Sep 27, 2010

You have the right to remain worried

The above statement is not only true, but a way of life in many companies nowadays. And why shouldn’t it be. Supposedly the recession ended last year but companies of all sizes are still hesitant to hire people. Hesitant is a nice way of saying they’re not hiring and there’s a lot of that going around. So naturally everyone is scared shitless in regards to their job security.

What many people don’t know is that in advertising, that’s pretty much par for the course. It just takes a budget cut or the loss of one account for people to start shaking in their chairs and asking when the hell the cuts are going to start. Hell, some companies I know of even have Black Fridays where every couple of months a selection of company personnel is targeted and fired even if things aren’t bad.

I’m not saying things aren’t bad now, I’m just saying is that at least for me in advertising, things were never good. Few industries are as instable as advertising and the turnover rate of an average agency is evidence enough. I’ve seen so many people get fired in 100 people offices that it’s alarming to say the least. Hell, I got the axe twice over downsizing and “corporate restructuring”.

I worked at agencies that lost accounts and it was a terrible wait while they decided who got the axe and who made it to the next round, like some fucked up reality TV show that doesn’t take people’s feelings seriously and who almost laugh at the simpletons that are at waist level management, because our existence blows that much. It was like waiting for some sort of execution and depending on the level of appreciation for the person; we either fought or whinnied like some pathetic animal. And yes, sometimes we rejoiced… that’s the way it was for me in a couple of agencies… and it got to the point where the selections didn’t surprise me. Assholes stayed put, nice people got fired and the work whores were allowed to remain.

So it’s up to you really, stay scared, stay worried and stay put or move on and look for a better answer to that question we all ask ourselves:

What the hell am I going to do with my life?

Cheers

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Come to the freelance dark side, Joker! I long ago decided if I'm going to work for an asshole, it's going to be me. There are ups and downs, but you couldn't pay me enough to go back to a corporate office again.

By the way, ever see "Swimming with Sharks"? Wifey and I rented it this weekend. It's about the movie industry, but Kevin Spacey is awesome as the biggest boss-douche ever.

Joker said...

Hahaha. Nice Jake. I'm actually only doing advertising freelance at the moment. I'm still working full time for a company which kind of blows, but the plans aren't to stay for too long. I completely agree that I'm a better asshole to work for than any other douche nozzle. I'm sure there are ups and downs, as I've noticed with the lack of constant extra cash, but there are definite pros.

I've heard about the flick, and I'm sure I'll be netflicking it soon as I get married hehehe. I'll let you know what I think, though it's Spacey, so i'm sure I'll love it. :D

Lucila said...

"What the hell am I going to do with my life?"

I ask myself that every single freaking day.

Joker said...

@ Lu: But how many times have you answered it?

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