Confessions of a millennial working in advertising
M&C Saatchi’s Jamie Watson shares his runners-clad perspective on life as a millennial in advertising.
Advertising, what the fuck am I doing?
Am I another self-entitled millennial not knowing how lucky he’s got it? Could I just be having a quarter life crisis, wondering what the hell I’m doing with my life. Or is our industry not able to keep young talent fulfilled or unlock their potential? It’s probably all three.
I know I’ve lucked out. I go to work with some of the smartest, most interesting people. Our job is to come up with new ideas, which get people excited and make brands a little bit better. And there’s some parties, free beer and I get to wear trainers to work. It’s not bad.
Early-onset ennui. Don’t sweat it Jamie. You’ve got a killer job, and the downsides you’ve described are nothing new. There’s also nothing new in seeing your peers start their own businesses, although in today’s globally-visible environment there just seems to be so many more of them. And at some point you will come to realise the difference between someone saying they are living the dream and someone actually living the dream.
If your job is not completely fulfilling, that’s no reason to throw it in. Find some personal pro-bono using the skills you’re acquired to fill the gap. Thoughtful piece, but the cuss-words jarred.
“Senior strategist”
I had high hopes for the op-ed. your fourth word was “fuck”….i stopped reading…
No one talks about millennials except millennialls.
The idea of a ‘millennial’ strategy is ludicrous and I pity the marketing manager or agency person who thinks like this.
In 1980, I was told of a top notch Sydney ad agency creative director who was paid $600,000 a year.
Multiply by, say, five for a present day value. Not a bad salary today, let alone then.
The golden days of advertising.
Ha!! Come and see us when you’ve actually put in a decade, developed high-level skills only to watch new software and technology obliterate their value, watched people less talented and capable get promoted ahead of you (oh that won’t happen as I see you’re a white male) and then get spat out the other end as an ex-millennial who by that point will be seen as about as desirable as all us GenX’ers.
It’s called work because that’s actually what it is – it’s not called, ‘let’s all be as creative as we were last time…” and it’s also not called “ooh I’ve found my life’s purpose”… it’s just work. And that can be hard and boring and creative all at the same time 😉
Sorry to burst your bubble Alison, but I could point to hundreds of examples of white males who have been overlooked and watched on as less talented people, male and female, have taken jobs they are better equipped to do. Really ignorant sexist comment you’ve made, if you don’t mind me saying.
Thanks Jamie – great lead – summed up the entire story in the first three sentences and saved me wasting time reading the rest. “Advertising, what the fuck am I doing?
Am I another self-entitled millennial not knowing how lucky he’s got it?
Answer; Yes.
“So don’t forget this very industry can give us the opportunity to shape the world we want.”
Well if you want a world free of diabetes, obesity, heart disease and a plastic free ocean, then perhaps only work with Coke / Pepsi if they agree to stop convincing our children that brown fizzy water is cool and they also stop manufacturing single use plastic…
Tobacco companies – just don’t work with them..?
Gambling…
Fracking…
Enter further companies here who are eroding our communities and societies.
I know many folks who will only work with companies who have a positive impact on the world, which is a good move to take and really develops inner purpose and highly meaningful work.
(I am using the companies mentioned above as analogies…)
agreed, what are we doing?!?!
“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”
Just do yourself a favour and leave. I haven’t been happier – I sleep more, less stressed, have a life. There’s plenty of other industries who will appreciate your talent way more and won’t bleed you dry. Added bonus, you won’t feel the guilt that you’re contributing to a archaic industry that isn’t keeping up or listening to the young briliant people working in it.
In most contexts, the use of the word Millennial is so crass it discredits everything else that follows. I either want to punch the person or switch off.
I empathise with the feeling of discontent at many of the structures and norms twenty-somethings+ find in the industry. BUT the only way forward is to strive to make changes, and get on so you can be in the position to lead from the front.
You should get into nonprofit or charity based advertising