3 Ways to Secure a Job After Art College - CareerAlley

3 Ways to Secure a Job After Art College - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. Aristotle If youve just completed or are nearing completion of art college, youre most likely well aware of the competition in the arts jobs market youll undoubtedly be facing. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can vastly increase your chances of securing a job right out of the gate. Creativity is the hallmark of any artist, so use it to your advantage. Optimising your portfolio, taking advantage of real-world networking opportunities, and utilising the Internet will set you apart from the crowd and maximise your employment probability. Portfolio Optimisation Any artists portfolio is a continually changing representation of their achievements. If you look back at your work from even a couple of years ago, youll no doubt see how youve grown and expanded your skills as an artist. When you submit your portfolio to any employer, it should accomplish the following: Demonstrate your individuality as an artist to show youre not like every other artist applying Showcase only the best of your work Display any special abilities or unique pieces Skim through your portfolio and ask yourself if it meets these points. Dont be afraid to take out pieces which youre unsure of or arent indicative of your most exemplary work it would be better to have a smaller portfolio than one that is brimming with mediocre or ho-hum examples. Take Advantage of Local Networking Opportunities Most areas have a number of outlets for artists to display their work, meet peers and employers, and generally involve themselves in the community. Seek out these opportunities and make your voice heard whenever possible, even if its something as simple as asking a local restaurant if they would care to display your work. Networking really allows you to get creative with how you can spread word of your art. For example, you might contact local performers such as bands or drama groups and offer to design or contribute to their flyers or promotional material for free in exchange for credit. This also conveniently doubles as material for your portfolio. Develop a Strong Presence on the Internet Its little wonder that so many artists have taken to the web in order to receive more recognition and, in many cases, get hired. Convert your portfolio to digital format if it hasnt been already, and create your own website to conveniently showcase your work to potential employers. Furthermore, dont discount the many social networking sites at your disposal. Aside from the most common ones, seek out online communities specifically tailored for artists. Be active with your followers and engage them frequently if youre looking for work, dont be afraid to say so. Word of mouth can travel a long way, especially on the Internet. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook