Agency Life: A Copywriter’s Unfiltered Draft

It’s official: one year at DOX, four years in copywriting, and countless bowls of Korean cup noodles later — I’m still standing. 

Did I plan to end up here? Nope. Like most things in agency life, it happened by accident-ish.

Applied for the job on LinkedIn, forgot all about it, then got the call weeks later. Went for the interview, enjoyed the vibe, and the rest as they say — is history.

Law was my first calling, except for one tiny detail: it requires memorisation, and my memory is absolute trash. (So goodbye courtroom dreams, hello advertising degree 🥹)

In retrospect though, it played out for the better. I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a child, and copywriting gave me a way to turn that into a career.

Making a living out of writing captions, scripts, and the occasional pun… not the most linear path, but hey, better than having to recite statutes word for word, I guess? HAHAH 

Finding My Two Left Feet

Joining DOX was a culture shock in the best way.

Coming from a place that worshipped SOPs and department workflows, DOX felt almost… cowboy. But cowboy with just enough structure to keep things moving. 

It’s also been a refreshing change in how the agency treats the infamous work-life balance.

Here, going home on time is celebrated, not side-eyed. OT isn’t something that’s expected, and honestly, it’s not that common either. 

We work hard, but we also log off on time and actually mean it. Mondays and Fridays are WFH, while Tuesdays through Thursdays are office days — the mix keeps things healthy. Though let’s be real: most of us secretly wish WFH was forever. (Manifesting!! ✨)

What made adjusting easier were my colleagues. Most of them are older than me, but at heart? Easily younger. They’re not the type to roll their eyes or sprint in fear from the “social media gurlie”. Quite the contrary, really.

Best believe yo gurl was traumatised with their welcoming "squid dance" on my first week.
Yes. It lasted a whole WEEK.

They’ll laugh and lean into it, happily starring in a TikTok if it means the content slaps. And, I honestly think that kind of openness makes the work feel lighter. 

It’s hard not to be inspired by people who embrace the weird side of the job so wholeheartedly. (NGL though — half the time I think they secretly enjoy these shenaniganz more than I do.)

Of Cup Noodles and Chaos

Most days at DOX meant juggling BAU stuff: writing captions and visual copies, contemplating what other content is there for the world to see — the whole nine yards of social media work. 

But then there were the adrenaline days like Volvo’s EX30 launch.
My first proper on-ground event. 

Picture me running around with an iPhone, crouching for angles, praying I don’t trip, and speed-posting to Instagram Stories on the go as everything unfolded. 

I ended that night with sore feet, backaches, and a newfound appreciation for event teams. 

Chaos? Yes.
Fun? Weirdly, also yes.

Since then, I’ve had my hands in storyboards, a bit of directing, and even slipped some Gen Z energy into DOX’s own Instagram. (Memes are a love language y’all 😌✌️) 

Another big moment was Volvo’s A-Moose-ment Day. 

From planning shoots to adapting to last-minute plan flips, it was the kind of project that kept all of us on our toes, and proved that even the most detailed plan isn’t immune to chaos. (Bet the moose mascot felt the stress too, but YASSS we pulled through 😮‍💨😤💪) 

It’s the kind of constant pivoting that can feel overwhelming, but it’s also what keeps the work interesting.

The Reality Check

Truth is, agency life is a rollercoaster.

Some days, things move smoothly. Other times, it’s a flurry of impossible deadlines, ad hocs, and briefs that change faster than my Spotify playlist.

Also, navigating the “em dash ban” from copy because it’s now somehow synonymous with ChatGPT. Imagine telling punctuation it’s not welcome at the table anymore. (Justice for the em dash pls huhu 💀😭) 

But despite the hurdles, when I see something I’ve written or ideated out in the world — whether it’s a caption, a campaign, or an event moment — it feels worth it. It makes the madness worth it. 

It’s a reminder that the chaos does eventually take shape, and that shape is something you can point to and say, “Hey, I helped make that.”

One Year Down

It’s only been a year, but DOX has carved a solid place in my career heart. I’ve learned to adapt quicker, think faster on my feet, and most importantly, enjoy the ride. 

Because sometimes, the “mess” is exactly where the magic happens 🪄

And if you’re reading this thinking, huh, maybe I want a little bit of that chaos too, DOX is always on the lookout. 

Slide into our DMs, drop us a line, or just ask.

Worst case, you’ll get my instant noodle recs.
Best case? You’ll get a new desk, maybe a TikTok cameo, and definitely less overtime than your last gig.

Ok story's overrrr. Back to my impending deadlines 🫡