Creative Insights Archives

Why should they hire me?
Because they need my help, and I need their money.
But I can’t say that. Not if I want the job.
So, what the heck am I supposed to say?

If your internal dialogue sounds like this from time to time, you’re in good company. 👋

I get tripped up on interview questions, too. Some questions seem like a trap, while others are just bizarrely quizzing me on my knowledge of the animal kingdom. Seriously, why?

6 dreaded interview questions

According to the nearly 3,000 votes on our recent LinkedIn poll, and the buzzing comments section, there are six common questions that trip up interviewees the most:

Tell us about yourself!
Why should we hire you?
What is your greatest weakness?
What are your salary requirements?
Tell us about a time you failed.
If you were an animal, what would you be?

Why hiring managers are asking

Did you know there are over 9,000 job applications per minute on the LinkedIn platform alone? And only about 8% of applicants make it to the interview scheduling stage?

That’s a lot of applicants for one job, and likely a lot of people that can do the basic day-to-day functions of that job. Skills- and competency-based questions aside, these behavioral questions can help hiring managers (in their mind at least) assess things like a candidate’s communication style, how they respond to challenges, and how they’ll fit in with the team.

Tackling the dreaded question

To better understand how to answer these behavioral questions, I leaned on two experts from our Chicago office. Creative Circle recruiters Mary Blackburn and Rose Boyer break down each interview question below — what do hiring managers really mean when they ask these questions? And how should you respond?

“Tell us about yourself.”

This is usually an icebreaker question, right at the start of your interview. It is not the time to share details of your personal life, and your response should be relatively brief. Think of it like an elevator pitch and keep it professional — the hiring manager wants to know a bit about who you are, what you do, and why you’re interested in the position you’re interviewing for.

Rose says, “Some candidates make the mistake of starting off by sharing where they live — that’s not what we’re asking.” She adds, “I’ve had candidates begin by sharing their age. We don’t need to know that either.”

Mary adds to Rose’s sentiment, “Try to avoid the year-by-year play. It’s fine to include where you started but let that be a brief bullet in your overall response. We can see previous employers and duration of employment on your resume, so it’s not necessary to spell that all out for this question.”

“Why should we hire you?”

Interviewers are looking for a specific and personalized response that showcases how you can solve their business needs; be sure to emphasize your most relevant experiences. This is an opportunity to show that you’ve researched this company, that you understand what they need, and that you can deliver.

Rose suggests explaining why you’re a great fit for the role you’re interviewing for specifically, and to refer back to some of the discussions you’ve had throughout the interview. You might say, “You mentioned earlier that time management is essential to this role — time management is one of my biggest strengths. I use a project management tool to stay on top of deadlines, prioritize, and plan my tasks and it works tremendously. It helps keep my manager in the loop on project status, too.”

Mary says, “Make yourself stand out from the crowd. What skills and experience do you have that might separate you from the other applicants?”

“What is your greatest weakness?”

If a hiring manager asks you this question, they’re probably checking to see how self-aware you are. They want you to expand on your weaknesses with a couple details on how you’re managing them. Saying that you’re a “perfectionist” isn’t going to cut it — be sincere, not cliché.

Rose and Mary both agree that they personally hate this question and prefer not to ask it in interviews. However, to save yourself from any unnecessary surprises, they do suggest having an answer prepped just in case.

Mary says, “Be mindful of which weakness you decide to share. If the job description says you need to learn a new CRM, don’t share that you struggle learning new CRMs.”

As an example, Rose shares what a response to this question might look like for her: “Sometimes, I have a hard time processing information that I hear. I combat this by asking for an email communication instead, or I’ll follow up via email so I can have things in writing.”

“What are your salary requirements? “

Thanks to the pay transparency laws developing in several states now, the salary requirements conversation has become more transparent. If you know the range an employer is willing to pay for a job, then you know how much you can expect to earn.

If you’re interviewing for a job with the pay range listed, Mary advises against requiring the top of the range from the jump. “It could jeopardize your opportunity for a role, especially if there are other candidates interviewing with similar experience to yours and a salary expectation closer to the middle or middle-upper end of the range,” Mary says.

Pay transparency or not, Rose says, “Candidates should never be dead set on a specific number. Always let the hiring manager know that you’re targeting between two numbers. This shows that you’re open to negotiation.”

Mary lives by the rule of 5s. If you’re sharing expectations for an hourly rate, keep the range within $5. If it’s a salaried position, try to stick to a range at or close to $5k. In her experience, increments of 5 provide a fair opportunity for both the candidate and the client to meet somewhere in the middle.

“Tell us about a time you failed.”

Everyone experiences failure at one time or another — this question isn’t really about the failure itself, it’s about how you worked through it. “We’re trying to understand your process,” says Rose. With this response, you have the opportunity to show a hiring manager how you take feedback and how you grow.

Consider sharing these details with the interviewer:

How did you identify your failure and how did you react to it?
What steps did you take to rectify the situation?
Did you communicate your mistakes appropriately?
And what are you doing to avoid it in the future?

Mary suggests keeping a response to this question in your back pocket. “Talking about failure isn’t easy. Think through your scenario in advance and rehearse it so you’re not stumbling through the details mid-interview.”

“If you were an animal, what animal would you be?”

This is just an awkward way of seeing if you’ll be a good cultural fit for the company. Rose and Mary both agree that this question is silly and advise not to get too caught up on which animal you select. “If you can connect a few of your key personality traits to an animal that you have some knowledge about, that’s all you need.” says Rose.

It’s worth noting that this question could be an opportunity to stand out as memorable and creative, if you want to. You could choose an interesting animal; instead of a dog, you could try a dolphin, eagle, or honeybee. Just make sure you can connect some of their standout traits back to your personal interests and qualities.

As with all the other questions, keep this one in your back pocket too. Interviews are stressful enough as they are, so no need to add another layer of uncertainty with an animal kingdom pop quiz.

If you’re looking for more advice from our recruiters, check out our Creative Circle Career Resources page and follow us on Instagram. If you’re feeling ready for your next interview, apply to the open roles on our website! We add new jobs to our site every day, in locations across the U.S. and Toronto, plus remote roles.

About the Author.
Kayleigh is a Creative Circle freelancer — when she’s not chasing around her two young boys or laughing at Corporate Natalie videos, she spends her time creating content for us! She specializes in sharing advice for our talent community, so if you’re a creative with an appetite for blogs on market trends, job search guidance, and freelance life, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to ensure you never miss the latest.

Running a business’ social media account is easy, right? Take some pictures, reshare relatable memes, post links to your products — simple!

Not quite.

I’m a freelance content creator for Creative Circle; I write blogs, manage our candidate newsletter, and own our Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. To me, creating content is equal parts exciting and complicated, especially when it comes to social media.

I get to share job search advice and tips, feature interviews with experts in the marketing and creative space, highlight exciting new job openings, spotlight our talented candidates, and I even get to sprinkle in the occasional Taylor Swift meme. It’s exciting and rewarding — especially when someone finds my content useful.

But sometimes my content doesn’t reach the audience I want to. That’s the complicated part. Maybe I jumped on a trend too late, or posted at the wrong time, or didn’t align my post caption strategically enough with the latest hashtags and keywords. And when a post receives little engagement, that can be deflating.

Social media content creation and management requires careful planning, strategic execution, and skill. Don’t just take it from me; take it from the 800+ voters and dozens of comments from social media creators on my recent LinkedIn Poll. As Kiara F. says, managing socials is like “playing chess, but with memes and hashtags.”

If you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for ways to level-up your social media chess game — to get new followers, to increase engagement, to deliver the content your audience truly cares about. And you know what my favorite source of inspiration is? Other creators.

I’ve partnered with two Creative Circle freelancers to compile a list of five tips to produce quality, engaging social media content.

Jordin Smith has four years of experience managing and creating social media content. She finds it thrilling to curate content that excites her audience and piques their curiosity. She’s currently working with clients in the fashion and beauty space.

Brian Benton has five years of experience as a social media art director. He enjoys how the spontaneity and limitations of tight deadlines and less-than-desirable shooting locations push him to think creatively. His clients are in the technology, entertainment, and ecommerce space.

Here are 5 tips to consider:

Don’t constantly scramble to hop on the latest audio trend. It might not be as impactful as you think.

Trending audio has taken social media by storm. It’s fun, catchy, and very in-the-moment, but it truthfully only impacts engagement for a small percent of the population. It has its time and place, but it doesn’t well-suit the content you want to remain evergreen.

“Sometimes content production timelines can run longer than expected, and the trendy music can really date that edit,” says Brian. “You don’t want your video to feel outdated when someone comes across it on their TikTok Discover or Instagram Explore page for the first time.”

Listen. Listen. Listen.

Yes, we do get paid to scroll. And for good reason. Scrolling, listening, and exploring is where ideas are born as you identify emerging trends, understand your audience’s behavior and preferences, monitor your competitors’ activity, and more.

Jordin says, “Listening is my number one tip. I scroll social media searching for anything that excites me. I listen to what people are saying, what they’re listening to, and what they want more of.” She suggests listening to what your audience sounds like and tailoring your content to that.

Brian warns creators about replicating what their competitors are doing. “Consider finding inspiration one or two degrees away from your direct competitors. For example, if you are creating content for a high-end pet brand, see what high-end fashion is doing.”

Since scrolling for research can quickly turn to “doom scrolling”, consider setting a timer for 30–40 minutes each day and limit yourself to that time. As you scroll, save the content that inspires you or note it down somewhere.

Stand out with a strong brand voice.

In a crowded market, your unique voice can set you apart from your competitors. What personality traits do you want your brand to embody? Is it friendly, authoritative, humorous, or professional? You can shift your voice slightly from channel to channel, too. Remember — your voice doesn’t just shine through in your content and post captions, but also in the way you engage with your followers in the comments.

Jordin says “The demographics from platform to platform are different, so I tweak my voice accordingly. LinkedIn gets the professional voice, TikTok gets the younger, cooler voice, while Instagram gets the voice of the big sister.”

Brian suggests some ways to get creative with your tone. “To stand out, try giving a more casual piece of content a professional feel or vice versa. Consider shooting something that is funnier or more trend-driven with great lighting and a high-end camera. Or use viral TikTok style editing for a more serious piece of content. This can help keep personality in posts while remaining on brand,” Brian says.

Have fun.

Splashing some fun into your content can help humanize your brand and make your page a place where your followers want to hang out. Try being real about your industry and adding tasteful humor; for example, leaning into jokes about the future of AI, or the frustrations graphic designers can experience working with clients.

LinkedIn polls usually reach 3–5x more people than posts without a poll! Try asking your audience a lighthearted question or get their opinion on a topic that means something to your brand. Drop an open-ended question in the post body and encourage your followers to engage. This can be a fun way to create conversation with your audience in a more personal way.

Post when your followers are online.

This is unique to each business and channel — check your channel insights to know when the majority of your followers are online. Identify peak times of engagement and post then. Experiment with posting at different times and days of the week, then track the performance of those posts.

At Creative Circle, our followers (mostly jobseekers) spend some time online in the evenings, so we’ve tested posting during those hours and have seen some success. When in doubt, you can always fall back on these broad guidelines as a starting point, to give your content the best possible chance of success. 

If you’re craving more tips, consider following these three accounts on Instagram. They’re constantly serving digital content tips to my feed:

If you’re currently working in social media content creation and enjoying your work, stick to it — you have one of the most desirable jobs in the world right now! And, according to market.us, the digital content creation market is projected to climb to 90.4 billion by 2033 (from 27.1 billion in 2023).

If you’re looking for work in this industry, sign up for our job alerts and search our open roles. If you’re in need of a social media content creation or consultation for your business, connect with us — we have an impressive pool of talent ready to work for you!

Martech is the buzz among organizations right now, and that’s great news for job-seekers!

Enterprises are looking for marketers with existing platform-specific expertise, and/or candidates with proven ability to quickly upskill and take advantage of emerging technologies. They’re seeking talent that can use martech for functions including content management, analytics, digital advertising, customer relationship management, search engine optimization, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Here are a few of the top digital marketing roles we place at Creative Circle that leverage these skills. If you work in any of these specialties — or want to start —consider leveling up on these skillsets and tools based on job title.

All tips are provided by Greg Kihlström and Voloria Pettiford, marketing consultants and panelists on our August 2024 martech webinar.

Marketing Automation Manager

Overseeing and optimizing automated marketing campaigns

Tip: Organizations are working hard to tailor content and experiences to their audiences; automation, personalization, and orchestration skills in this role are critical for success. Define which program (HubSpot, Marketo, Mailchimp, etc.) you are strongest in, then buckle down and get certified in it. Your platform-specific experience will attract hiring managers.

Search Engine Optimization Specialist

Improve a website’s visibility in search results on Google, Bing, and other search engines using research, writing, and analytical skills

Tip: Contrary to some speculation about AI’s role in the future of the web, SEO is not dead. It is very much alive and well, and these roles are more important than ever. Good content is key, and finding better ways to reach core audiences is still a major focus. Hiring managers are looking for specialists with skills in SEM Rush, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.

Paid Media/Search Specialist

Plan, execute, and manage digital marketing campaigns that use paid advertising

Tip: An understanding of SEO is essential in this role. Lean into your content writing skills — you may need to write and deploy search engine ads. Hiring managers are looking for specialists with experience in SEM Rush, Google Ads Editor, and SpyFu.

Content Manager

Oversee the development, distribution, and strategic efforts of creating messaging to inform and delight audiences

Tip: Strong writers and creatives can excel in this role. If you have video editing experience, lean into that — content managers often cross over to the social media space. To support digital content management, consider upskilling in the tool Optimizely.

Takeaway
If you’re a marketer looking for work, or trying to advance in your career, now is the time to home in on your abilities to support marketing technology initiatives. Our connections at top companies need your assistance.

If you’re craving more on the latest trends in martech, and how to upskill and thrive in this landscape, join our conversation with Greg Kihlström and Voloria Pettiford during our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, August 6!

Whether you’re an individual marketer or leading a team, “martech” is all the buzz right now. What does this term mean? And why are we talking about it? Let’s dive in.

What is Martech?

Martech, short for marketing technology, refers to the variety of tools that companies use to automate, streamline, and market their products and services. Google Ads, Sprout Social, HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce, Asana, WordPress, Drupal, Power BI — it’s all martech.

An individual team’s collection of platforms is known as a “stack.” Martech stacks can range from simple to highly complex — with some enterprises having 20+ tools in their stack, according to our recent LinkedIn poll.

For additional perspective, we asked two martech experts to share how they define the term.

Greg Kihlström, an experienced marketing consultant and creator of The Agile Brand, a marketing technology podcast, says:

“Martech encompasses the platforms and processes that enable marketers to reach audiences using digital means. It serves a broad array of purposes — from collecting data, to displaying and distributing content and experiences, to reporting and acting on the results of the efforts.”

Voloria Pettiford, a Creative Circle freelancer and marketing consultant, says:

“To put it simply, ‘martech’ is the product of marketing tools and technology working happily together. There was a time when ‘digital marketing’ was trending. Martech is very similar — except now, automation, AI, and analytics have been added to the mix.”

Why are we talking about it?

Martech isn’t new; enterprises have been leveraging these tools for years. But in today’s world, leaders are turning a sharp focus to how the tools are used, how they work (or don’t work) together, and the impact it all has on the customer journey — an experience that matters now more than ever.

According to online software marketplace G2, the martech solutions marketplace has grown 27.8 percent year-over-year, increasing from just over 11,000 solutions in 2023 to more than 14,000 in 2024.

Greg says he’s seen a significant demand for martech consultation over the last six months. “Organizations — not just marketing teams — need assistance in understanding which martech tools are right for their company and how to make the best investments.”

For example, Greg explains how many organizations are struggling to meaningfully understand and utilize AI in their stack. He says, “I help them understand where AI-based tools and methods can make the biggest impact and achieve maximum ROI.”

Voloria’s sentiment is similar. She experienced a martech consulting boom in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, and it’s been steady since. “Leaders are reevaluating their platforms and the people on their teams,” says Voloria. “Most companies have martech tools, but they’re not using them properly, or they’re not investing in the right ones. They need help streamlining.”

Why is this significant?

No matter what technology a marketing team has at its disposal, it’s essential to have an experienced team of talent in place to get the most out of it. “If just one marketing operations employee is deploying multiple tools, it’s likely that each tool is not being used effectively, and that employee is probably on target to burn out fast,” says Voloria.

What good is the technology if teams don’t have the bandwidth to leverage it?

When marketing leaders source new talent these days, they’re increasingly looking for specialists with experience in the specific tools they’re using. And the smart hiring managers are looking not just for platform-specific expertise, but for candidates with a proven ability to quickly upskill and learn a variety of technical applications. That’s the best way to prepare for sustained success in our rapidly evolving digital environment.

If you’re a job-seeker, read this: Many digital marketing and creative functions have evolved to either focus on or heavily involve martech. The jobs our clients are looking to fill may not specifically call out “martech” in the job title or description, but you can bet you’ll be asked about your martech skills in the interview process. If you’re interested in learning more about how to position yourself for these trending roles, read this: Martech and Your Job Search: Trending Roles, Areas to Upskill, Tools to Master

Takeaway

Enterprises have their marketing technology under a microscope. They’re focusing on which tools make the most sense for their organization, how the tools work together, and where to make the best investments — including their talent.

If you’re an organization looking to streamline your martech, let us know. Whether you have a specific martech challenge to tackle, need a full team of support, or are just looking to fill one critical role, we’re here to help.

If you’re craving more on the latest trends in martech, join our conversation with Greg Kihlström and Voloria Pettiford during our upcoming webinar on Tuesday, August 6!

Let’s face it — the recent release of GPT-4o is a bit anxiety-provoking for many. In our recent poll, 55% of our online community said GPT-4o made them feel “worried and uneasy.” And the comments on OpenAI’s YouTube videos joking about humans being “toast” aren’t comforting to read. The world is going to implode!

Wait.

Pause for a minute. Take a deep breath. And, try to avoid catastrophic thinking.

What is AI anxiety, exactly?

Coined by Day One Agency, AI-nxiety is a term used to describe unease about the overarching ramifications of artificial intelligence on human creativity and ingenuity.

Fear of and resistance to new technological advancements has been common for centuries.

This technology newsletter by Jennifer Walter at Discover Magazine articulates it clearly. She explains how it’s normal to be wary of things we aren’t familiar with. When the bicycle began to rise in popularity in the 1890s, consumers were fearful of the harm the transportation technology might inflict on society. Physicians wrote about “bicycle face,” a condition described as “dark circles under the eyes” in female cyclers — physicians said the activity was dangerous to their health. 133 years later, it’s hard to imagine being so resistant to a bicycle, right?

In the 19th century, photography was an “art world outcast.” People saw it as a thoughtless device for replication, one that lacked the refined feeling and sentiment that we get from paintings. When you fast forward to today, photography is considered fine art, and it can be an incredibly lucrative profession.

How to Cope with AI Technology Advancements

With the rise of generative AI, we are on the cusp of more groundbreaking changes that will alter our reality. Here are five productive ways to digest the changes, leverage what’s available to you, and ease your mind a bit.

Be mindful of media exaggeration.

With rapid AI advancements getting all the buzz lately, it can start to feel like you’re an AI adaptation laggard. You’re not. The media often dramatizes news stories about AI, which can fuel anxiety and misconceptions.

A 2023 Gallup study of nearly 19,000 U.S. employees and leaders discovered that most employees — seven in ten — don’t regularly use AI in their job. Only 1 in 10 employees uses it daily, and within that 10%, most adapters reported using it to carry out routine tasks.

However, like the evolution of AI, these usage rates are expected to change quickly, so now is the time to jump on board.

Educate yourself.

Understanding how AI works, as well as its potential benefits and limitations, can demystify the technology and reduce fear. Reliable sources of information can provide a more balanced landscape and help ease the anxiety coming from the unknown.

Thanks to the AI innovators and early adopters, there are hundreds of how-to videos on YouTube — high-level tutorials for beginners, step-by-step instructions for specific AI tools, guides on using AI to boost your productivity, and more. Consider checking out these four channels recommended by an expert panelist on a recent Creative Circle webinar:

If you work in the creative space, review the summary of this webinar where three experts share how creatives can best position themselves to thrive in era of AI.

Focus on control.

Anxiety is often related to a lack of control. Get a feeling of control back by concentrating on the aspects of AI that you can influence.

Consider staying informed about how AI impacts your field, advocating for and using ethical AI practices, or learning new skills to stay relevant in our changing job market.

Join the conversation.

Talking about our problems and verbalizing our fears has been a source of relief for centuries. Process your anxieties with a friend or a coworker. Perhaps you’ll find that others feel similarly.

Prioritize participating in conversations with AI experts or online communities to gain different perspectives and reduce feelings of isolation. Attending a webinar with an open chat might be a good place to start! If you’re looking for an online community, here’s a list of seven popular AI communities to choose from.

Practice mindfulness and stress reduction techniques.

If the latest news on AI is triggering a tightness in your throat and a knot in your stomach, try stepping away from it and leaning into a mindfulness practice. Techniques such as mindfulness meditation have been proven to help reduce stress for decades. Consider finding a meditation or yoga studio near you, or give this Spotify playlist a listen.

Remember, AI is a tool — a powerful one — but it doesn’t replace the human touch. Embrace its potential, stay informed, and find a balance that allows you to thrive. AI can help humans do some incredible things, but YOU are still the artist behind the masterpiece.

About the Author.
Kailey is a Creative Circle freelancer — when she’s not chasing around her two young boys or laughing at Corporate Natalie videos, she spends her time creating content for us! She specializes in sharing advice for our talent community, so if you’re a creative with an appetite for blogs on market trends, job search guidance, and freelance life, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to ensure you never miss the latest.

Creative Circle is thrilled to share that we have won ClearlyRated’s 2024 Client and Talent Awards for service excellence! This marks the sixth consecutive year winning the award on the talent side, and the fourth consecutive year for clients.

ClearlyRated, a satisfaction research firm, presented these awards in partnership with Gold sponsor ClearEdge Marketing based on the 2023 results of weekly surveys that Creative Circle administered to clients and candidates.

“At Creative Circle, our guiding principle is to deliver a uniquely outstanding customer experience,” said Creative Circle President, Matt Riley. “We’re extremely proud to see our dedication to that goal recognized in these awards from ClearlyRated. I want to thank every Creative Circle employee for ensuring our clients’ and candidates’ experiences remain our topmost priority.”

“I’m so excited to introduce the 2024 winners alongside their verified ratings and reviews on ClearlyRated.com,” said ClearlyRated CEO, Eric Gregg. “Creative Circle again proved their commitment to providing outstanding experiences and superior service. They’re raising the bar for excellence and I couldn’t be more proud to celebrate their success.”

Client Results

Our clients completed 775 satisfaction surveys in 2023, rating us on average as a 9.1 out of 10. Our Net Promoter Score of 71.2% is nearly double the industry average of 36% and categorizes us as “excellent” in client satisfaction.

Clients rated us most highly — with more than 97% rating us positively — in communication speed/responsiveness, candidate presentation, and communication clarity. 93.4% of clients agreed that they will partner with Creative Circle again in the future.

Here are a few of our favorite responses:

“As the VP of Marketing, my team balances a lot of initiatives and has high levels of accountability to drive growth for our company. I need to find ways to expand my team’s capacity and capability without breaking the budget or opening a full-time role. Creative Circle is the perfect solution to this challenge. I am to quickly scale my team with high-quality talent for specific projects or for longer-term engagements that require part-time work. I’ve worked with Creative Circle for more than 5 years at several different companies and they’ve helped source designers, PPC strategists, content writers and SEO experts. They are my first call when I need to expand my team short term or long term. Highly recommend!”
- Kathleen O., VP of marketing for a software company

“You provided pre-vetted candidates that have a reliable level of experience in the field. You’re also very (extremely) responsive.”
- Amy M., creative director for an advertising agency

“Creative Circle made the process simple for me. I have a lot on my plate and sourcing well-qualified talent takes time. We were able to get up and running with our new freelancers in just days. The portal made communication and selection so easy. It feels great to be supported by the team at Creative Circle.”
- Dawn C., senior marketing services manager for a nonprofit

Candidate Results

Our candidates completed nearly 4,000 satisfaction surveys in 2023, rating us on average as a 9.1 out of 10. Our Net Promoter Score of 72.2% is more than double the industry average of 30% and categorizes us as “excellent” in client satisfaction.

Candidates rated us most highly — with more than 92% rating us positively — in Creative Circle’s communication and responsiveness, how they were treated by our clients, and how prepared they felt for their roles.

Here are just a few of the positive responses we received:

“Creative Circle is professional, friendly, and fast. I know they want me to do well. The positions are incredible opportunities. I feel they have my interests in mind as well as the interests of their employer clients.”
- Chris A., marketing automation manager

“The opportunities I’ve received with big organizations and companies through Creative Circle is beyond compare. Being represented and having support from recruiters makes a huge difference when looking for a job. I’ve had a wonderful experience working with different Creative Circle offices and recruiters.”
- Jenny B., content creator

“I love how Creative Circle supports their clients and resources. They were with me every step of the way during my contract and we’re quick to solve any issues that may have come about. I can always depend on Creative Circle to provide great quality service. They are #1 when it comes to recruitment hands down.”
- Arshaun C., information architect

To get in touch with Creative Circle for marketing or creative services, fill out this form and somebody will be in touch shortly. If you’re a candidate looking for work, apply to roles on the Creative Circle website here.

About Creative Circle

Creative Circle provides marketing and creative services, including studio and flex bench teams, agency services, talent acquisition, and consulting. Our strength comes from our talent community, and our power lies in leveraging this network to provide flexible custom solutions for our clients.

Creative Circle is part of the Commercial Segment of ASGN Incorporated (NYSE: ASGN). To learn more, visit creativecircle.com.

About ClearlyRated

Rooted in satisfaction research for professional service firms, ClearlyRated utilizes a Net Promoter® Score survey program to help professional service firms measure their service experience, build online reputation, and differentiate on service quality. Learn more at https://www.clearlyrated.com/solutions/.

Freelancing isn’t just a side hustle anymore — it can be your full-time job (and a lucrative one, too!). As of January 2024, there are an estimated 76.4 million freelancers in the United States, and ~40% of them freelance full-time. To back that up, we asked our creative community how many freelance hours they log each week. The response? 36% are leveraging freelance work as their main income stream.

It’s clear that creatives are consciously opting for the freelance path, and for good reason. We asked two of our seasoned recruiters, Elizabeth Calabrese and Jayce Reyes, how to thrive as a full-time freelancer. Here’s what they had to say:

Freedom, Flexibility, and Self-Management

Being a freelancer means you’re the captain of your own ship, the CEO of your freelance business. “You can decide when and where you work. Your freelance hours can flex around your personal needs, plus, there’s a lot of opportunities to work remote,” says Elizabeth.

Picture this: You’re putting the finishing touches on your latest design project, sipping hot coffee in your work-from-home attire (we’ll let you decide what that looks like) while the rest of the 9–5ers are still stuck in rush hour traffic just to get to the office.

And can you do this full-time? Yep! But you’ll likely need to pick up multiple part-time gigs. And doing this well requires organization, clear communication, and time management.

Elizabeth stresses the importance of project management. “When juggling part-time gigs, find a method that works for you. It could be splitting up your days per client, or creating time blocks for each client each day.” Elizabeth suggests looking into project management tools to help manage your workload across clients. If you need somewhere to start, our Creative Circle favorite is Asana.

Diverse Portfolio and Higher Pay

Freelancing full-time enables you to diversify your portfolio relatively quickly.

When hiring managers see your comprehensive range — from web design to content writing to social media management — they’ll perceive greater value, making you a highly sought after candidate.

Jayce Reyes shares that the most in-demand skills he’s seeing at the moment are “technical skills related to digital platforms, coding, and specialized software.” He reminds us to never undervalue soft skills. “Effective communication, time management, and adaptability are universally valued across industries,” says Jayce. Freelancers should consider gigs in fields with growing demand, such as digital marketing, data analysis, or user experience design.

But don’t just diversify your skills — explore different industries, too.

Jayce explains how experience in multiple verticals can be particularly advantageous when trying to make more money. “Freelancers can strategically seek out opportunities in specific verticals that have higher demand for their skills and offer greater compensation.” He adds, “Find the industry that calls to you and take on gigs there. Becoming an industry-specific expert can enable you to command higher rates due the specialized nature of your services.”

When setting wage expectations, consider each project’s scope, complexity, and the value you provide. Decide on a pricing structure (hourly, per-project, or retainer) that aligns with your work style and your financial goals. Jayce says, “It’s crucial to periodically reassess your rates as your experience and market demand evolve.”

To access detailed salary breakdowns for creative, marketing, and tech roles, check out our salary guide.

Link Arms with a Recruiter

One of the biggest challenges freelancers face is finding consistent work. And when you’re freelancing full-time, the work needs to keep flowing. That’s where a trusted recruiter comes in — they know you better than your favorite coffee shop barista!

Recruiters do the heavy lifting to find relevant openings, make client intros, and negotiate the best rates on your behalf. At Creative Circle, our connections with top companies get your resume in front of the right people and provide you access to positions that aren’t posted anywhere else. Plus, when you work with us, you’re on our payroll. So, you can immediately cross “send invoice” off that to-do list in your new project management tool 😉.