Is Pursuing a Career in a Digital Agency a Waste of Your Potential?

Ever imagine yourself in a whirlwind of creativity, strategy, and caffeine?

If the dynamic world of digital marketing gets your heart racing, you may think that working as a marketer in an agency might be your dream job.

The Social Shepherd predicts the industry will explode by 32.1% by 2028, creating exciting opportunities. However, we recommend you hold on for a second before applying for "those great" marketing agency jobs; it's vital to understand the unique blend of perks and challenges that come with agency life.?

What Is It Like to Work for a Digital Marketing Agency?

As you may already know, agencies juggle multiple clients across diverse industries. One day you might create a social media campaign for an online clothing store, and the next, you're knee-deep in website content optimization for a legal firm. This constant variety keeps things exciting and challenging.?

So, here are the exciting and challenging things about working at a digital marketing agency.?

The Perks of Working for a Digital Agency

The best part is that you are surrounded by talented colleagues with diverse expertise, from designers and copywriters to social media specialists and data analysts.?

That perk also carries brainstorming sessions, project discussions, and collaborative efforts, which are the backbone of success. That’s great because this fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and shared victories, echoing the collaborative and creative environment.?

And here's a major perk of agency life: creative independence. Unlike some corporate roles with rigid guidelines, new-age agencies (especially remote and hybrid ones) empower their employees.

The Skills You'll Gain

• ?? Collaborative Creativity: Digital agencies thrive on teamwork. You'll be surrounded by diverse skill sets—designers, copywriters, social media specialists, and more.?
• ?? Fast Learning: You've got to be quick on your feet and ready to learn new things at a moment's notice.?
• ?? Networking: The marketing world is quite small, so, when you work at an agency, you're surrounded by colleagues with similar career paths as you. In other words, former co-workers may become your clients, vendors, or even colleagues at different agencies.

The Challenges of Working for a Digital Agency

The most-known & most-faced side of working in that area is the compulsory wearing of many hats at the same time.

The second most challenging aspect of becoming a digital marketing team member is meeting deadlines and meeting clients' expectations. Tight deadlines and ever-evolving client needs are the norm.

In other words, working for an agency is not a 9-to-5 gig.

And yes, not all clients & projects are easy to deal with. You might encounter micromanagers, those with unrealistic expectations, or slow decision-makers who delay approvals.

The Skills You'll Gain

• ?? Multitasking: Forget digital marketing job titles; agencies are all about "hustle and heart." You might be a copywriter who dabbles in social media strategy or a graphic designer who gets pulled into brainstorming email marketing campaigns.
• ?? Time Management: Strong organizational skills and time management will be your saving grace.?
• ?? Managing Expectations: The fast-paced environment, client focus, and need for clear communication all contribute to building this expertise.?

Questions to Answer Before Working for a Digital Agency

We are not talking about questions like, “Am I too old for digital agency jobs?” “Am I creative enough to work in a digital agency?” or "Does a digital marketing agency career help me to make money?"

But there are questions that are leading you to decide whether you’re a good fit for an agency.?

Ready for a Lot of Shallow Work??

Digital agencies indeed have pockets of shallow work (sad but true.) Especially scheduling social media posts or responding to basic customer inquiries are the results of the fast-paced nature of agencies.

Reddit Q&A thread: “Do you like working for an agency or in a company's marketing department better?” below says the same thing we mentioned above:?

Are You Comfortable with Constant Learning??

Algorithms change, user behavior evolves, and new tools appear.

What’s more? Client expectations and needs can evolve quickly. That’s the world of digital agencies, and to stay effective, you need to adapt and learn about these new developments.

According to a Forbes article written by a marketer, Larry Gurreri, digital marketing agencies are hubs for getting new skills while remaining essential ones. And that is a great opportunity for those seeking to specialize in something important.

In my conversations with others, I've heard that one of the most common fears that marketers have when they leave the agency world is that they will lose their skills, or rather that the skills they have will become obsolete. When you work at an agency, you are surrounded by marketers. Consequently, your marketing knowledge tends to increase through osmosis. You typically have managers who invest in developing you, competition between peers that drives innovation, and the encouragement of shared learning. Furthermore, you can always ask the person next to you for help when you don’t understand something.

Are You a Team Player??

Not surprisingly, teamwork isn't a bonus in a digital agency; it's the foundation. In other words, in the digital agency realm, achieving client goals is only possible by tackling challenges as a real team. A team player understands this shared responsibility.?

If you enjoy working together, achieving goals through collaboration, and celebrating shared wins, then you would like to start building your CV to apply for agencies! Before doing that, check out how to perfectly create a digital agency resume.?

Are You Comfortable with Ambiguity and Evolving Projects?

Besides, projects rarely go according to the initial plan; unexpected roadblocks, client revisions, and algorithm tweaks are all part of the digital marketing rollercoaster.?

So, it's the home truth that being comfortable with ambiguity allows you to embrace the unknown, experiment with new approaches, and pivot your campaigns when needed. Think of it as seizing opportunities disguised as uncertainties.?

That also translates into a life-work imbalance sometimes. How? Take Reddit’s user’s comment as an example:

So, is a digital agency career right for you?

Ultimately, the decision lies in understanding your strengths, preferences, and how you navigate challenges.

So, take a deep breath, assess your comfort zone, and see if the world of digital agencies aligns with the person you are and the professional you want to become.

What do you think? Is that kind of career right for you?

And, seniors! Do you think that you've chosen the right path for you? Join the conversation in the comment section!

Read the full article: https://digitalagencynetwork.com/working-for-a-digital-agency/