Okay, so here’s the deal: Remember a few years ago when you found yourself saying, “When I grow up I want to be…”? Well that is suddenly now. You’ve grown up. We’re grown-ups! But have you found that your efforts haven’t really got you anywhere? Don’t worry, it’s never too late to break into the creative industries.

Firstly, I strongly believe that you need to be in a career that you wholeheartedly love & enjoy, so think about all the things that you do everyday that inspire you– do you love photographing your family? Can you differentiate between good typefaces & bad? Do you enjoy shopping & giving fantastic fashion advice? All of these things that you like can be made into a vocation & career, but it will take a lot of hard work from you.

Now might not be the best time for money-making in the creative industries, what with the recession– but stick at what you do best, as no industry is completely recession-proof, so you may as well be working towards something you enjoy! When the bad-times are over, you don’t want your craft to have depreciated because you haven’t been flexing your skills! And not everyone has stopped spending, so there will be people out there that need you. Work hard & be the best that you can be– times are very competitive, but there are a few things you can do to beat the rest:

If you’re lucky enough to be living at home rent-free, then use that fantastic opportunity to do unpaid work experience to really bulk out your CV. If you leave a good enough impression, you’re more likely to be called upon when another position opens up, or you could even be headhunted by another company!

You’ve obviously still got to work to earn, while you’re working towards your dream job, so try & do something that’s kind of related, no matter how small. For example, if you want to be a photographer, try working in the sales department of a photography agency. Or if it’s make-up artistry you want to do, try & work behind a beauty counter. You never know who you might meet or what opportunities will arise, when you’ve surrounded yourself by industry people!

Want to be a journalist? Then I hope by now you’ve got your own blog! It’s a perfect (& free!) way to get yourself out there, no matter what it is that you want to be writing about– reviewing cosmetics, writing about fashion, giving lifestyle tips & advice– it can ALL be done! Blogs these days are dime a dozen, so find your niche & stick to it. Comment on blogs that you enjoy to get yourself exposure & use it as a portfolio for potential employers.

If it’s something in visual communication that you aspire to, then again, use the internet to your advantage & make yourself an amazing portfolio for people to refer to. Put your photos on flickr & who knows who might see them?

Apply for jobs 24/7. No, seriously! know I’ve done it myself way to often– I’ve uhm’d & ahh’d over way too many jobs & then they’ve gone, so have your CV & a template cover letter at the ready so you can apply for every job that you think you might enjoy.

If you want to be your own boss, then I’d seriously think about going freelance. There are obvious, big, money-related risks, but if you have the skills & the contacts, it will pay off & there are lots of perks for you to enjoy!

So, what do you want to be? Have you found your dream job yet?

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