How to get your first creative role, with no experience:
Embarking on a career in a creative field can be a daunting task, especially when faced with the classic catch-22 situation of needing experience to secure a job but lacking the job to gain experience.
However, with determination, persistence, and a strategic approach, you can overcome this challenge and open doors to your dream job. In this blog, we'll explore actionable tips inspired by real-life experiences and expert advice to help you navigate the seemingly impossible task of landing a creative job without prior experience.
Embrace Your Lack of Experience:
Acknowledge the absence of experience in your cover letter. Instead of viewing it as a hindrance, emphasize the benefits of hiring someone with a fresh perspective. Highlight your motivation, passion, and curiosity as assets that can contribute to a dynamic work environment. Present yourself as an eager and hardworking employee, ready to be moulded for the needs of the business.
Showcase Transferable Skills:
When lacking direct work experience, focus on transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and time management. Draw connections between the skills you possess and those desired by employers. Your attitude, personality, motivation, and resilience are equally important, so showcase these qualities in your application and interviews.
Explore Internships and Apprenticeships:
Internships and apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and valuable industry connections. Internships provide specific field experience, while apprenticeships allow you to work while studying for a formal qualification. Both avenues enhance your skills, knowledge, and employability.
Volunteer for Experience:
Unpaid work experiences, including volunteering, demonstrate your commitment, skill development, and ability to contribute to a specific industry. Regardless of payment, employers value the transferrable skills gained during such experiences. If this is affordable for you, perhaps with a part-time hospitality or retail job to help you along, then internships are a great way to learn the creative skills needed and start making connections vital to a successful creative career.
Network Effectively:
These connections bring us on to our next point: networking. Utilise networking to discover hidden job opportunities. Building long-term relationships can open doors for career development. Leverage your existing connections and expand your network to include professionals in your desired industry. Good networking is a two-way street, offering mutual benefits for career growth. And LinkedIn is a great way to start!
Create Your Own Projects:
This is a big one! Don’t have work to form a portfolio? Then fake it till you make it.
Just to clarify, we aren’t suggesting you lie, but…
Inspired by the advice from the founder of flo. Create, consider developing your own projects to build a compelling portfolio. You can showcase your skills, even if you don't have formal work experience. So, pop on to Canva or Adobe suite (making sure you reference the experience of either platform in your CV) and start making. Create example design briefs, and show your potential employer how you have met them. Creating your projects demonstrates initiative, creativity, and a proactive approach to your career, whilst proving your experience with creative tools.
Breaking into the creative job scene without experience is challenging but not impossible. By embracing your lack of experience, highlighting transferable skills, exploring internships, volunteering, effective networking, and creating your own projects, you can enhance your chances of landing your dream job. Remember, the journey may require determination and persistence, but the rewards of pursuing your passion and achieving your career goals are well worth the effort.
Alternatively, signing up with Brite Recruitment could put you that step closer to achieving your career goals, with expert CV, interview, and recruitment advice. So, register with us today!