13 years ago, I got my first job in advertising. My salary was $35,500 / year. C
By Abramsjake · October 3, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
13 years ago, I got my first job in advertising. My salary was $35,500 / year.
Could barely pay my rent at my Back Bay apartment, was terrified to speak up in meetings, and thought every idea that popped into my head was stupid. Meanwhile, all of my college friends were making $100k+ at their fancy investment banking jobs right out of school.
The ad agency would bring these people in to give talks, and I was always so interested in what they had to say. I thought advertising was really cool. You got to be creative for a living. I wanted to be good at it, even though I felt like a nobody.
If you told me back in 2013 that I'd eventually be a guy on stage at the Meta NYC office, answering questions about advertising in a fireside chat, I would not have believed you.
Going to the office, hanging out in a green room, and sharing the stage with Eitan Katz was honestly surreal. He's the man, and it was really fun talking with someone who thinks about paid social like I do.
A big part of me still felt like I didn't belong there, but I'm really glad I had a chance to do it.
Thank you Lisa (Aronova) Noon and Jeff Sikaitis for the opportunity, meant a lot.
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P.S. Have some big things coming soon...
P.P.S I'm hiring senior creative superstars, $130k+ base, DM me.