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Agency's clients interviewing creatives. Is this normal?

by j77
9 replies
I do freelance/project work for a local ad and brand agency's clients from time to time. Many of their clients are well known global brands. I have a good relationship with them. They're actually a great agency to work for and they're asking me for some open feedback on how it's gone with them and their past clients and the agency's processes. And one of their processes is where I have an issue.

In some cases, their operations person or client account lead will call or email me directly asking if I can help with a client project. Within a week, we'll have kick off call and briefing with the client and project begins. All good and how I prefer.

Other times, I'm what appears to be selected as a potential fit for a project or client and the agency will ask about me to fill out a form with my interest and rate for a "global client in such and such industry and doing so and so kind of writing " From there, they may or may not arrange a call for me and the client for the client to basically interview me to the point they seem like job interviews. They do this with about 5 or so other potential copywriters before deciding. Total dog and pony show and a waste of time, regardless of if I get the project or not.

To me, the agency should be leading the client and saying, "Yeah we've got an excellent copywriter who we've worked with many times and who our clients have appreciated. He's great at this and this and he's ready to jump on."

My question is if this is a normal practice for some agencies to pull? I do work for a couple of other agencies who will just assign me to a client as needs arise, so this whole interview stage they pull is new to me. Admittedly, most of my clients work with me directly ( no agency middle man).

I'd like to share the feedback on this part of the process, but if it's the norm, I'll keep to myself and suck it up.
#agency #clients #creatives #interviewing #normal
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    What you are describing is not unusual - you are working with agencies...not a manager promoting your career. Some agencies provide their own teams to their clients - other agencies put together a unique team FOR a specific client.



    they seem like job interviews. They do this with about 5 or so other potential copywriters before deciding. Total dog and pony show and a waste of time, regardless of if I get the project or not.
    Those ARE 'job interviews'. You seem to feel the agency should simply put you in the job without any competition...but you are not the only freelancer they work with. For some clients, it's not only the resume, but the teamwork and personality of the those added to their team that is of interest.

    Just curious - is this the same company you posted about in another thread - where you wanted to charge the agency for a meeting to give your opinion?

    I'd like to share the feedback on this part of the process
    Seems your 'feedback' would be that you don't like having to compete for jobs they make available to you. If you think you have enough leverage, give it a shot.
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    • Profile picture of the author j77
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Just curious - is this the same company you posted about in another thread - where you wanted to charge the agency for a meeting to give your opinion?
      Thanks a lot for replying. It's not the same client I posted about in the other thread -- that one was about my own client I had worked with directly for about 7 months and we're now in talks about a possible return of me supporting with reduced hours due to budgets on their end. And going into those talks with confidence and the great advice from others here! ... FYI, the advice I was asking the forum about that client wasn't at all about me wanting to invoice them about sharing my opinion. It was about them wanting me to interview their founders for 1-2 hours for the purpose of creating their marketing content without any agreement in place. Totally different situation and client

      Very good points you make and something to consider! Entirely new concept for me of an agency client doing multiple interviews with an agency's freelancers. To me, just a waste of time though -- client's, agency's and mine. Did I mention the agency isn't even on these calls? It's just their client and the freelancer. Like some awkward speed dating thing.

      I work with other agencies helping their clients also and the process is typically: Agency contacts me directly about my interest and to confirm estimated rate --> Agency informs client I'll be their person for the project --> Done. Kick-off meeting and briefing is scheduled and the work starts.

      My feedback to this agency in polite terms will basically be that I'm interested in helping their clients in cases where the agency is ready to have me jump right in. The agency has seen my work, they know me, they've seen how I work and communicate with their other clients, and that should be enough.

      I've worked with this agency other times where there's no client to freelancer "interview" stage. How I prefer it.

      May sound arrogant and it's not as much about not wanting to compete with other freelancers. It's really more about it being a 20-25% chance each time and subjective depending who I'm talking to, so just not worth the time. And an itsy-bitsy hit to the ego when I don't get it, combined with that wasted time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by j77 View Post

    To me, the agency should be leading the client and saying, "Yeah we've got an excellent copywriter who we've worked with many times and who our clients have appreciated. He's great at this and this and he's ready to jump on."

    My question is if this is a normal practice for some agencies to pull? I do work for a couple of other agencies who will just assign me to a client as needs arise, so this whole interview stage they pull is new to me. Admittedly, most of my clients work with me directly ( no agency middle man).
    Clients you get via the agency see the agency as their point of contact - that's who they pay. So the agency needs to make sure the client is happy.

    From your standpoint, the agency is effectively your client - they pay you. If they have specific requirements, you can either accept them or refuse the work. In that respect it's no different from dealing with a client directly.

    With this thread and the other you started recently, it seems you might have to clear up in your own mind how you view your situation. Do you consider yourself a stand-alone professional freelancer or do you still have an employee mindset?

    I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the latter, but if you want to transition to the former, maybe you need to have more confidence in your ability and worth; confidence to choose clients and take on work on your own terms.
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    • Profile picture of the author j77
      Appreciated Frank! You're right, it's more a confidence thing which you've given me a lot more of this past week, so thank you!

      Exactly what I'm going to say with the feedback in this case. I enjoy working with this agency and their people, enjoy the times when they can approach me and I jump right on to help their clients. And not interested in a 1-to-1 interview stage with just me and their client present before their client calls the next 4 potential freelancers and I'm just left wondering and knowing I gave away another 30-60 minutes of my time for a "We'll get back to you."
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Frank makes some good points.

    I've worked as a freelancer and with a couple agencies. When an agency called to ask me to 'interview' for a specific gig...I considered it a compliment.

    They were handing me an opportunity and it was up to me to secure the work with an interview.

    If I were an employee of the agency, I would resent being asked to donate my time for an interview. Different mindset.
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  • Profile picture of the author Moodesburn1977
    Yes, it's fairly common for them to interview


    Clients often want to ensure that that you are a good fit with their brand
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    And not interested in a 1-to-1 interview stage with just me and their client present
    It's up to you. If you have enough business (i.e., enough income) that you are not worried about the next job coming in....you can certainly decline to 'interview'. If you need the work, it's a different story.

    No, the agency would not be 'in' on the interview. They are telling the client 'here are 4-5 names of freelancers we use and trust' - then letting the client decide which person they are comfortable working with.

    A 15 minute call to see if the client 'connects' with you might be a good thing - to me, 30-60 minutes is too long....unless you are being compensated for your time.
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    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    My ducks are absolutely not in a row. I don't even know where some of them are...
    ...and I'm pretty sure one of them is a pigeon.
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  • Profile picture of the author willjack7
    What you are describing is not unusual - you are working with agencies...not a manager promoting your career. Some agencies provide their own teams to their clients - other agencies put together a unique team FOR a specific client.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    I would wish always for AGENCY to be sum tangiberl or acyschwnabyool ovah which you gaht command.

    Lookin' at Mereaim Webstah here ...

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agency

    Beyond teams of propulsahs an' organized gangs of happnin' stuffs all kinda dun-forya, we gaht a momentum as can inform most evrywan's footfall forward.

    Do we naht speak of actahs when summonin' zero-thespo creds of spies who would destroy us?

    Then let there be possessors of agency -- whomwombdoom you might wanna call agents.

    Wanna be one?

    K, walk swanky when nowan cayurres, an' be supah pertiQueuelieure 'bout who in yr KLERB.

    YOU READYIN' A HOT NOO SCENT GONNA TRANSFORM EVRY BORN HUGGIN AGENT INTO NO KINDA LICKY LICKY SLAYIVES, O PRINCESS?

    Most unlikely at this sub-momentous junkchore, Sweetiepoppet.

    Prolly ima huwwait a Nasteroid spells out munname, cratah by cratah, as it flies past butween all I hold dear an' like the Sun.
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