starting a career in the creative industry - post pandemic

Illustration by Melik Lequin.

My Story: Starting my Writing Career during a Global Health Crisis 

We live in strange times: coronavirus is on the rise and global economies are at an all-time low. Hospitals are full, governments are clueless, and humanity is undergoing its biggest crisis in years. Quarantine restrictions have become a front-rank issue for many.

Unfortunately, the problems don’t stop there. Some of the most crucial complications caused by coronavirus are also the most current for generations Y and Z: the loss of jobs and the restructuring of businesses, especially of the creative industry. However, thankfully, I have found that the situation isn’t hopeless.

Though coronavirus almost instantly imposed a limit on those looking for jobs, trying to progress in their field or change specializations (making personal growth seem almost impossible), some have managed to kick-start their careers by taking advantage of the developing recession and maximizing their benefits from the given circumstances. Having entered the creative industry as a writer a few months ago, I can proudly say I was one of those lucky people. Once I mastered using the professional, moneymaking side of the Internet to discover some opportunistic platforms, which would work best for getting myself out there: the Dots, Linkedln, UnderPinned, Upwork…, and of course, good old social media – Instagram and Twitter (you’ll be surprised how many possibilities the last two offer, especially if you have the relevant hashtags all figured out). I quickly understood that even though many creatives were left unemployed due to the global crisis, their ex-positions were now vacant and available to all the new voices and emerging talents that, until now, remained in the dark. Moreover, since all the employers had to submit to losing staff, they quickly got into a habit of building up new teams and having remote employees as a consequence, becoming more susceptible to giving a chance to those, who simply have a great skill-set, regardless of their country of residence, and sometimes, age – another bonus to beginner-careerists!

Aside from being a writer & editor, I’m also a full-time student, juggling completing my school studies, applying to universities and revising for final exams. Though I wouldn’t dare overlook the necessity of education, I can affirm that an active investment in learning can be restricting, especially when trying to look for a job as a busy and often unavailable student.

Moreover, modern day requirements for student job placements are extremely high. Some argue that they are continuously made less and less attainable for young people; just to apply for an internship, students need a sophisticated, above-average, competitive academic profile, as well as an impressive extra-curricular portfolio. Nonetheless, the pandemic may have unconsciously lowered these demands, now making it possible for students to enter the industry. 

Like many others, I ended up in isolation for much longer than expected. I thought a good use of my time off school would be to collect work experience as a writer. After some of my first interactions with job announcements through bidding websites, I didn’t expect much. So, the surprise I felt 24 hours later, having heard back that I had been successful in one of my applications, was huge and absolutely inexplicable!

Since then, I began seriously dedicating my time to research, having realised how many opportunities remained left to uncover.  Just a few open-calls on creative platforms later, I became a contributing writer for a number of magazines, as well as signed a year-long contract, as a creative writer, with a game-developing company. 

So, the main question is: how can one crack the creative industry and make a name for themselves as a creative, when strange times don’t appear to be on our side?

Where do you begin?

Tips & Tricks 

Whether you’re a writer, designer, content creator, actor, filmmaker, or producer, the means to getting yourself noticed aren’t that interchangeable. With that in mind, I created an introductory collection of some really simple and seemingly basic, but at the same time, essential simple guide to get you started.

Tip #1: Do your research thoroughly.

My first advice might be the most obvious and straight-forward one, but it won’t stop me from adding it to my list and making it a priority – do your research.

I really can’t stress it enough. The more time you spend exploring the full spectrum of your options and learning why each one might be your best pick, the higher your chances are of landing the job!

However, don’t make the common mistake of taking on too much and putting yourself forward everywhere - apply knowingly and thoughtfully! Imagine yourself landing all the jobs that you applied for, would you be able to stay interested, engaged, and on track with everything in the long-term?  To answer that, make sure to read all terms & conditions very carefully and attentively, to make sure that you actually want and are capable of doing what you’re required. 

In essence: research, research, research! 

Tip #2: If you’re an emerging talent, try it all.

As a writer only just entering the industry, I had little- to no- experience. Now, I’ve already attempted writing articles, book chapters, advertising treatments, campaign texts, scripts, short stories, and even B2B (in all honesty, I haven’t even had any previous knowledge of the last one before)! 

Therefore, my advice to any creative beginner would be to give everything a go before setting your mind on something specific. Trying a bit of everything is really giving yourself a chance to choose what you like the most.! 

Tip #3: Build your network – a résumé and a creative portfolio are the way to go.! 

At the early stages of my writing career, I accidentally came across a podcast or a blog post that emphasized the importance of having an online presence. The simplest way to get yourself out there and try it all is to build a network of diverse creators. Collaborate, establish partnerships, create connections, and reach out to potential employers! Make your name known! Make yourself visible on the Internet! Commit to it now, enjoy the benefits later – whatever you choose to do to achieve that, you surely won’t regret!

Remember to keep an open mind throughout the process – don’t become too lucrative too soon!

Nowadays, making a name for yourself in the creative industry is tough since it gets more competitive by the day.

At some point, you’ll come across the realisation that there are plenty of experienced professionals who are applying for the same roles as you, being judged on the same grounds, and believe me, they will have a lot to offer: published works, and projects, and previous work experiences. However, never let that acknowledgement discourage you!

Instead, become a contributing writer for digital publications (the more the merrier, but again, don’t overdo it!), reach out to collaborative spaces, who’ll offer you workshops and courses in exchange for your works – don’t look to monetise your ideas all the time – you’ll be fascinated with the self-satisfaction you’ll feel when your first ever publication goes up, together with the rest that’ll follow! In most cases, such unpaid organisations do have an ambition to pay their consistent contributors, so you never know how such experiences will turn out in a long run!

Setting up a Linkedln profile is probably the other one of the most common and easiest ways of familiarising yourself with the industry. However, don’t limit yourself – if you favour other platforms (they are much more numerous than you can imagine), don’t hesitate to create a profile there instead, or for a greater effect,  – as well! 

Whichever platform you choose, be sure to commit time and put enough thought into the process. And don’t forget to plan everything out before you begin. 

I was fortunate to get some help with my online appearance – mainly from my family.

To create a ‘strong’ digital characterisation of me and my skills, they encouraged me to create a huge digital package with all my awards, certificates and achievements from the past. This meant listing each one and describing them in as much detail as possible. Make sure to include everything - what you think could be irrelevant may be a selling point to a future employer

Some of these tips may sound vague, but I have found them to be extremely useful for my own creative journey. Your interpretation, and integration into your own life, of these tips will depend on your personal approach and interests – establish your goals, decide upon your motivations, and take a risk!

Good luck!

Hi everyone! My name is Lisa. I'm a Ukrainian UK-based student, passionate language learner, travel enthusiast, keen reader and tutor. Most importantly, I'm a creative activist-writer and I'm writing for a change! I love my craft because it gives me an amplified voice and lets me speak out for what I believe in! I enjoy meeting new people, exploring perspectives and keeping an open mind!

I contribute to Mxogyny because this magazine has an amazing energy that I want to associate with - it's a safe and supportive space where I can freely discuss the things I stand by and share my experiences! You can also explore my works in Woman To Woman and City Girl Network magazines.