Stay an Employee Forever? That’s a Dangerous Choice.
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Let’s say you’re employed at a creative agency or in-house at a corporation. You might be a writer, designer, filmmaker, or editor.
You like your job, your colleagues, and your pay. Couldn’t you just stay an employee forever?
These days, I think that’s a dangerous choice. Here’s why.
If you came into this position at a junior or intermediate level, you were paid accordingly.
For the first few years, you got more experience, and you noticeably improved at your craft.
Your creative work has been excellent. You’re diplomatic with colleagues and clients and an accomplished presenter in the boardroom. You’re a real asset to the business.
Over the years, you earned appropriate raises and bonuses.
Perhaps you were given a supervisory role over some juniors. But note, that you are not a company owner or partner. You are perhaps the most senior employee.
Many Senior Employees Have Hit Their Salary Limits
At about year eight to ten, your situation changes, whether you know it or not. You’re going to hit a wall.
The company cannot pay you any more than you’re making. Why? Well, simply, because you’re not worth it. You’ve maxed out your salary for that position.
In fact, they may think that instead of paying your salary, they would be better off hiring two intermediates.
Also, what does it say when you’ve been there for so long, and they haven’t offered you any kind of partnership?
The likely answer is that the owners are not interested in more partners. Perhaps it’s not a reflection of you, but that they’re happy with the current ownership structure and don’t want to expand it.
As an Employee, Your Big Salary Becomes a Target
Here’s another consideration. If there’s a downturn in business and the company needs to reduce salaries, yours becomes a prime candidate. By losing just one person, the company has substantially cut back its overhead.
And finally, if you’ve had a lifer mentality and assumed you would stay there until you retired, you probably haven’t developed a freelance business on the side. You’ve been happy to do your job and not think too far beyond that.
Be in Control of Your Career
Let’s say that you leave the company after fifteen years. You’re in your late 30s or early 40s and you’re out looking for a job. You haven’t done that in ages.
Your portfolio may be relatively narrow in scope since all of your work has been for the clients of one company. The people you’re interviewing with will wonder why you stayed so long. You’ll be asking for a big salary. Hiring someone like you is a tough decision for any company.
Maybe you’re thinking of freelancing, but you’ve never done that. You’d be starting from scratch.
Senior Creative Talents Should be Owners
Realistically, once you’re in a senior position, you should have some kind of ownership. Either you’re a partner in an existing firm or you’ve started your own business. Otherwise, you limit your income and put your future in jeopardy.
Remember, the creative business is not a “gold watch after twenty-five years” environment.
Keep that in mind and plan ahead. Make sure that you’re in control of your career and the decisions you make along the way. It can be a rude awakening to be living on a high salary for years and then get pushed to the curb. Don’t let it happen to you.
What Should Senior Creative Employees Do?
If there’s no opportunity for any form of ownership at your current position, start learning how to freelance on the side. Let your network know that you’re open for freelance work. Learn the business side of freelancing. Get ready for the next phase of your career.
Get Your Book Here
My book, How to Start a Successful Creative Agency is the essential business guide for graphic designers, copywriters, filmmakers, photographers, and programmers. With over 300 pages and 23 chapters, it’s available at Amazon (Paper & Kindle), Kobo (ebook), Apple Books (ebook), and Gumroad (PDF).
The book is packed with useful information to help creatives start and grow their business.
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