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Community
One of the biggest problems that our graduates face when they leave University is the loss of their community. The feeling of isolation that some graduates feel whilst establishing themselves in the industry can be paralysing and damaging for their self-esteem. One of the most important things that you can do for your friends and colleagues (and they can do for you) is to remind them that they are not alone, the knock backs and rejection that they are facing is entirely normal for someone in that situation and that there is a whole community of people out there facing the same challenges.
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Support
One of the most crucial things about having people around you is that they can give you emotional and sometimes practical support. Getting yourself established in the creative industries is hard and usually involves a lot of rejection, some bewildering choices, some very low wages and often some soul searching about whether you’re doing the right thing. Having someone to listen to your woes, share your joy when things go well and remind you about all the great things about you and about working in your field may well make the difference between sticking to your dreams and deciding on another path. Everyone needs it, everyone can give it and it is not to be underestimated.
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Skills
There may be some skills out there that you need to develop, or need to make use of, in order to achieve your goals. There are probably also a lot of skills that you have that other’s need. You could set up a skills swap where you offer your services as a photographer to someone who can teach you Illustrator and Photoshop. Or you might find that your particular skills could be useful to someone else’s project – a fashion stylist might need a womenswear designer to supply some items for their photo shoot, and in return you get the photos taken on the day to boost your portfolio with.
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Creativity
It’s such an asset to have a creative mind when you are trying to pursue your professional dreams within the creative industries. Opportunities are so hard to come by that you often have to think creatively when trying to get a foot in the door. But it’s very easy to exhaust your own ideas, and sometimes you can be so close to the situation that you can’t see the wood for the trees. A creative friend can help you think of new and original ways that you can approach people / present your work / find commissions etc.
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Opportunities
Most people in the creative industries give jobs to people they know. There are many reasons for this – it’s cheaper, less time consuming and more straightforward than putting ads in the press, they are guaranteed to get someone they can work with, and they will get someone whose work they know and admire. Many, many times during your professional life you will be in a position to flag up a suitable opportunity to a friend and many, many times your friends will return the favour.
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Objectivity
It’s easy to get so close to your own project that you stop being objective about it. A friend or colleague can help with a fresh pair of eyes, new ideas and supportive and constructive criticism. Feedback on your work, your portfolio, your CV, any presentations you need to do, your funding applications and any job hunting strategies can be invaluable.
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Information
It pays to be well informed about the field that you are trying to get into. You can get a lot of information from trade journals, the press and the media, but it’s insider information that will make you stand out of the crowd. If you can find things out before they are in the media then that puts you ahead of the game, and can help ensure that you are in the right place at the right time. A friend who has had work experience with the BBC might be able to tell you that they will be shooting a new documentary in the Spring and give you the name of the producer. You can then call that person and find out when and where they will be recruiting runners.
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