Is Creative Circle a scam?
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While Cannes has always been self indulgent it’s never felt more irrelevant.99% of the work that wins does absolutely nothing to build brands or leave a lasting impression on consumers. It feels like a contest celebrating how well agencies were able to trick their agencies into buying something that will only be seen on LinkedIn and the agency reel.
Tell me if I’m being petty or not: I was a senior creative on a team that literally would just straight up run off with my concepts and leave me behind in the dark. Whenever I presented my concepts, I wouldn’t hear back but would later see my deck designs being used for their own personal projects and concepts. As in, I’d make my deck look all cool, slick and edgy — then they’d litterally take the deck design, remove my concepts and later use it for theirselves. Is that okay or a violation?
Today I complete 6 months at my new brand-side role and tbh I'm so so disappointed. I'm extremely free and bored, there's barely any work, and whatever work there is, it's absolutely garbage. I used to work on campaign ideas and scripts at agencies. Here I'm writing emailers and notifications. Is this normal? My brain is thirsty for some good work. Am I being too ungrateful because at least I have a slow-paced-okay-paying-chill job?
Yes and no. I got my foot in the door because of Creative Circle when I started in the industry a decade ago, but they do take a good amount of your pay. If you have to go through them, make some connections and bounce.
Creative Circle: “Pimp’n ain’t easy!” 🤷♂️
Yes.
I’ve been on Creative Circle’s roster for about a decade and they have never, ever gotten me placed. Not full time, not freelance. Nothing. I’ve had meetings and phone interviews with their recruiters, and I’ve replied to their email blasts. For me, CC has been utterly useless. Every gig I’ve ever landed was through my own connections and because I hustled. And I’ve worked consistently the entire time.
IMHO? Working always beats sitting around on my ass. And you never know who you’ll meet on a gig. BUT just know that when they place you on a freelance assignment, they (as far as I know) take 50% of your pay — the full time you’re working. Meaning if you’re making $40 an hour, they’re billing the host company $80. Not a bad hustle, right? Working for yourself, you would be able to charge closer to the latter rate. So you’re prob gonna feel cheated a little ... seniors and ACDs working for junior/regular pay. My best advice? In a second or third tier market, if you read posts closely, you can often figure out the employer first. Just reach out on your own. But don’t rule it out. I’ve gotten through some dry spells, thanks to a particularly good recruiter from Circle. (Most are generic HR types who will be in real estate within two years.) Though your pride may be hurt by working for a lower rate, your confidence might go up just from working.
Interesting perspective. Thank you.
From client side, they’re not always awesome but can be helpful in a pinch. It seemed the good talent got snatched up quickly.
If you like to be paid what you're worth, yes it's a scam. If you're willing to do low end work for shitty pay... It'll make your life easier if you consistently book stuff through them