Careers for People Who Are Creative
If you think creativity is only for artists, think again. People use creativity every day in all kinds of ways, whether to post on social media or develop a mobile app. Most occupations involve some form of creativity as well. A salesperson, for example, might design a more engaging product pitch, and a physicist might devise a new way of understanding the laws of nature.
For some people, creativity is an essential part of their work. "To be creative is the most exciting thing you can do," says Chris Triola, owner of a textile design studio in Lansing, Michigan. "It's as necessary to me as eating and breathing." However, making creativity your career typically requires hard work and perseverance. For workers who do it on their own, it also means learning how to market themselves and run a business.
Getting Started
You'll need some combination of skills, education and training, and experience to get started in a creative career. Networking and promoting your work are also important.
Skills
Creative workers need technical skill relevant to their occupation, which may involve use of certain equipment. For example, a craft artist who specializes in woodworking needs to be able to make bevel and groove cuts with a saw and a chisel, among other tools.
Communication skills are also important for creative workers. Having ideas is not enough; workers must be able to share those ideas through writing or speaking.
For many people in creative occupations, business skills are pivotal to success—especially for those who are self-employed. The Small Business Administration and the nonprofit SCORE offer information for small-business owners through free or low-cost resources and services, including workshops, networking events and one-on-one mentorships.
Education, Training, and Experience
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most creative occupations typically require a bachelor's degree for workers to qualify at the entry level. In about half of these occupations, workers receive on-the-job training to help them hone their craft.
Getting an education can help you to build a solid technical and artistic foundation—and it may improve employment prospects. Even in occupations that don't typically require education in a formal program, creative workers usually benefit from hands-on learning. For example, you could start out as a hobbyist, then turn your passion into a career after discovering a market for your work.
Most creative occupations don't require work experience in a related occupation to qualify for entry-level positions. Still, in occupations such as illustrators and photographers, workers may have started out as assistants or apprentices. Among the few that do need experience is editors; workers in this occupation typically gain experience in a related one, such as by being a reporter.
Networking and Self-Promotion
To pursue a creative career, you should expect to take the initiative in networking and promoting your work. This process is often difficult in the beginning, when you don't have a large portfolio or many professional connections, but it usually gets easier as you build a reputation.
Having an online portfolio and a social media presence may help you to market your creativity. Applying for grants, such as through the National Endowment for the Arts, also offers potential funding.
Above all, remember to be patient. As workers in most fields can attest, it usually takes years to develop a solid career.
Examples of Creative Careers
- Artists and related workers create aesthetic pieces that try to capture certain beliefs, feelings, or ideas. For example, a painter may try to express happiness through a watercolor landscape of a summer day. Art directors, fine and craft artists, as well as multimedia artists and animators typically develop a unique style, which helps to set them apart from others in their field.
- Designers make original creations that have practical or aesthetic purpose. Businesses in nearly all industries rely on designers to develop and implement ideas for products or services. Designers may start a project by sketching ideas on paper or creating a computer prototype. Feedback from clients and staff members helps refine the ideas into a final product.
- Media and communication workers use words or images to convey information and ideas. Some write fictional stories; others capture information or describe actual events, such as breaking news.
Vilorio, D. & Torpey, E. (Ed.). (Updated 2018, December [Ed.]). Careers for people who are creative [Excerpt]. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Retrieved June 15, 2021, from https://www.bls.gov