Creative fresh graduates are asking – what is there for us in the “Real World”?
During the last few weeks, I’ve received a lot of emails from people who read the career section on this blog. Everyone wants to know which career path I think they should take. It’s difficult to advise people individually because I don’t know them on a personal basis. With that in mind, I’ve decided to publish a post that highlights some of the coolest careers around today. Most of them are more than suitable for young creative minds like yours, and some will even allow a good income for years to come. I don’t expect you to quit your day job straight away, but educating yourself about the opportunities out there is a wise move. At the end of the day, nobody wants to stack shelves at Tesco until they reach the age of thirty. It makes sense to start as you mean to go on. So, take a quick look at my suggestions and see if any seems appealing to you.
Graphic Designer
Presuming you are good at using computers to create stunning designs, you might like to consider a graphic design career. There are so many different companies you could work for that you won’t have trouble finding employment. Maybe you focus your time on creating logos for new companies? You could even do that on a self-employed basis if you use freelancing websites. Those of you looking for something a little more stable might want to find work with exhibition stand designers. Business owners spend a lot of money on creating the right images for their brand these days, and so designers are paid handsomely. You’re still going to need the right qualifications to score the best roles, and so now is the best time to book your place on a relevant college course.
Independent Artist
Yes, that’s right guys! Believe it or not, it is more than possible for you to make a living by becoming an independent artist these days. It might take a long time before you are earning enough to pay the bills on your home, but it is not impossible. You just need to create lots of cool art and then exhibit it in some of the most desirable galleries. Again, you would benefit from a qualification in the subject, but that isn’t the only reason you should head off to university. The art world is a tight-knit community, and so you need to network with others to make the right contacts. There are some fantastic artists out there at the moment who will never make a good living because they don’t move in the right circles.
Session Musician
If you have musical talents, you probably spend time thinking about what you life would be life if you became famous. However, the chances of you making it in a rock band are pretty slim, and so you need to look for more viable alternatives. Becoming a session musician is a wise move if you would like to create lucrative income streams from music. You just need to build relationships with people who own recording studios. Whenever they have an artist who needs some support, you could visit the studio and play on their track. Once you’ve been doing that for a few years, the chances of you finding a permanent position will increase. Who knows? By this time in 2020, you could be playing guitar on stage with one of the greats.
Interior Designer
Finding work as an interior designer is not difficult. You just need a good reputation to win the biggest contracts. To build that reputation, it is essential that you have a portfolio of work. So, you might want to decorate your family’s properties for free to gain some experience. On top of that, you are going to need a design degree. That is the case unless you are willing to start a small business and work for yourself. Just don’t make the same mistakes we’ve seen in the past. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen might think that every home should be painted in shades of purple and pink, but most people disagree.
Comedian
Are you always the life and soul of the party? Do people regularly wet themselves after hearing one of your witty jokes? Then becoming a comedian might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Making people laugh on stage is tricky if you don’t have the right personality type. You must be an outgoing person with a thick skin who does not care what others think about them. That is the only way you are going to succeed. To get a feel for what the job is like, you should visit local comedy clubs on open mic night. After spending five minutes on the stage, you should be left with no doubt in your mind about whether or not the career is right for you.
Actor / actress
If you like being on stage, but you’re not confident enough to handle a one-person show, perhaps you should join a local theatre group? Acting is incredibly fun, and it’s a fantastic career choice if you have enough talent to go professional. Once you have gained some experience in your theatre group, you can start attending auditions for major parts. Most of the jobs that pay well are in London, and so it might make sense to relocate. At the end of the day, you are certain to score a decent role at some point if you keep trying. Taking some extra acting classes when you reach the capital should help you to network with the right people. Pick up a copy of Stage magazine, and you will soon learn about all the best opportunities.
I hope you manage to find the ideal creative career soon. As a young person myself, I know all too well how difficult it can be to get it right. Don’t stress too much if you select something and then change your mind in a few month’s time. You have your entire life to find the perfect form of employment. It just helps if you can identify it sooner rather than later.
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