If you heard our first conversation with Kelsey then you already know she’s a bada** human.
If you missed that conversation, I can’t even sum up all the insights she shares (so definitely check it out if you haven’t already). But the major win was Kelsey earned a promotion to senior copywriter after only a year of being with her in-house agency.
Since then, Kelsey has been up to A LOT, making the major decision to shift from an in-house agency copywriter role to an ad agency copywriter role.
We caught up with Kelsey and she shared what when into her decision to change jobs (even though she LOVED her previous role!), as well as how she went into the interview process feeling more empowered than ever before.
If you’ve ever wondered the difference between in-house and agency teams, Kelsey shares some of the differences she’s noticed as well as how she’s continuing to balance her personal and professional aspirations.
TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Prefer to watch the episode? Hit play below (plus, hit “cc” to toggle on closed captioning!)
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[03:00] I am officially one year into my new journey, having moved from my first copywriting job in-house at a tech company to a senior role at a mid-sized creative agency.
[05:15] At my previous in-house job, I was essentially the only writer for the whole company, but now at the agency, I am part of a dedicated creative team where I get to collaborate with art directors and other specialists.
[08:30] The biggest shock was the pace; in-house, I had months to work on a single campaign, whereas in agency life, I’m juggling ten different clients with much tighter turnarounds.
[12:45] I’ve found that working at an agency allows me to be a “chameleon” because one hour I’m writing for a high-end luxury brand and the next I’m switching to a rugged, blue-collar tone for a different client.
[15:20] I realized that my training in the Academy gave me the foundational “why” behind copy, which allowed me to hold my own in meetings with senior creative directors who have been in the industry for decades.
[24:10] Even though I am a senior copywriter now, I still struggle with imposter syndrome occasionally, but I remind myself that my perspective and my process are what the agency hired me for.
[30:15] My daily life now involves much more strategic “pitching” internally to get my ideas approved by the creative leads before they even go to the client.
[37:30] I am so happy in this new path because I feel like I am finally in the “thick of it” creatively, and I’m constantly learning from the diverse range of projects that come across my desk.
Must-Hear Takeaways
As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:
“ The more people you can collaborate with, the more impressive and thorough something can actually be. ” – Nicki
“ If there’s nothing else about our industry, I feel like change is a given in terms of platforms and placements and all of that.” – Kate
“ We have an AI team at the agency and they want us to be embracing it… I wanna be up on everything that’s available to us and use it responsibly and use it to make my life easier, because why not? If we’re doing it in an ethical, responsible way.” – Kelsey
Mentioned in the Episode
- Copywriting for Ad Agencies: What to Expect and Why It’s Great for Your Career
- What’s an Internal or In-House Ad Agency?
- Ep. 105: Building an Agency – with Michelle Fernandez
Related Links
- Ep. 99: Running a Copy Agency from Costa Rica – Poorva’s Story
- Episode 140: Traveling Europe While Running a Copywriting Agency—Chris’s Story
Get an *Exclusive* Bonus Recording!
Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it!
Get all the details on how to get your recording here »
About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
