Work/Life Balance & Integration

As specialists in creative agency recruitment at iknowho, we get a lot of requests from candidates specifically hoping for their next role to have work life balance. We find that these questions typically come from people who are experiencing an “unbalance” and are understandably “burnt out”.

The cold hard truth is that working in advertising agencies, although having many benefits, is most likely going to be high stress and often long hours, so before reading on you do need to be accepting of that as a reality, that said there are approaches you can take to prevent the “burn out”.

Work life balance, unless you’re a workaholic, people classify as a necessary component to ensure you are able to sustain both your professional and personal life. Although, it shouldn’t just be about sustaining, really, to be successfully managing your work/life balance you should be growing and developing in both areas, not just sustaining. Don’t wait until you reach burn out stage to make a change, use the early warning signs that things might be going off kilter, get to know your limitations so you can restore the balance before it’s too late.

There are a few simple exercises you can use to keep check. Try writing a list of what’s most important to you both professionally and personally, what you need to be sustaining and what goals you want to achieve in both. Ensure they are measurable and realistic then give yourself a timeframe based on your current situation. Give yourself checkpoints, say every month to sit down and review. Make sure you see the warning signs before potential burnouts. A work/life balance review checklist could include:

Are you investing enough in personal relationships, the people closest to you will be honest about this?

How is your health, your body will be the first thing to remind you to take a break?

Are you feeling job satisfaction?

How are you spending your weekends/time away from work? Are you too tired to move or are you up and about making the most of your personal time?

How are your finances, are you living to work or working to live?

What are you looking forward to? Have you got fun activities planned?

Do you see the next few years as building your career or a time to build your personal life? Everyone has different agendas, get to know yours.

Revisiting a list like this (or something personalised to you) regularly is a great way to check in on your current situation and make minor adjustments as you go to ensure the balance remains. As always life can change at any time but making sure you have the right work/life balance means you are better equipped to handle anything thrown your way!

There are actions you can take if you feel the balance isn’t where you want it to be too;

Always keep clear communication lines open with your line manager or someone you feel connected to in the business. Chat to them about expectations, work pipeline, and options for your role

Assess your ways of working and ensure you aren’t doubling up, that you are prioritising properly and that you can chat directly to those who are managing your workload, especially if you have split reporting lines

Prioritise your day, every day and assess what is causing you the greatest workload or stress

There is also a new movement called work/life integration. This may or may not be appropriate in your role but it is worth considering options.

Work life Integration is the ability to be able to work your deliverables around personal activities. Are you able to start a little later to get to the gym but work later to ensure your deadlines are made? Or would it be possible for you to leave earlier to make a class or course you are interested in and log in after to finalise communications and ensure you are up to date for the next day? There is more and more flexibility being built into roles these days and technology allows us to work on the move or remotely.

Though if you are feeling like your current situation may need a change get in touch with me for a confidential chat. For a full list of permanent and freelance agency opportunities visit: www.iknowho.com.au

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Signs It’s Time to Hire a Marketer…and how to get it right

By Kristina Gerdov • September 3, 2025

For many growing businesses, marketing is often something that gets added to the to-do list of already busy managers or existing teams. A social post here, an email there, and maybe a campaign when there’s time. But without dedicated expertise, marketing rarely delivers the consistency and commercial results your brand needs to grow. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to bring in a dedicated marketing resource, here are the key things to consider and how to ensure your first hire is set up for success. 1. The Telltale signs If your demand generation has stalled, you’re struggling to convert interest into sales, or your brand presence feels disjointed, it’s time to stop relying on ad-hoc efforts. A dedicated marketer can build and execute a strategic plan that drives consistent results and positions your brand for long-term growth. 2. What to avoid It can be tempting to look for a “jack-of-all-trades” who can do a little bit of everything. The reality? Even the most talented marketer will struggle without clear goals and defined outcomes on what the business is looking to achieve. Hiring without clarity can lead to underwhelming results and frustration on both sides. Be specific about the expertise you need and the outcomes you expect. 3. Why this hire is so important to get right Your first marketing hire is more than just another role, it often lays the foundation for your brands future growth engine. The right hire can build momentum and shape how your future team evolves. The wrong hire however, can stall progress, waste budget, and leave you back at square one. 4. Fractional vs full-time Not quite ready for a permanent commitment? Fractional marketers can be a great short-term solution to get things moving while you build the case for a full-time hire. Just be clear on their remit. Fractional marketers are ideal for campaigns, projects, or interim support, but they’re not typically suited to long-term brand building or team development. 5. What kind of marketer do you actually need? Marketing as a discipline is broad, as are the tools used to reach your desired target audience. Do you need someone to drive digital acquisition, manage partnerships, develop content, or build brand strategy? Start by clarifying your business’s biggest priorities and pain points, then match the skillset accordingly. The clearer you are upfront, the better the outcome. 6. How to set them up for success Hiring the right person is only half the job. To see results and maximum impact, you need to set your new hire up for success. This means: Clear KPIs so they know what good Vs great looks like The marketing tools and access to the resources they need to deliver Integration into cross-functional conversations with key decision-makers from day one Bec Godkin, Senior Talent Partner says “Marketing can’t succeed in a silo. The deeper your marketer is connected across the business and understands the various levers that shape success, the greater their impact will be” Hiring your first marketer is an exciting step - it signals growth, ambition, and the desire to build something bigger. By being clear on what you need, avoiding common pitfalls, and setting your hire up for success, you’ll give your business the best chance to thrive. At iknowho , we specialise in helping brands make their first marketing hire. If you’d like to talk through what kind of marketer is right for your business, we’re here to help.

What is a Fractional CMO and could one be right for you?

By Kristina Gerdov • June 25, 2025

Discover what a Fractional CMO is, the benefits they bring, and how to know if hiring one is the right move for your business.

How personal branding can supercharge your job hunt in 2025

By Kristina Gerdov • May 13, 2025

In 2025, personal branding isn't just a buzzword – it's important for anyone navigating the job market. The uncomfortable truth is this; you're likely being Googled more often than you're being interviewed. In a digital-first world, your personal brand can potentially boost your career prospects. So how can you leverage it to stand out during your job hunt? 1. Your brand is what people say when you're not in the room Personal branding isn’t just about the polished version of yourself that you post on LinkedIn. It’s what others say about you when you’re not around. Consider how you’re being perceived online and offline. Is your brand consistent, authentic, and aligned with your career aspirations? What would potential employers say about you when they Google you? To start refining your personal brand, think about your values, your goals, and how you want others to perceive you. This means showcasing your strengths, yes, but also acknowledging your struggles and learning moments. Authenticity can give you a competitive edge. 2. Lead with curiosity, not just expertise Publicly asking thoughtful, insightful questions. It positions you as someone who is constantly learning, open to feedback, and not afraid to explore new ideas – a thought provoker and idea leader in your space. In the job hunt, this quality can set you apart from others who might be more focused on offering answers than asking the right questions. So, when you’re engaging with others online or in an interview, try focusing on asking questions that spark deeper discussions. Your curiosity and willingness to learn can make a lasting impression. 3. Your personal brand is about becoming known for the right things Remember, personal branding isn’t about trying to become famous. It’s about being known for the right things – the things that align with your career goals and the value you want to offer to employers. For job seekers, this means ensuring that your online presence and interactions reflect your expertise, passion, and ambition. When crafting your personal brand, be deliberate. Think about the skills, values, and personality traits you want to highlight. 4. Be consistent and intentional The foundation of a strong personal brand is consistency. Your personal brand is built in the small, everyday actions – how you engage with your network. Consistency in your interactions helps shape how people perceive you and helps create a brand that’s memorable. If you're job hunting, it's critical to show up consistently both online and offline. This includes engaging with industry professionals on LinkedIn, contributing to discussions, and demonstrating professionalism in all your interactions. 5. Small steps to narrow the gap So, what's the gap between how you see yourself and how others might perceive you? The goal isn’t perfection, but making small, consistent adjustments that move you closer to aligning your internal brand with how you’re seen externally. It could be tweaking your LinkedIn profile, starting a blog, or sharing your expertise. What’s one small thing you could do this week to move the needle and narrow that gap? Whether it’s posting a thoughtful comment on a relevant post, reaching out to someone in your industry, or sharing a story of a recent challenge, small actions can have a big impact over time. 6. Share struggles, Not just wins When it comes to personal branding, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only sharing successes. However, some of the most credible personal brands are built on transparency – sharing the struggles and lessons learned along the way. It’s interesting to see how you handle setbacks, not just your triumphs. Embracing imperfection in your personal brand helps paint a fuller picture of who you are. Whether it’s sharing a challenging project you worked on or a time when you faced a setback and how you overcame it, these stories can help demonstrate your resilience, problem-solving abilities, and growth mindset – qualities employers are eager to see. In today’s market, personal branding isn’t just a nice-to-have. By being intentional, consistent, and authentic, you can build a personal brand that resonates with potential employers, ultimately setting you up for success in your job hunt. So, there’s no better time to start than now.