Nor do we care about the difference amongst the types.
When I first graduated, I was looking for a job in the music industry and didn't care in what kind of capacity, as long as it was in New York City and I could afford to live. At the time a job was a job that was going to wind up being my career for life and I didn't understand the big difference between agency work and traditional company work. Well, the wide-eyed naive college graduate learned lessons the hard way, and went right to working for an agency, and a pretty big international one at that. Unfortunately it was not meant to be my life's work, but it taught me a thing or two.
Now, after significant amount of time having done both agency work & a company, the biggest difference simply broken down, is doing all of your work for one thing, or doing all of your work for many things.
An agency's bread and butter is the constant stream of new clients and new business. The bigger the account the better, but generally you work is spread throughout a couple of different clients and services. Each person can be responsible for their share of the company's incoming business.
In a traditional company setting your goal is more focused. You are working towards the betterment of that particular brand. This doesn't mean you couldn't be wearing many hats to achieve a goal, but unless you're in sales, you're not out trying to work on many accounts. Odds are there are teams put in place to make various arms of the organization work together.
A start-up is a whole different idea. Depending on what is starting up, it could be an agency or a traditional company, but it is in its beginning stages. The structure that you would find traditionally might not be there, but the amount of experience that there is to gain is exponential. You will wear many hats, you will work long hours, and you will make a lot of contacts. However, it could be very inconsistent work, there could be few monetary benefits, and little job security.
However, when it comes to job security at the present time, there's really no such thing anywhere, is there? Nothing's entirely guaranteed anymore.
When it comes right down to it, just do your research on company culture & history. During your interviews ask questions regarding the nature of the business and the future of the organization. While you are making your decision to work somewhere after an offer has been given, think about how you really want to spend your days and how important your specific job description is to you. Think it through - Good Luck!
When I first graduated, I was looking for a job in the music industry and didn't care in what kind of capacity, as long as it was in New York City and I could afford to live. At the time a job was a job that was going to wind up being my career for life and I didn't understand the big difference between agency work and traditional company work. Well, the wide-eyed naive college graduate learned lessons the hard way, and went right to working for an agency, and a pretty big international one at that. Unfortunately it was not meant to be my life's work, but it taught me a thing or two.
Now, after significant amount of time having done both agency work & a company, the biggest difference simply broken down, is doing all of your work for one thing, or doing all of your work for many things.
An agency's bread and butter is the constant stream of new clients and new business. The bigger the account the better, but generally you work is spread throughout a couple of different clients and services. Each person can be responsible for their share of the company's incoming business.
In a traditional company setting your goal is more focused. You are working towards the betterment of that particular brand. This doesn't mean you couldn't be wearing many hats to achieve a goal, but unless you're in sales, you're not out trying to work on many accounts. Odds are there are teams put in place to make various arms of the organization work together.
A start-up is a whole different idea. Depending on what is starting up, it could be an agency or a traditional company, but it is in its beginning stages. The structure that you would find traditionally might not be there, but the amount of experience that there is to gain is exponential. You will wear many hats, you will work long hours, and you will make a lot of contacts. However, it could be very inconsistent work, there could be few monetary benefits, and little job security.
However, when it comes to job security at the present time, there's really no such thing anywhere, is there? Nothing's entirely guaranteed anymore.
When it comes right down to it, just do your research on company culture & history. During your interviews ask questions regarding the nature of the business and the future of the organization. While you are making your decision to work somewhere after an offer has been given, think about how you really want to spend your days and how important your specific job description is to you. Think it through - Good Luck!