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Need Job/Career Advice
I started at a marketing agency in January 2022 after working in finance for over 3 years. Spent a year and a half at that agency with a low salary (around $40k) and then a month ago got picked up by a new agency with great benefits and pay (6 weeks PTO and $75k) plus fully remote.
My problem here is the workload. My counterpart quit last month, leaving me and two people I manage to do the SEM/SEO and paid social work for 14 clients, some of which spend $60k+ per month, plus the agency.
I feel very overwhelmed, I barely know how to use the project management software and I feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up. The owners are talking about hiring someone new, but I’m the head of my team and lost my more experienced counterpart. They’re looking to me for answers and I’m just overwhelmed between the client work, organization, and still getting my bearings at a new company. I’m starting to detect attitude from other people at the agency when things aren’t done too.
I feel very fortunate to be in my position, and I’m so grateful to be where I am after only a year and a half in marketing, but I’m tired. Working later hours at night to try and catch up just burns me out more. I love what I do, it’s just this breakneck speed that I can’t keep up with.
Any advice on how to help this? Should I look for a new job? I’ve been here less than 2 months. How do you all handle this sort of workload?
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13 Replies
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Look for an inhouse job
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Talk to your bosses. If you’re doing the work of 3 people then it shouldn’t be a surprise you’re feeling this way. Tell them you are struggling and ask for help, make sure they know you need that new person or they might try to see what they can get away with. I don’t think its worth quitting the job without trying to fix things first if the pay is good and you like the work.
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dont worry about any gaps as long as its not more than a year so nothing more than your mental peace
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Have a chat with your boss – explain you weren’t onboarded sufficiently before the senior left and you need their support as you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed.
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1. Part of being a leader, is learning how to lead and manage people. Humans have attitudes and addressing negativity is important.
2. Transferring work from 4 people to 3 can become a burden quickly. Let your boss know how you’re feeling while being just as appreciative as you are in the post^^ -
I think you need to be open and honest with your boss and let them know without sounding too negative. Approach it as a “here’s a problem we need to solve” and maybe bring some solutions with you – maybe finding a partner to assist until you hire. This is an opportunity to take ownership of the department and show your value, which could be good ammo to request a good pay increase and promotion if you can complete it. Just my two cents… I’ve been in similar situations.
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You need to work overtime hours to train yourself on the project management software, company processes and get the house in order. Often times this means figuring out what is wrong, block time out to fix it… as you make progress on fixing different broken areas in the company/department. Make a list of the top 5 issues you don’t know and then knock them out one by one as you fix them.
Part of leading a team is having good organization skills and being able to sort out issues and fix things. It is pretty rare for anyone to be head of marketing or leading a team after under 2 years of marketing experience. If you are going to take this job or have this title. Then that means you have to set up and get things done. That means taking charge, even when the CEO isn’t stepping up to help.
The challenge of managing a team is having to play the card you are dealt, which may mean making trade offs and choices not everyone will love. Your biggest issue right now seems like a lack of a plan. You need to push past being overwhelmed and put together your playbook to fix what you can control. It will be 30 – 60 days before someone new joins the company odds are.
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Just a different perspective:
I remember when I first started playing competitive hockey… those twice daily workouts for a few months were killer… in the midst of them I thought… how in the world can anyone do this, keep this pace, survive at this level? Well after doing it for a year… it became very normal, never easy, but done comfortably. Now I look back and realize I can handle a whole lot more than I thought I could.
If you are enjoying the work and its just the volume that is concerning, then:
You’re correct, you’re getting great experience by being put into the fire. Perhaps its not fair, but if you’re on the younger side, you may come to value the experience in the long run.
Be professional, open and logical with you’re boss (don’t sound like a complainer), you can handle this for a certain amount of time, but you need some way to take the pressure off of the high stress from time to time until you get an additional team member.
So long as you don’t feel you’re being abused, then look for solutions and keep soaking up the experience.
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3 people handling 14 clients, even some of them being larger budget clients, is not terrible. If you don’t feel it’s a good fit, I’d look for a job in-house. Different stresses, as there’s no “they had a bad product, we’ll replace them” or anything, but definitely more manageable workload, more meaningful testing and optimization, and no retention game.
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To handle the workload, try to prioritize tasks, delegate when possible, and set realistic expectations for yourself and your team. Don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues for advice and support. Burning out isn’t sustainable in the long run, so taking care of your well-being is crucial.Regarding looking for a new job, it might be premature given your short time at the current company. Give it some time and see if the workload becomes more manageable once the new hire is in place. If it continues to be overwhelming, then consider exploring other opportunities.Remember, seeking help and taking things one step at a time is okay. If you want to explore different career paths, check out the Sarkari Yojna webpage for potential government job listings that align with your interests and skills
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Wishing you the best of luck in navigating this challenging time!
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BTW, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed with such a heavy workload, especially after transitioning to a new role. Don’t hesitate to communicate your concerns with the owners and express the need for additional support. In the meantime, focus on prioritizing tasks and learning the project management software gradually. As for handling client work, take it one step at a time and lean on your team for support.
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