5 reasons why your marketing agency should ‘grow your own’ talent

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Can’t find the talent?

You’re not the only one.

According to research from WFA and global media advisors, MediaSense, almost half (48%) of all advertisers, agencies, ad tech companies and media owners think the industry is facing its “worst-ever crisis” when it comes to talent.

So what’s going on?

Well, one simple answer is: the market is more competitive than ever. We’ve talked about how vacancies are at a record high before and this in itself is making it increasingly difficult for agency adverts to stand out.

On top of that, the best mid-level talent is often being paid well, on a clear progression path and already doing what they love.

What does this all add up to? Expense.

Today’s top talent needs a lucrative offer to jump ship. And if headhunting passive talent wasn’t pricey enough, it’s even more expensive in a cost-of-living crisis. That’s because it’s now being reported that 30% of current job seekers are finding employers’ salary offerings just won’t cover today’s outgoings.

But whether you’re a media agency in need of a pipeline of prospects or a creative outfit that’s won an exciting piece of work, there is a long-term solution: start to grow your own agency talent.

Here are five reasons it’s time to develop your own team of pros.

1. Cost-effective creativity

The agency world is one where creativity is currency. And there’s no more forward-thinking group than Gen Z.

Importantly, hiring this group of digital natives is much more cost-effective than headhunting mid-level talent. Whilst we’re strong advocates for paying graduates fairly , there’s no denying that recruiting from this pool is far cheaper than trying to entice established agency employees.

2. No baggage or bad habits

Agencies are experts in brand and understand the power of consistency and character building. Consequently, they pride themselves on having their own unique value sets that flow through every aspect of the business. But whether it’s the process of pulling together lofty pitch decks or living and breathing comprehensive brand guidelines, this stuff can be hard to shake.

This isn’t an issue with less experienced talent.

Despite having all the skills they need to competently carry out their roles, you can easily mould them into the right fit for your agency.

And by getting everyone singing from the same hymn sheet from the start, you’ll foster a happier and more productive agency culture in the process.

3. Create your culture-fit

Remote and hybrid working has changed workplace culture forever.

When there are no pool tables or pour-your-own-pints to paper over the cracks – not to mention The Great Resignation showing no signs of quitting – agencies are having to reassess everything they thought they knew about culture.

This is much less of a concern for entry-level professionals. A lot of Gen Z workers, in particular, might never have known what a traditional 9-5 working week at an agency looks like.

Simply put: create the right culture at your agency and reap the rewards.

4. There’s no “comfort zone”

Essentially, Gen Z has no interest in staying still; something that’s ideal for the frenetic pace of agency life. Whether it’s brand ideation or campaign creation, the agency world is often about mucking in to get things over the line.

Research suggests that Gen Z are more than ready for the challenge. According to research discussed in a podcast with David and Jonah Stillman , 75% of Gen Zers would be interested in a situation in which they could have multiple roles within one job – ideal for agency life.

Essentially, the “comfort zone” doesn’t exist for Zoomers and there’s no staying in their lanes. So save money on headhunting and invest in training Gen Z instead. It’ll pay off over time, we promise.

5. More loyalty and retention

How loyal can headhunted talent be if they were poached in the first place, right?

The difference with Gen Z grads is that you can foster a sense of belonging from day one. And there’s plenty of research to suggest that doing so has a variety of benefits.

Importantly, feeling safe, supported and a part of something bigger helps foster ideas. And of the 52% of Gen Zs who feel empowered to drive change within their organisation, 89% say they feel a sense of belonging.

Research indicates that over half (61%) of Gen Zers could see themselves staying loyal to one place of employment for ten years or longer. And that kind of long-term ROI clearly blows the cost of onboarding and training out of the water.

The good thing is, there’s a lot of talent out there – and you don’t have to go it alone.

We “get” agency talent

Ready to grow your own talent??Find out more about our innovative entry-level recruitment solution for agencies here. Alternatively, get in touch for a chat at 020 3951 8891 or [email protected] . We’d love to hear from you.

You can also read the whole blog post here.

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