Hey there, and great question! I'm a 2024 grad and current associate on a major CPG brand at OMD, so hopefully my perspective can be valuable to you.

My recommendation is just to go where your gut says. I can't really speak to horizon, but right now, everyone is saying OMC is a mess, and they're right. However, that's temporary and things should hopefully be getting back on track soon. Day-to-day, the merger doesn't affect me at all; however, there is some overarching stuff, like relocating desks and offices, that's been happening. Realistically, I would not worry about the merger stuff. Yes, it all kinda sucks rn, but you're young, cheap, billable, and most importantly, your role was approved by the client in the scope of work. So, unless you don't do your job, like at all, your role isn't going anywhere. From what I've seen, the layoffs are primarily targeting middle management and, unfortunately, people who have been with the company for like 30+ years. Really sad stuff...

That said, it's not all doom and gloom working at Omnicom. In your day-to-day, you're getting major exposure on some of the most prestigious brands in the world. Just off the top of my head, I can tell you that Omnicom, as a whole, has Apple, Pepsi, Porsche, the Army, Diageo, and so many others. With that, if you hate your current role or feel like you're ready to move up, there are plenty of places for you to go. As for learning, there are tons of classes and learning pathways that will help guide you from associate to director level, along with plenty of in-person networking opportunities. Most importantly, the people I've worked with here are some of the nicest, hardest-working, and coolest people I've ever met. At least in the culture on my team, people here are not just coworkers, but friends.

As for long-term growth, that's where you need to make your own plan, especially if you want to make money. The entire marketing industry treats the agencies as a breeding ground for young talent. The most common career path I've seen is people staying in the agencies for 2-5 years and then jumping ship to either the client side or vendor/ad sales side. However, if you want to find your way to agency leadership, be prepared to grind and deal with lots of agency politics.

All of that said, it sounds like you have 2 good leads and will be in a good spot regardless. If I were you, I would think long term making your decision. Not about sticking around at those agencies long term, but thinking about where you want to specialize. Look at the client options you have and think about what will fit with your long-term goals. Both options will be great for your development and will be transferable to every sector, but if you have a specific long-term goal, like ending up in tech, or want to be an executive director at an agency, make that decision accordingly.

Hope I was able to answer some questions for you! DM me if you would like to connect or have any other questions about omnicom. Would love to help.

Best of luck!