[Sigia-l] is it just me, or is it really hard to find IAs right now?

[Dave]

I understand the HUGE advantages of wanting to be a
freelancer/contractor. Makes total sense. Been thinking about it
myself.

But from a corporate perspective, it just doesn't make sense to me.
What type of knowledge needs to be retained? Or what type of skills do
I need? What's wrong w/ the freelancer model?

1. A freelancer comes in too late. If I know I have the project, the
project is already way too defined for the freelance designer to do as
Livia pointed out the important strategic work that usually goes into
the selling process itself. A good Sr. IA lead will also (if we are
talking agency side) be a core part of the sales team.

2. training new employees? Who is going to stick around and train and
mentor new employees? If you are a freelancer, where are your mentors?
Reading? I don't think so?

3. How can any company do R&D and develop internal thinking unless
well there is staff that you invest in beyond "the project". Even
agencies need to do this.

Then there is the fact that when you work w/ a contractor you are
giving away stuff in a more viral way. You are giving away your
processes and methods and at the agency level these are pretty
important differentiators.

On the non-agency side all the above and then some. ;)

Someone asked if hiring an agency was like hiring a freelancer. Some
companies like Gap might agree w/ that assessment, but there are
indeed service agencies that you can hire, and they are just that
services. Ad Agencies for example are different that market firms or
PR agencies. I would say marketing agencies should be internal to the
corporation. Managing your brand and your marketing is key, but hiring
out the media management and media creation based on that marketing
strategy totally makes sense.

-- dave