What Does it Take to get a Job with Creativity
April 10, 2011The invariability of much of our job is what can make us hate it. Perhaps you just have to live out the rest of your life seeing work as a necessary evil, and spend every shift looking forward to retirement. Alternatively, you might notice there are people out there making a living based on activities that you enjoy doing for fun. Whether it’s drawing cartoons, taking pictures or designing racing games, an entire job sector is based on those activities: the creative industries. Formal education can sometimes help, but not always. Here are some things you can do to give you success in the creative industries.
The first point is to focus specifically on what you like to do. The creative industries is very broad. Film-making, photography, theatre, publishing and broadcasting are just a minor example of what this sector entails. In reality, employers prefer specialists rather than someone with an entry understanding of “related fields”. Take film making as an example: would you be a cinematographer, boom operator, gaffer or a make up artist? In the recording industry, you could either be a sound engineer, or you could design recording studio furniture.
It is also likely your passion is not up to employable standards, and this is the defining difference between a hobby and a career. Consider further tertiary schooling, but always do proper research on the course materials that they provide. Universities are notorious for promising degrees that seemingly relates to the creative industries. But the truth is they are usually too reliant on academic details, and the only way to receive actual practical training is by doing postgraduate studies – which translates to additional tuition years and fees. It is much wiser to look into a respectable polytechnic school where the focus will be on technical training, which is what the industries actually need.
Your portfolio is what will demand your regular attention. This is an accumulation of every significant piece of creative work you have done, with the show an employer your talent. In the creative industries, your portfolio will speak volumes over any other certifications, so it is essential you update it constantly. Even if they are just submissions to a contest you never got an award out of, they make great additions to you portfolio.
Networking will be your other critical asset. Far too many jobs in the creative industries never made it to the situation vacant section, the reason being they are frequently taken up by the acquaintances and associates within the job. Applying as an unpaid intern is a compelling chance to make a impression for those veterans of the field. Outside of that, participating in clubs and festivals related to your interest is another way of establishing a network.
Finally, never forget that this is one of the more marginalized sector among all job sectors. Having a safety net – i.e. a sustainable job while you work towards your portfolio and networking is practically mandatory. Good luck!
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