Pros
At the DNA level, Fluid is built on the idea that taking the long view as an agency and for our clients is the way to build something meaningful. In short, doing the right thing is encouraged at Fluid, even if it means being uncomfortable in the short term. I feel emboldened as an employee when I have to make tough decisions, that the company will have my back. Fluid has top tier talent that helps me to grow. Disciplined and patient hiring has been the secret to Fluid's success. They've amassed world-class talent in the past couple of years by taking time to find the right people, with extraordinary levels of talent from across the country. Fluid partners with clients. I've seen a lot of agencies that "set and forget" campaigns, but Fluid refuses to provide that type of service. In fact, Fluid has parted ways with clients in moments where it is clear that the two companies visions don't align. This means that as an employee we get to work with clients that love us and we love them – life is easier on me and an employee because my clients see me as a part of their team. Fluid's creativity is off the charts. Another benefit to working at an agency is the opportunity to be part of really cool, creative work. We get to do everything from video, to billboards, to fun internal office signs. This is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Management cares about my personal growth and goals. The leadership team has taken the time to get to know where I want to be in 5, 10, 20 years and have actually pushed me to aim even higher. They frequently provide feedback (some of it hard to hear) in an effort to help me grow. They want me to grow, even if it means I level-up somewhere else. Autonomy and drive are valued at Fluid. In addition to continuous feedback and support, we have the autonomy to run our own accounts and make decisions without layers of bureaucracy. Every time I have made a hard decision and explained myself with sound reasoning the partners have stood behind me. There's even a weekly award at the agency for those who move things forward and figure out how to get the job done through their own initiative.
Cons
Working at an agency requires extra hours. With the fun and excitement of advertising and the creativity that comes with it, there are often times where I have to work late or handle a client need on the weekend. I've tried to move from agency to agency to get around this and I have learned that this is just part of agency life. Fluid is growing and with it comes some growing pains. As the agency continues to be seen by more and more companies, it inevitably results in growth, and as an employee it seems like we can't hire fast enough. Additionally, the growth stretches the agency processes and often requires changes in how we are doing things which keeps us on our toes. Limited onboarding training. It may be different now, but when I started there was limited onboarding training. I've found this at every agency I have worked at an I wonder if it's part of the nature of the work/industry. There are lots of changes in the marketing world that we cannot control. As an agency we're at the mercy of Facebook, Google, and other big data resources. As these companies make decisions it impacts us. There's really no way to stay ahead in this industry so you are always having to adjust and evolve.