How to improve your chances of getting a job in the creative industries
What graduates need to do to stand out and land that important first position in what is a highly competitive sector
With competition for jobs at an all time high, graduates could be forgiven for thinking that industries such as the arts, film, design, media and publishing are closed shops to all but a lucky few. However, there are opportunities for graduates in the creative sectors. These industries have the potential to be a major part of the economy and establish the UK as a creative talent hub, but that won't happen if they do not have access to a continuous stream of fresh ideas and talent. Escape Studios have just launched the Creative Future report, which sheds light on what people in the creative industries really think about the opportunities available.
It's clear to me that there are a number of things graduates need to do in order to get roles that suit them and that they can build into a career. With so much competition, it's important to be able to stand out from the crowd. Whether that's through networking, training, or making the most of interviews, graduates need to take full advantage of every opportunity.
Getting out and about
Knowing someone on the inside is important to graduates ? 58% thought that personal contact with senior figures was important to career development. That said, how would someone with little or no experience meet the right people? When it comes to networking, graduates need to do their research. Find out when and where the big industry events take place, and check the criteria for attending; while some may only be for professionals, many are free and open for signing up online. Social networks such as Twitter give people the opportunity to follow top industry figures and organisations, and many events now use hashtags for attendees to use. See who's going and make a note of who you want to meet.
Once at events, be open and honest; there's no point in trying to pass yourself off as something you're not. The right people will be interested to hear from you, no matter what their role.
There is also the opportunity to get a foot in the door via competitions. Many of the industries in the sector run competitions and showcases to find the latest talent, with the prizes ranging from useful kit and gadgets to money-can't-buy opportunities such as placements or jobs. Even if not successful, the exposure can be extremely beneficial to graduates, with the opportunity for feedback through getting their work out to wider audiences. As with networking events, it's worth keeping track of the big industry names and companies, as they'll know about, and may even be running, the top competitions.
More training?
When it comes to further training, most people would expect that after three or four years of study and thousands of pounds in debt, most graduates would not want to spend more time and money on specialist training. Unfortunately there is often a significant gap between the level of skill academic education gives graduates, and what the industry expects. Fortunately, many of the graduates we spoke to understood that, with 69% agreeing with the statement: "I would be prepared to self-fund my own training if it led to better career opportunities".
Additional training, whether a full-time course, evening classes or online, can be the difference between employment and the dole. The key is to make sure that the training provider has the right links to the industry. Graduates should look for testimonials from other graduates, the sort of companies that the trainer has links to, and be prepared to check for references from those in the industry.
Sealing the deal
Of course, after all the training and the networking, there's still the application process and the interview to get that dream job. Many creative positions, particularly ones with an emphasis on artistic skills and visual imagery, require candidates to come up with a portfolio or showreel of work. One of the biggest mistakes we see people making is putting everything they've ever done in their portfolios ? it should be just the best work, and like any good job application, tailored to the role applied for.
The portfolio or showreel is an opportunity to showcase talent and skill, and the interview is the chance to make a good impression and convey the sort of person the company would get if they were to hire. One of our students, Alex Swann, recently got a job at post-production company Framestore. When he went in for the interview, he was told that his showreel only represented 20% of what they were looking for ? the rest was about making a good impression. He needed to show that he was someone who would fit in and work well in a team.
A creative future
Once all that's done, today's graduates need to prove they are enthusiastic, flexible and prepared to work hard. If they do, they have the chance to work in a sector that is constantly growing and innovating, working on exciting projects and having a real impact on the UK economy.
Dominic Davenport is founder and CEO of Escape Studios
To get more content and advice like this ? including links to forthcoming Q&As ? direct to your inbox, you can now sign up for our weekly Careers update.
Source: http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/improve-your-chances-creative-industries
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