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Security calls, but your heart says stay put… what should you do? In the first of a new series, the Creative Boom’s community weighs in with its collective wisdom.
Welcome to Dear Boom, Creative Boom’s new agony aunt column for creatives facing career conundrums. The concept is simple: you send us your anonymous dilemmas—big or small, juicy or awkward—and our creative community rallies with advice, wisdom, and real-world experience. We then pull together the best insights to help everyone facing similar challenges.
Our first dilemma comes from an anonymous creative facing a crossroads that will be familiar to many of us. “I’ve been offered a senior creative role that’s secure, well paid; everything I once thought would mean I’ve made it,” they explain. “But the work’s for brands I don’t connect with, and the culture sounds way faster than I’m used to. I love my freelance life, even though things have been a lot slower these last few years. Am I turning down an opportunity I’ll never get again?”
The case for taking the plunge
The response on our Instagram and TikTok
channels was immediate and passionate. And perhaps surprisingly, the majority urged our freelancer to grab the job opportunity.
“If you’re intrigued in exploring that avenue even a little bit, take the job, scratch the itch, per se,” advised illustrator and designer Stephanie Jade. “Even if it’s for a year, it’s a great chance to learn new things, ways of working, meet new people, and see how things go. If it’s not for you, freelancing is always there waiting for you.”
Darran Pownall, who’s worked for almost 30 years in graphic design, agreed. “Most jobs I’ve taken over the years are not perfect,” he said, “but the experience you get on the journey gives you skills for the next one. I’ve just accepted a freelance role for a global agency predominantly using AI. It’s challenging, but I’m learning. Which is what’s required in the constant change of design and technology.”
Jonathan Cosh, perhaps summed it up best, saying: “Connections are key to career progression. All work is an experience to make you better at what you do.” This rings true from my own journey: some of my most valuable professional relationships were forged in roles I initially questioned taking.
The power of gut instincts
Not everyone, though, was convinced our freelancer should take the plunge. Some urged them to follow that inner voice—the one that’s probably already made the decision, if you’re honest enough to listen.
“Follow your gut: if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t,” advised brand designer Sophie O’Connor. “Money isn’t the be-all and end-all unless you are really struggling financially.”
This resonates with anyone who’s taken a job for the wrong reasons. I recall a period in my early career at a company whose values didn’t align with mine. The salary was decent, but I felt like I was betraying myself every morning. Misalignment with company culture isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s creatively stifling.
One thing that struck me about this discussion was how many people challenged the traditional narrative that employment equals success. As designer Chris Bain put it: “If you love freelancing, I’d say you already have the dream job.”
Emma Stokes, a mind-and-body coach for creatives, took a similar line. “If you are already living a dream life where you call the shots, live how you want to live, work with clients who light you up and energise you, I would keep going as you are because that’s rare.”
And designer and illustrator Laura Bee provided a refreshing counterpoint. “I had this exact scenario happen earlier in the year, but I trusted my gut and turned down the job,” she revealed. “So far, I’m having the best year ever freelancing. Sometimes betting on yourself works out.”
The security myth
Perhaps the most valuable insight came from recognising that employment security is largely mythical in our industry. “I’d question if any full-time job is secure,” Chris Bain noted, and he’s absolutely right.
We’ve seen talented people made redundant through no fault of their own, while dedicated freelancers build businesses that outlast agency restructures. The pandemic taught us that security comes from adaptability, not from having someone else sign your pay cheques.
Ultimately, though, there’s no “right answer” to this dilemma. Your decision should reflect your personal circumstances, attitude towards risk and long-term vision for your career.
So I’d say: if you’re intrigued by the role, take it and scratch the itch. The experience, connections and skills you’ll gain will be invaluable, even if the brands don’t inspire you. You can always go back to freelancing in future. Just take what you can from the experience. New skills, new experiences, new contacts; make the most of all of them.
However, if your gut is screaming “no!”, and you’re financially stable enough to stick with the feast-and-famine that is freelancing, I’d say: trust those instincts. In the long run, the creative industries reward those who know themselves, whether that means taking calculated risks or doubling down on their independence.
