Anyone who has been in advertising for more than 3 seconds knows that our industry is always changing. New agencies appear overnight, accounts change hands and new mediums are constantly being explored. Our industry is not one for complacent people. Advertising is evolving and we must evolve with it.

Okay, I’m jumping off my soapbox now. Seriously though, advertising is meant for people who are always on top of their game. It’s a known fact that most ad agencies see great employees come and go every 3-4 years. Agencies know that most people aren’t going to be “lifers.” I’ve rarely, if ever, heard of someone getting a gold watch for 30 years of service at an ad agency. Oftentimes, a change is necessary in order to gain valuable experience or a change is mandatory because you’re not the one making the decisions. This means that you constantly have to be on your toes and ready for anything.

Recruiters often receive panicky phone calls from great candidates who were just laid off because of budget cuts or lost accounts. I got a similar call from one of my favorite candidates a few weeks ago. He was getting very cozy after being at his agency for 4 years. They unexpectedly lost a major account that he worked on. He was completely blindsided when the higher-ups told him that he should probably start looking for something new. He hadn’t updated his resume in 5 years and he had no idea what was going on in the industry outside of his comfy bubble.

The best thing you can do to avoid a similar situation is stay informed. Keep tabs on what’s currently going on in the industry and at your agency. Read the trades. Know which accounts are on the move. Learn which shops are winning those highly-coveted awards. Network. Figure out who’s hiring, even if you’re not necessarily looking for a new gig. Keep your resume up-to-date at all times.

This is not any attempt to scare the pants off you and make you think that your job is constantly in jeopardy. It’s more of a friendly warning from someone who has received way too many of the aforementioned panicky phone calls. Don’t get left out in the cold…

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