A Job Search For A Creative Mind
- Hannah O'Brien
- Sep 17, 2020
- 4 min read
As a creative person myself, I can tell you now that it's been a rocky road since the start of COVID-19. I'm sure numerous different industries are suffering and having to cut budgets, employees, ext., but specifically being in a more creative field, whether its advertising, marketing, entertainment or media- these careers are technically not essential.
Yeah, for me, being creative is essential to my sanity but as from a business perspective, many companies have chosen to cut advertising and creative budgets.
Overall, I've decided to write this post (it's about time I come out with new content but I've just been so busy lately with personal things) as a way to show others in my field that there is still hope in finding a job. Companies are still hiring, people are still networking, candidates are still landing interviews.
I'm writing from my perspective when I was searching for a copywriter position, but plug in your career path as necessary :)
Narrow Your Search
One of the most important things you should have figured out before even beginning your job search is knowing what career path you'd like to follow. No brainer if you went to school for nursing, you most likely will be applying to nursing positions but within the creative world, things don't always follow a simple path. Calling out all Media or Comm. major-you've set yourself up with the potential to dabble in a range of different job avenues... but it's still important to narrow down your search. For example, it's okay to say you like media and want to make a career out of it but what do you exactly like about media? Do you have an interest in social media marketing? Or TV/film production? Do you like online magazines?
It's crucial you figure this out to better define your search. Applying to jobs in too large of a range will stretch your focus. Narrowing your search doesn't have to mean eliminating your options but rather putting a better focus on things you are passionate about.
Create Connections
I literally do not care if it's a cousin of someone I went to college with or a friend of a friend's friend, if I can create a potential connection out of it, I'll do it. Usually I'm using LinkedIn to start networking but if you are more comfortable going about it another way, feel free to do so; just make sure it's appropriate before you add someone's sister on their private Facebook and creep them out. Lol. Also, don't let it bother you if someone doesn't respond to you after you've reached out. Okay, so someone didn't answer your LinkedIn message, no biggy. From my own experience, the biggest tip I could give someone while networking is to not get discouraged if the person you are communicating with can't help you with a job or lead. There is a lot more to learn from a person in your field than you might think. When I began networking, the first person I connected with actually helped me shape the exact career path I'm now following, so it's worth it.
Have an Open Mind
I know I previously said to narrow down your search but now I'm going to say the complete opposite...well, kinda. It's likely that you aren't going to land your dream job right out of college or even a couple years into your career path, but have an open mind about how you can reach those goals. If I apply to a content writing position, it's essentially the same as a copywriter position, maybe with a little tweaks to the everyday tasks or not even. Now let's hypothetically say I got that content writing position- if I ever were to apply to a higher level copywriting position, I guarantee the employer isn't going to say, "oh no, we specifically asked for a copywriter. This isn't going to work." A job description is more important than job title in some cases. In reference to your own job hunt, research similar roles that can fit your desired job description instead of focusing on the title.
Show That Your Passionate
If you get as far as to having an interview with a company, it's great to show the interviewer your passion and overall interest for that field. I took on an internship in my desired field, 1. to gain more experience and 2. because it shows that I'm doing something proactive and truly have interest in this career path.
It's also a bonus if you make a side hobby or do some side work in the field you're trying to pursue. It validates to an employer that you really do enjoy the field and go out of your way to prove it..and it's a fun exercise with your creative mind. Example A, being this blog I created.Yes, I wish I could put more time into posting and have the blog grow but in the meantime it's a great way I can practice my skills and I really just enjoy it.
Go a Step Further
I'm guessing you and the rest of the world have already discovered job boards and different platforms to search for jobs on. But instead of googling: copywriting jobs NYC and looking on job boards, try searching for website lists of NYC digital marketing companies and see what you can find. Some companies don't actually post hiring opportunities on other platforms, so approaching your search this way can potentially give you an advantage against competitors. It also shows that you've browsed a company's site and have actually interest in the business as a whole if you were to get an interview.
Side note- Why did no one tell me in college that it was going to be this hard to find a job??? I'm not ashamed to say I've applied to 50 applications at a time and heard back from maybe three or four employers, but where was that memo that it'd take this type of hard work??? Not mad about it but hellloooo, would have been nice to be a little prepared!
Thank god you have me to inform you :)
Anyway, go on! Research, apply, call, email, DM, whatever it takes. 🖤
xoxo,
Han
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