How to get a creative job
Jobs in the creative industries are wide ranging and so are the routes to securing one. From university study and graduate schemes to apprenticeships, internships and the old fashioned method of starting from the bottom and working your way up
Study for a creative degree
Most jobs in the creative industries are held by those with an undergraduate degree. If you decide to go down this path, you'll be able to choose from a huge range of undergraduate courses.
From graphic and fashion design to museum studies, art administration, music, production design, illustration and performing arts, there are creative arts degrees for everyone.
For art and design roles, look for a practical degree in your area of interest, such as:
Practical programmes will give you the hands-on experience that employers look for.
For performing arts roles, such as acting and dancing, work experience is just as important as qualifications. However, a degree from an established, industry-recognised drama or dance school can significantly increase your chances of employment. Learn more about conservatoires.
Discover the 7 skills for a successful career in performing arts.
For museum and art gallery jobs, a degree in art history, museum studies or heritage studies is desirable. A subject relevant to museum or gallery collections will also be beneficial, such as fine art, history or photography.
Find out how to get into museum conservation and explore museum jobs.
While postgraduate qualifications aren't always necessary, they can increase your knowledge and understanding, help you to gain industry contacts and give you an edge when trying to stand out in a crowd.
Search postgraduate courses in creative arts.
For more information on relevant qualifications, see our creative arts and design job profiles.
If you're looking to break into the screen industries (film, TV, visual effects, animation, and video gaming), explore the range of roles and what you'll need for each one at ScreenSkills - Job profiles.
Consider a creative internship
Graduate employers in the creative industries require candidates with:
- imaginative ideas and ability
- strong communication skills - not only useful in your day-to-day work, but also invaluable when networking and building contacts
- the ability to work as part of a team
- effective planning, organisation and time management skills - as the majority of work in the creative industries is project-based and deadline-driven, you'll need to stay organised to manage your workload
- self-discipline and stamina to cope with long hours
- resilience and determination - the industry is highly competitive and you'll need to cope with setbacks
- a good eye for detail in art and design roles
- the flexibility to work on multiple projects
- commercial awareness and business orientation
- digital and IT skills
- manual dexterity
- practical and technical skills, including associated software such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and CAD
- marketing, administrative and business skills - especially if you're self-employed.
Work experience, internships and voluntary work can help you to learn and develop these skills and in many cases these are the usual routes into employment in this sector.
Such opportunities offer an insight into industry practices and enable you to make contacts and gain confidence. Having a period of work experience, voluntary work or a stint as an intern under your belt also helps you stand out to potential employers.
To find design work experience, you may need to make speculative enquiries. If you want to get into the industry, consider taking part in design competitions. For example, the New Blood Awards from Design and Art Direction (D&AD) are open to those aged 18 or over and enrolled on a relevant higher education course, as well as recent graduates.
For experience in museum settings, look to the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, London. You'll also find that the Natural History Museum runs short-term 'visiteering' schemes, and the Science Museum provides volunteers with the opportunity to work at a museum for a day.
If you want to work in the fashion industry, experience in fashion retail is valuable. You can learn about the styles, looks and brands customers prefer.
Online fashion retailer ASOS takes on fashion interns over a one-year period in a number of functions including garment technology, design and pattern cutting - see ASOS internships.
A variety of fashion-related internships are also advertised on Fashion United. Attending exhibitions and events, such as London Fashion Week would also provide invaluable experience. Find out more about the 5 ways to get into fashion design.
For students and graduates from ethnic minority groups, Creative Access provides internship opportunities across advertising, publishing, film, museums, music, television and theatre.
To find work placements and internships, search for creative arts and design work experience.
Secure a creative apprenticeship
While the majority of creative professionals enter the sector with a degree, the number of creative and art apprenticeships is increasing.
You can now learn your trade while earning a wage in areas such as:
- animation
- costume and wardrobe
- creative and digital media
- fashion and textiles
- graphic design
- hair and make-up
- interior design
- jewellery design/making
- photography
- publishing
- visual effects.
Creative apprenticeship opportunities span all available levels from intermediate (Level 2) through to degree (Level 7) standard.
Leading brands and organisations offering creative apprenticeships include:
Discover more about entry requirements, potential salaries and how to apply for apprenticeships.
Find a job in the creative industries
The creative sector is highly competitive and jobs aren't always formally advertised. While possessing the right qualifications and work experience will go a long way to helping you secure your first job, you'll need to put yourself out there through networking opportunities to get noticed. Having the confidence to market yourself is very important.
Joining professional bodies relevant to your field will help you keep up to date with networking events, conferences and workshops - all useful opportunities to meet industry professionals and promote your skills.
Being active on LinkedIn enables you to follow and connect with industry professionals and keep an ear to the ground for suitable vacancies. See how effective this can be at social media and job hunting.
Blogging is also a useful way to demonstrate a talent for content creation, design and crafting. Attending fashion shows, art/museum exhibitions or taking part in design competitions are other great ways to meet like-minded people.
Entry-level creative jobs are advertised on university careers service vacancy lists. The University of the Arts London's (UAL) jobs and internships website Creative Opportunities is particularly useful. In addition, you can find vacancies on company websites and through organisations such as Arts Council England.
It might also prove fruitful to join a creative recruitment agency, for example:
As a creative graduate, you'll typically need a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and abilities to potential employers. Find out more about putting together a creative portfolio.
Search graduate jobs in creative arts and design.
Join a creative graduate scheme
Graduate schemes aren't as common in creative arts and design as in other sectors.
However, you may find that large organisations run graduate schemes in a number of creative areas.
For instance, Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover offer graduate schemes in design, while museums such as the Natural History Museum and The National Gallery may provide traineeships for assistant curators.
Get a creative job with no experience
Having some relevant work experience alongside your qualifications is an important part of preparing for a creative career - but don't panic if you don't have any. Also don't discount your experience in other areas of work, as this will have developed a range of transferable skills - see the skills that employers want.
Many of the qualities considered important in creative jobs can be gained through other roles. Be sure to emphasise any of the following in your applications:
- communication
- creative thinking
- digital skills
- flexibility
- resilience
- teamwork.
As long as you highlight and can demonstrate, with examples, transferable skills on your creative job application any experience of the working world will be better than none at all.
Apply for jobs speculatively and be sure to emphasise your passion for the role and your determination to secure a position at the organisation.
While it's hard to secure a job in the competitive creative industries with no experience it isn't impossible. You'll need tenacity and a resilient nature. In some instances you might have to be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up to your dream role.
Building and possessing an impressive portfolio of work will help. Despite your lack of experience this can be used to demonstrate your talent to employers. For example, you could start a YouTube channel, podcast or blog about your chosen area of interest.
Find out more
- Explore the full range of creative jobs.
- Discover creative jobs in the film industry.
- Consider other creative roles working in the media.