Advice for a young creative during this uncertain and strange time?
I am a college student currently studying Visual Media, trying to find some inspiration during this strange time.
As a rising Senior, I am a little bummed that most internships have been canceled for this summer.
What do you lovely folks think I should focus on within the next months instead?
Any advice for growing your career during such a period of uncertainty or tips for staying creative?
Cheers!
Trish
Replies21
- @Tanith Swinford Thank you so much for your kind words and advice! It is much appreciated :)
- Hi Trisha!I know it's something simple, but I can highly recommend making a list of 20 things you enjoy doing and then make a list of ways you can make a living doing those things... and take it from there. You might just be surprised with the ways in which you're able to grow your career doing what you actually love (e.g. you may enjoy dressing up every morning and putting outfits together which could translate into styling-related work).Besides being honest with yourself about what you really want and having a clear vision, the best advice I can give you is to be hungry to learn and grow. Find the right people to partner with, read relevant articles/ books (two I can highly recommend are The Aladdin Factor & The Success Principles by Jack Canfield - you can find the audio books free on youtube). Also sign up for masterclasses or get an online mentor (these are good alternatives to internships right now).. Wishing you all the very best! You can do this :)
- @Holly Tucker Hi Holly, thank you so much for your response, that is very true and definitely a silver lining!
- Hi TrishaThis global pandemic has accelerated lots of changes, the main one in my business being remote working.I truly believe that businesses are becoming more digitalised than ever, and this too comes with opportunities. I hope that this means that yourself, and many others, will have a wider horizon of opportunites to chose from - it's beneficial that you don't have think about any internships in terms of geographical location!I hope you can use this time to look at different roles that perhaps were never a 'physical' possibility, and that these companies can adapt in welcoming in interns from all over the country.Holly X
- @Trisha Pickelhaupt I know! And when I talk about a different working landscape I mean it in the most constructive way. Hopefully this is an opportunity for change.
- @Javier Navarro Hi Javier, thanks for your reply. I often wonder what the professional world will be like after all of this!
- Hi Trisha,I totally agree with the advice below, really good material there.In addition I would recommend to consider that the professional landscape will be a very different one, so do not think in terms of what we all knew so far: most likely there will be new needs, disciplines and professions that we never considered.That is why I suggest for all of us to refine our skills, understand what is it that we can contribute with in a uniquely manner and be ready to share all these when activity resumes.Hope this helps,
- @Alec Dudson Hello! This sounds great! I will certainly toss you a follow and keep my eye out for a livestream :) Thank you!
- @Lu Li Hi Lu! Thanks so much for the recommendation, I will definitely check it out!
- @Vikki Ross This is such wonderful advice, thank you. I guess it is true that the great thing about being a creative is that even when the works stops our brains don't! :)
- @Cassandra Kosmayer Thank you for the advice!!
- Hey @Trisha Pickelhaupt, all great advice below. Over at Intern, we're running a weekly series called #Extracurricular which focusses on the challenges faced by final-year creative students, both in the build up to final deadlines and entering the professional sphere. We're live on our IG (https://www.instagram.com/thisisintern/) every Wednesday at 1pm (BST), but you can catch up with previous episodes in full by checking out our IGTV tab. New guests each week, next up is the mighty @Craig Oldham.
- Hi Trish!I've launched a new initiative to help students find new internship placements. These are mostly on voluntary basis, but it's a great way to use your time productively, get more relevant work experience onto your CV and help out a startup or small business. We gotta make the most out of this strange time, right?You can jon the talent pool here: https://www.bloomingfounders.com/findinternship
- @Vikki Ross Hear hear
- Be creative! We don't need to be creative for clients - we can be creative for ourselves. Make the thing you always wanted to make. Write the thing you always wanted to write. Post it. Share it. Send it. You never know, it could hit someone right at the moment they're looking for someone like you and before you know it, you've found work.And/or read the books you've been meaning to read, watch the TV show or film you've been meaning to watch, start the yoga course you've been meaning to start. You're unlikely to have so much free time again so use it in a way that's best for you and your mind, body and soul.
- Dig in!Be resourceful!Say hello to people!Make positive use of your time!When starting to contact studios for internship opportunites you might want to keep some of this in mind...https://medium.com/@robinhowie/so-youre-looking-for-a-job-in-design-efb12bc4d493?source=friends_link&sk=9aa219d3ae1706188c93b4cdc37bc445Good luck!
- I would definitely work on building any skills that you think could help. Marketing skills, build a website for yourself (and take the time to learn some HTML), learn a language, and try to finish a project. There is a lot of interest in publishing quarantine art projects now so I would work on it with the intention of getting published somewhere.
- Hey if you fancy a call - have been where you are at (different global crisis!).Just don’t give up and pivot until you’re dizzy xxSimone @ Clever Boxer.com
- @Denis Robinson Thank you! Certainly doing my best :)
- @Pete Brady Thank you!! Good idea, that's definitely a creative way to keep creating!
- Create create create. Also if your internships are cancelled offer your services to businesses who are in need
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