The 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 in your spare time. 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.
Ideally you need to pin point what exactly would you like to be focus your creativity on. Every area within the creative industries - from radio to films, acting to writing, all have specialisations. Preferably you should focus on one speciality in order to demonstrate your level of employable quality. As an example, photography is one of the fields that encompasses a great range of specialities, which includes fashion, cameras and makeup. If we take photography as an example, you may find it beneficial to join a photography forum to extend your network and learn new things.
And where would you get your training from? Unless you have been entering and winning contests and receiving offers left and right, you might need to enhance your skill. Going to a polytechnic school is a good choice because they place their emphasis on practical training, which is what the industry actually needs. Always be suspicious about universities offering a program in "arts" because not only are they much too time consuming to complete, they tend to prioritise theories over practicality - if any. Learning on the job, such as finding an internship, is even better and employers are often grateful for your work. Think outside the box - it could be designing basketball singlets, painting murals, or writing articles.
Keeping a good portfolio is of utmost importance. An employer will only be able to judge your potentials based on your own record of your passionate activities. Videos, sound recordings and images are what they will be looking for to determine if you have reached industrial standards. A great way to enrich your portfolio is to include entries to competitions, regardless if you have won anything at all.
Also, know that available positions within the creative industries tend not be advertised, as they are frequently filled by people that have been recommended within the circles. Should you find yourself lacking contacts within your desired fields, you need to start making impressions. Volunteer yourself as unpaid assistants for promising employers. Outdoing your competitors in a reputable festival can also draw interests from distributors.
Remember, there is always the risk of indefinite unemployment when pursuing a career based on creativity. This job sector will always remain less available than others, simply because the public demand for arts will always be below that of other necessities of life. A financial back up plan is paramount if you wish to stay alive, and this might involve taking up second or even third jobs. And even if you are extremely unhappy with what you have to do to support yourself, try to use the circumstance as a motivation to work even harder to enter the creative industries - so you may leave that misery behind!
Ideally you need to pin point what exactly would you like to be focus your creativity on. Every area within the creative industries - from radio to films, acting to writing, all have specialisations. Preferably you should focus on one speciality in order to demonstrate your level of employable quality. As an example, photography is one of the fields that encompasses a great range of specialities, which includes fashion, cameras and makeup. If we take photography as an example, you may find it beneficial to join a photography forum to extend your network and learn new things.
And where would you get your training from? Unless you have been entering and winning contests and receiving offers left and right, you might need to enhance your skill. Going to a polytechnic school is a good choice because they place their emphasis on practical training, which is what the industry actually needs. Always be suspicious about universities offering a program in "arts" because not only are they much too time consuming to complete, they tend to prioritise theories over practicality - if any. Learning on the job, such as finding an internship, is even better and employers are often grateful for your work. Think outside the box - it could be designing basketball singlets, painting murals, or writing articles.
Keeping a good portfolio is of utmost importance. An employer will only be able to judge your potentials based on your own record of your passionate activities. Videos, sound recordings and images are what they will be looking for to determine if you have reached industrial standards. A great way to enrich your portfolio is to include entries to competitions, regardless if you have won anything at all.
Also, know that available positions within the creative industries tend not be advertised, as they are frequently filled by people that have been recommended within the circles. Should you find yourself lacking contacts within your desired fields, you need to start making impressions. Volunteer yourself as unpaid assistants for promising employers. Outdoing your competitors in a reputable festival can also draw interests from distributors.
Remember, there is always the risk of indefinite unemployment when pursuing a career based on creativity. This job sector will always remain less available than others, simply because the public demand for arts will always be below that of other necessities of life. A financial back up plan is paramount if you wish to stay alive, and this might involve taking up second or even third jobs. And even if you are extremely unhappy with what you have to do to support yourself, try to use the circumstance as a motivation to work even harder to enter the creative industries - so you may leave that misery behind!
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