Moving In-House? What Many Agency Candidates Get Wrong

The agency market is tough right now. Roles are scarce. Teams are stretched. So it's no surprise that more marketers and creatives are asking: "How do I make the move in-house?

I've worked with plenty of people making this shift. It's not just about applying differently - it's about reframing how you talk about what you do.

Here's what works:

Speak their language

In-house managers don't speak "agency". They want to know what business problems you solved.

Avoid: "Managed social campaigns

• "Delivered a content strategy that increased product sign-ups by 40%

Be specific. Focus on impact, not activity.

Understand key metrics

In-house teams care about commercial outcomes.

Think:

• Customer acquisition cost (CAC)

• Lifetime value (LTV)

• Churn and retention

• Brand trust

Even if you weren't directly responsible, your work contributed. Show that.

Shift your tone

Agency work often means selling ideas. In-house, it's solving real problems with limited time and budget.

Ditch the jargon.

Talk about how you improved conversion, solved a customer pain point, or supported cross-functional goals.

Be strategic

You might not land your dream in-house job first go, and that's okay.

Look at:

• Internal agency teams

• Contract roles with brands

• Hybrid roles (secondment in-house)

Don't wait for job ads

Don't just rely on SEEK. The best in-house roles often come through networking and direct outreach.

Instead:

• Identify brands you'd love to work for

• Connect with their marketing/brand leads

• Share your work publicly

• Start conversations early

Recruiters can help - but your visibility counts too.

Final thought:

This isn't just a job change. It's a mindset shift.