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 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.
To start off, you need to narrow down your passion. It is always more advantageous to specialise in one skill, then to try and pass yourself off as a jack of all trades. Within the extremely encompassing range of fields, including dancing, acting, singing, writing and filming, it is crucial that you can demonstrate what you are especially good at. It is easier for the employer to hire several specialists, instead of somebody who demonstrates a mediocre capacity for a range of related job skills.
You will also need to consider your prowess in your passion. The fact you are not currently making a career based on your passion is a good indication that your interest is not up to professional standards. If possible, going or returning to tertiary studies may be necessary. Be wary of recognised universities that seem to have a degree in the the creative arts. Truth is universities do not usually have the resources to provide their students with hands-on training, and while that bachelor may make you look smarter than a diploma from some polytechnic school, it is ultimately useless in the industry. Research on individual tertiary providers to pick the ones with the greatest emphasis on practical courses. If possible, speak to someone currently employed in the field to give you good recommendations.
Portfolio will be an extremely crucial key to get inside the industry, because this is the only way you can prove yourself to an employer that you have got what it takes. Document every piece of drawing, painting, photo or performance you ever created. Enter as many related contests as possible. Winning is not important, but an evidence of participation is what will really add value to your portfolio.
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!
If you have a magazine subscription you’ll know that all those words need to be generated by someone. Often, magazines are happy to take contributions by enthusiasts. Find one you enjoy, for example, a classic car magazine, and approach the editor.