My first job, working for an web design agency, was in 2012.
Back then WordPress and responsive websites were all in the infancy, few agencies were offering these services and those that were, were using plugins like Pagelines and other tools.
This agency was the first that I had come across that wanted to combine WordPress and Bootstrap into a single platform.
In fact if I am 100% honest, I hadn’t even heard of Bootstrap until I started working for this agency. I always thought I’d be the pioneer that begins mobile website design.
Today WordPress is responsive as standard, and 98% of the themes you use, buy or create are responsive as standard.
However whilst working for the agency I learnt a lot, and in fact the owner inspired me to look deeper into myself, the technology and get to grips with being a developer rather than a business owner.
I now manage my own agency, and I thought I’d share with you some of the advantages of working for an web design agency.
No need to hunt
Working for a website design agency, as oppose to starting your own, immediately takes out the worry of not having enough work coming in.
As a developer or designer at the agency that responsibility is passed up to management, enabling you to hone in on the key area of interest, designing or developing websites.
Training
A lot of good website agencies will invest in their staff.
If you’re identified, or if you have identified an area that you feel needs a bit more work, then the likely hood is the management team will either train you on the job or send you on a course to give you a better understanding of the solution to the problem.
Equally other members of staff could recommend books and resources for you to use.
The 9 – 5 day
When running your own business it is never 9-5.
When you’re an agency owner it certainly isn’t 9-5, often the hours become a 24 hour, 7 day week, 365 commitment. Even when you’re sleeping you’re often thinking about the next project, bringing in more work, working with that company and so on.
As a designer or developer you hours are literally 9am to 5pm enabling you to leave the office and switch off from the world of work and focus on what’s important, your family and interests.
Learning
Whenever I have worked for another agency I have always picked up something new:
In 2012 it was my first real introduction into Open Cart and OOP PHP (Object Orientated Programming PHP).
I had played around within the OOP arena prior to this but never had I really dived into it and got my head into the world of object orientated PHP.
When I worked for another agency, I learned how to develop a WordPress plugin, a WordPress theme and a whole host of other areas.
Learning, when in an agency environment is both advantageous to you and the agency.
Agency Culture
Finally, every good agency knows that its culture is important. Often, when you begin working for an agency that culture isn’t always clear.
For agency owners it often takes years to hone in on the kind of culture they want, whether its a work hard play hard culture relaxed, open, formal and so on.
An agency culture gives you something to adhere to, it gives you a set of standards that you must reach in both your work and if you wanted too, make it part of your everyday life.
What advantages have you found with working for an agency? Let me know in the comments below.