Tips on kickstarting your creative career…

Looking to get your foot in the creative industry’s door? Here are some tips to help you kickstart your creative career!

Everyone knows that practical work experience in your chosen industry will make it a lot easier to land a job. However, it’s easier said than done! Especially in a world where the COVID-19 pandemic has crippled the job sector, particularly within the creative industries. Despite this, the world seems to be finally recovering from lockdown which means more and more opportunities will become available.

With more opportunities, comes more competition and students need to think of new ways to set themselves apart from other qualified candidates. Graduates who have workplace experience tend to be more highly valued by employers, which makes internships an extremely attractive option especially within the creative industries where hands-on experience is seen as a way to get your foot in the door.

Every aspiring creative knows that on-the-job experience is key! It’s not much of a surprise that a University of Glasgow study showed that 42% of all alumni from the creative sector take unpaid roles after graduating. The same study also found that 45% of those same unpaid roles eventually led to paid work.

Within the creative industries there are a lot of internships that exploit workers and don’t meet good enough standards, so it’s best to put the work into finding the best possible options. These are usually one-three-month internships which are paid (such as the 3-month Turing Scheme internships Capacity UK Offers).

As I'm sure you're all aware, there is a lot of conversation in the media about unpaid internships for students and graduates. A recent examination of online jobs postings found that the arts, entertainment and creative sector features a disproportionally large number of internships, compared with other sectors. For the worker who can afford to work free for an extended period, it can open the door to a career in the creative industries - but for many who don't have access to access to financial support, this is simply not an option.

If you are offered an unpaid internship, remember that these should be for no longer than four weeks, and there is an expectation that the employer will give training, dedicated instruction, flexible schedules and to pay for travel expenses. This is a chance to gain expertise and choose the tasks you are happy to undertake. You should not feel pressurised to shoulder any responsibilities you feel uncomfortable with.

So, let’s say you’ve decided to do an internship to develop further as a professional creative. Now you have some practical things to think about such as:

·       How can you negotiate some give and take at the start?

·       What skills are you gaining?

·       How much time are you putting into this?

·       What relationships are you building?

·       How are you going to fund this?

Here’s some topics you SHOULD discuss before accepting an internship:

What am I expecting to get from this placement?

Is it a fresh set of skills? Access to contacts? Is it an insight into your potential future career? Finding an organisation with a good reputation, which is respected within its field is extremely important.

What are the chances of there being a role for me at the end of the internship?

The possibility of going from a part time intern to a full-time employee is dependent on a number of factors including:

·       How many workers the organisation has

·       If their revenue is rising

·       If it’s their first time hiring an intern

Is the firm recognised and respected in your sector?

If the answer is yes, the internship with them will certainly enhance your CV. A CV outlining credible previous work experience with a respected employer will lead to companies respecting you in future, boosting your chances of employment.

If no, then you must consider what other benefits they are offering in terms of career development, pay or potential full-time work.

Results from a recent survey conducted by Graduate Advantage prove that internships do create jobs for graduates. It showed that 81% of interns are now employed and 74% of those are either in permanent employment or are on a long-term contract. Of these, 68% believe their internship helped them to gain their current position and an impressive 33% are still working with their internship organisation.

Remember, getting your first role will often be the biggest challenge you face in your career but an internship within the creative industries can prove an invaluable stepping stone, helping you gain the real-world experience and contacts that will land you your first position. Internships are an excellent addition to your resume and in an increasingly competitive jobs marketplace, they really can set you apart from other candidates.

Capacity UK is currently offering a number of paid internship opportunities through Turing Scheme in Lisbon, Seville and Prague. To discover more, visit our Turing Scheme Placements on our website!