Associate Creative Director Discussions
Interviews

How do promotions work in your company? (Include your industry if you want).
Are there regular title bumps based on tenure and work quality? Can you only be promoted by applying for open roles? Is your big on creative hierarchy and reporting structure by letting people become managers and mentors to more junior people? (Jr. reporting to sr. reporting to ACD reporting to CD etc?)

Stayed at my old agency for almost 5 years, where I went from mid-level to ACD, got an offer as CD at another place that turned out to be a less than ideal. Interviewed at another shop, got an offer and jumped ship less than a month into the job. This new place seems good, but I feel out of place. Idk if my previous experiences have made weary/reactive and I’ve been fierce about setting boundaries, but I also wonder if I’ve outgrown the industry. Does anyone relate?

Interviewing with a FAANG for an ACD/Creative Lead position and trying to wrap my head around salary negotiations. What are people making at similar tech companies with 6-8 years of experience (base salary and total comp)?

ACD interviewing with agencies for CD/ACD role. Then some brand recruiter emailed me about an Art Director position. Huh? 🤔 Do they even look at your resume or portfolio before reaching out?

I got interviewed for a role in a different group at my current agency, and it went great. But it’s taking like forever to negotiate a salary (I pushed back and asked for a bit more over a month now). Every time I ask about the status, they say, “we’ll get back to you soon.” At this point, I feel they’ll go with a lower-salary candidate. So, If you’re looking for an experienced ACD/Art in NYC, hit me up. I think it’s time to look for other opportunities outside my company.

Sr. Cw / ACD level creative interviewing with agencies that are looking for teams (at both levels). Anyone on the art side interested? DM your book

I have an interview tomorrow for an ACD position I really want, however, I want to ask good questions to get an idea what the work/life balance is. I know people at the agency, some with kids, and they say it isn't horrible, most days it's not bad hours, just occasionally you'll have to pull a 10 he day for a pitch or tight deadline. Totally get that. I don't know anyone on this specific team, though, so drop me all your smart workflow questions.

I'm a Sr & my cw is mid level, I have 2 more yrs of experience. We've been partners for 2 yrs and we're interviewing at an agency that doesn't have Jr,mid,Sr & are really precious about acd title, likening them to CDs.

At other places we've talked to we'd get respective promotions and raises but this agency wants to bring us in as a senior team. We don't have the same salary now and I'd feel a bit stiffed if they offer us the same salary.

Am I an asshole for feeling this way? Wwyd?

I had first and second round interviews for a specific role at a company—and even discussed salary range with the recruiter during first round—then I get an email from the recruiter saying the SVP and ACD I interviewed with loved me and thought I’d be a great fit, and that she’d be in touch when a position opens up that matches my skills and level. Has anyone ever had something like this happen? I’m so confused, because the role was for my skills and level.

I’m in touch with an acd at one of a regions fastest growing agencies that I really like. I don’t think my book is quite up to speed but I’m taking him up on an informational interview. What are your thoughts on sending a couple of campaigns a month to show I’m furthering my abilities?

Got a new job, super excited! ACD level. Can I ask for an org chart? Since it was virtual interviews, and there was no office tour or meeting any additional members of the team. I’d love to have a sense of the team and staffing. Is this normal to ask for? I also don’t wanna come off as “to much”

After interviewing with ACD and CD a month ago (felt it went really well but who knows) I haven’t heard anything... They said there was no immediate timeline, and I was definitely reaching in terms of experience but definitely felt like I could step up to the challenge and do a great job- is it hopeless yet? ALSO, just had a recruiter for a ~dream job~ reach out to me for a position but haven’t heard anything further on that yet, is it bad? This comes after a year of totally brutal rejections.

Anyone experience this during the interview process.. I’ve met with the ACD and CD, so far so good, got the impression that they thought I’d fit right into the role (which would be a title bump). Now I’ve been asked to have a follow up call with the ACD. Any thoughts on what they would want to discuss? Not sure what I should be prepped for.

I’ve applied to over 40 jobs since I was laid off in March. Not one click to my portfolio, per analytics. With a family of four, we are being spread thin. Not only is the income desperately needed, but my creative soul needs a release. I would be happy to do typical Art Director work but I’m “over qualified” for that and am never taken seriously when applying for work below CD/ACD. If anyone needs or know of any company needing freelance work, large or small—I’d really appreciate the lead. 🙏

I’ve applied to over 40 jobs since I was laid off in March. Not one click to my portfolio, per analytics. With a family of four, we are being spread thin. Not only is the income desperately needed, but my creative soul needs a release. I would be happy to do typical Art Director work but I’m “over qualified” for that and am never taken seriously when applying for work below CD/ACD. If anyone needs or know of any company needing freelance work, large or small—I’d really appreciate the lead. 🙏

Interviewing at MediaMonks LA for an ACD position. Thoughts? Gossip?

Is applying for an ACD or AD role as a CD a viable option to widen the job hunt?

Had a great interview last week. Sent the recruiter, ACD, and ECD “thank you” emails. Not one response. Is it really that hard to say “it was nice meeting you too?”

Interviewing for ACD when I haven’t been one before. I have good management skills and really wanna do more of that - what can I say in the interview to get them to take a chance on me?

Matched with a guy on a dating app who is an ACD at a big agency nearby. I like him, but have considered applying there in the future. Should I stop talking to him in case I end up there eventually?

Has anyone CD level or above tried the following to get into top agency: applying for “just” a mid/Sr/ACD job, saying you just want to do the work again, roll up your sleeves, be in the trenches etc?

What kind of questions should I be asking in an interview for an ACD position? Or I guess what is generally expected from an ACD?

POLL: how did you go from Sr CW to ACD?
1 promoted from within
2 switched agencies by applying for an ACD role
3 was recruited for an ACD role

Turns out my ECD is actually my ACD. My PM is actually my CD and I’m a jr art director just promoted from intern.

Wonder why they didn’t tell me about this fun new hierarchy during my interview 😒

Any advice on moving from a Senior AD role to an ACD role? Currently doing 80% of that role at my current position, but my bosses don’t want to make it official. When I interview at new agencies cont'

I interviewed for an internship at an agency I wasn’t super excited about, but wanted to get some interview practice in. When I met the ACD who interviewed me, we really hit it off and it made me (..)

The last three places I’ve interviewed at i was told i’m “too senior” for the role. I don’t now how to take it or what to do next. Should I start looking for ACD roles?...

Outpaced by junior candidate
About 5 years ago I interviewed a girl to be my jr writer. Now I'm still sr and she just got an ACD gig I was passed over for.

I'm happy for her, but fuck!

I have an interview tomorrow for a creative strategist position. I’m an ACD and before that an AD so this is a departure. Anyone made this shift before? What should I know?

CD in NYC - pharma agency - what is competitive? What's the low end
I've interviewed for ACD jobs @ 175-185 and as high as 190k in the last year, but what about CD?

Is it me or there aren’t any CD or ACD openings in NYC? I am start applying for Senior roles. Is this bear market ever going to stop?

Questions to ask at an interview for an ACD role?

I’m an ACD interviewing for a CD role. How do agencies determine if an ACD can handle the CD position? In other words, what should I be prepared for/say?

About to have my third interview for an ACD role. It's been a while. Should I still bring hard copy resumes? Should I bring my laptop to take them through my work that we already talked through?

What are the best questions to ask at an interview for ACD?

I have an interview this morning. How can I bring up that I was fired? The reason I think, was because the new boss wanted to bring his ppl and I was expensive (former boss was promoting me to acd)

Interviewing for an ACD role in New York next week. Expecting they'll ask me how much I'm looking to make. What's the typical salary for someone in that position?