How To Turn Your Creativity Into A Career

Include this article in your Skills Builder Journal. It could help you develop... 

Got a hobby or a passion that you love? Want to do it forever…and get paid for it? Check out our tips on how to turn your creativity into a career!

Make a decision

First up, the most important thing to do is decide whether you actually want the thing you love to be something you do for fun, or for work. If you have lots of hobbies or skills (for instance, you could be great at writing songs, baking cakes, and drawing cartoons!) then there may be some that you like to do as a stress reliever, and others you just can’t stop doing. So, take a moment to think about which ones make most sense to follow for a career - you don’t want to start disliking something you do to chill out because you have to do it more.

Do your market research

How much do you know about your creativity and hobby in ‘the real world’? Is what you do something that lots of other people do too? If so, it shows two things: one, that it is possible to be successful in what you do, but two, it might be difficult if the market is already saturated. So, you have to think and get a sense of what the landscape is like and how you will fit into it. What do other people charge for their work or service? What would/could you do to set you apart and make you different from everyone else?

Start as a side hustle

The best way to test the waters with your creative career idea is to start it on the side. Whether that be alongside your school/college/uni work, or alongside a 9-5 job, see if you can profit from your passion, without jeopardising anything. 

Get your work out there

Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do, and when, it’s time to actually make a splash - get your work out there in the world! Set up a social media platform that advertises what you do and post, post, post! The more you post, the more people will see. And don’t forget to ask your friends to repost you and shout you out. You can also create an online portfolio with examples of your work, who you are, contact details, and a shop (if you’re going to sell your work!). Websites like Squarespace allow you to set up easy templated websites in different themes which are designed specifically for different areas - for example photography, food blogging, writing, animation and video, online shops - and provide people with an insight into what you do and what you stand for! 

Listen to the people you love

Something you’ll come up against a lot in a career is feedback - both good and bad. It’s important to know how to deal with this, and learn from it. So, when you’re in the process of working out how to turn your hobby into a career, it’s important to ask the people around you for their opinion, and listen to them. Friends, family, teachers, colleagues, and role models will play a vital role in helping you become successful. Listen to their feedback and consider their remarks, and don’t take anything too personally - remember that they want the same thing you do!

Obtain some expertise

Even if you’re really good at what you do, some fields require experience or training to meet their job expectations. Think about how you could get into the field to get the right experience. Have you looked at any work experience, internship or apprenticeship opportunities with companies or organisations that you like? Do you have a showreel of examples of your work? Are there any classes or courses you could take part in to refine your craft? Or, is there anyone you know who does something similar? Maybe you could sit and chat to them and learn some insider secrets or pointers on certain techniques that’ll help you grow! 

Don’t give up

Finally, it’s important to know that starting a career, of any kind, takes time. Sure, for some people they might become an overnight sensation (hey, it could be you!) but, for the majority, be prepared to rise and grind. Make sure you have a plan, and understand that a hobby-to-career might mean starting from the bottom, where income might not be super high to begin with. Prepare for potential long hours - especially if you’re working for yourself, it’s likely that you won’t be on a 9-5 schedule! But even though it’s hard, it’ll be worth it to see the thing you love the most turn into something that can help you enjoy life to the fullest!