When to leave a creative job: 1 easy test
You make money being creative, is that enough?
Have a decent job in Design? Advertising? Marketing? Do you ever say to yourself “well at least I’m not working as a (fill in your own version of something not creative that would make you sad)”? It’s a common refrain amongst creative workers of all stripes and levels. You could do more satisfying work, but hey, things could be worse right?
My career has moved through several creative industries, and during those transitions I discovered a singular, albeit personal metric of when to move on. No lists, no pros and cons, nothing existential. If the answer to this question is “Yes”, it’s time to go:
Are you becoming better at something you don’t like?
Simple really.
Kind of dumb if you think about it too much. But it puts a new perspective on the work you’re doing, and what kind of portfolio you are building for yourself. Because you are getting better — for better or worse. You can stop right there, or take a spin through my version:
The first step is the hardest.
The first time I took my own advice was a few years into my first job: Consumer Packaging (things in grocery stores mainly). I did some good work and learned a lot about being a designer in the workforce. At the same time becoming an expert at creating 20% MORE! graphics and Appetite Appeal to sell more laundry detergent and junk food. In retrospect, it took me a long time to embrace the idea that being good at it didn’t mean I needed to keep doing it.
So eventually, I quit.
After some freelance meandering, I landed in the chain-smoking, whiskey-swilling land of New York City Advertising.
It wasn’t quite all Mad Men, still, learned a ton, made great friends and career-best work. But the path of an Advertising creative is tricky. Make it to the CD/ECD levels and your time warps into new business pitches and massaging the egos of CMOs. I wasn’t there yet, but it was looming. I was getting better at some valuable skills, but didn’t want to end up at the next phase. Plus I wasn’t doing nearly enough day-drinking.
So I quit.
Through a confluence of events I ended up in Los Angeles, and began working in the industry of LA — Entertainment. More specifically the marketing of that industry — Movie Posters. I learned an entirely new design skillset and stuck with it for a few years before finally becoming disillusioned with cranking out massive amounts of work for diminishing returns. I found the right industry, but not the right work for the long term. So I looked at where I could affect the creative more directly on a day to day basis…
So I became a (gasp) CLIENT.
I began a contract position with Apple TV+ and got to client-ing. Nine months later I joined up full time. Is it my last stop? Unlikely. Will I like it in a year or two? Unclear. But one thing is certain right now: I’m becoming better at something I like. The work, the skills and the future. Until that changes, that’s preferable to becoming a success at work I don’t enjoy.
Your mileage may vary, just don’t get so good you can’t get out.
(PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE) is an ongoing series about presenting work, building better portfolios and being a decent creative by Andy Sheffield.
