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Archives - How
Can I Get Experience If I Can't Get A Job?
Q: I have
been working as a full-time freelance artist since graduating from college, but I have
come to the inevitable conclusion that in this economy, in order to make ends meet,
I need a more traditional job. Ideally, I'd like to work in an arts-related area.
I have a liberal arts degree from a decent school, but never really worked before
in a traditional setting. In fact, all of the jobs I have had were part-time and
have nothing to do with the art world, or any of the other areas I'm interested in.
When I go to interviews, the only thing they want to know is what kind of work experience
I have, for whom, and how much. When I say I have never actually worked at a
traditional job in the arts, I can tell that the interviewers are turned off. If I
need arts-related experience to get a job, and I can't get a job because I don't have any
experience, what am I supposed to do?
A: I
wish you had thought your career through a little more thoroughly before you graduated!
You could have taken education courses, business courses, computer courses.
You could have possibly worked as an intern in a gallery or musuem. Alas,
many young people decide they have enough talent to "make it" on their own as sole entrepreneurs and full-time, working artists so they don't prepare themselves
with a backup plan while still in school.
The art world is still a
business, just like any other. Employers in creative fields will value your vision
and creativity, but they would ideally like to know that you have a broad background of
other skills you can bring to a job. Remember, they may be in the business of art,
but they still want to make money. As an employee, you must help them see where you can
help them enhance their bottom line!
Even without hard skills and
experience, you shouldn't sell your skills, short. Instead, use some creative thinking to
improve your personal presentation to prospective employers. Until now, as a sole entrepreneur, you've been
the head of your own company. You are the product you've been creating (production),
promoting (marketing, sales and public relations), and producing product for.
Presumably you've also been handling clients (customer service) along with your
administrative activities (bookeeping, office management).
That's just for starters. Take a quiet
moment to think about all the (functional) tasks you have performed as a freelancer, and
you'll come up with an awesome list....and the good news is that many of these are skills
that you can offer employers to help their companies.
Also, don't discount your part-time
experience, even if it wasn't arts-related. Work experience is still work experience, even
if you weren't the top executive or just worked part-time. You still have learned
how to deal with tasks assigned or designed by you, how to be a team player, how to handle
interpersonal relationships, deal with a boss, be there on time, etc.
It would be helpful for you to get a clearer
picture of what you want to do. Would you prefer teaching to an office
environment? Could you go back to school to train a related, artistic field that
might be more in demand (Eg. web design). Do you just want an easy job at the local
coffeehouse so you can still focus most of your attention on being creative? How
about temp work? Get a firm idea of what kind of job and work environment would suit you,
and what kind of salary you require. Only then will you be able to focus clearly on how
your existing skills dovetail with the needs of specific employers. An added bonus
is that instead of looking for "just anything" which can be demoralizing, you
will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are looking for positions that will enhance
your life.
Once you have figured out the above, you will
probably want to create a functional resume where you group your experience and skills not
in chronological order, but by type or area. When you don't have a traditional track
record to showcase, this makes it easier for prospective employers to see where you would
fit into their organization and suit their needs.
Consider the skills that you have gained from your other
activities and make sure you promote these. Did you work at the college radio station?
Organizeevents or parties? Fund-raise for causes? Work on a special project? All of
these things count as experience and are attractive to employers.
Don't be surprised if, at first, you meet with blank
stares when you try explain your work record. Many interviewers are unskilled or aren't
sure how to relate to someone without traditional experience. Don't be worried or
defensive..just be positive.
If an interviewer is having trouble interpreting your
skills to their needs, give him or her a hand!
Calmly and confidently point out that as a
sole entrepreneur, you've run your own business, managing the product,
clients, sales and marketing...and a million other things that are necessary to make a
small business run. ALL of those skills as transferrable to another
company. Putting your experience in these positive, active terms boosts your
confidence and shows employers what you can do for them.
If you are having trouble getting interviews, the
following might also be holding you back:
- your goals are unrealistic
- you are targeting the wrong companies (or the wrong
people in them)
- your resume isn't effective
- you are job-hunting sporadically
- you aren't networking properly, or at all
- you are not making a good personal presentation at
interviews
If your interviews are stalled, and you are
worried about paying the bills now, keep job hunting and consider re-entering the world of
short-term, part-time, or temp employment. This will bring in much-needed cash but it
isn't a lifetime commitment. Even a job at the local fast-food restaurant gives you a
chance to gain references, learn sales techniques, customer service, and organizational
tactics. Clerical jobs give you similar skills, plus experience with the latest computer
programs and office equipment. You can then add these skills to your resume, even if you
are not yet an expert with them.
The most important thing to do is keep your confidence high
and your spirits up. Remind yourself that you are not your job. You are an artist, a
friend, a mother, a friend, a father....so many other things! Don't let your
job (or lack of one) define you. Remind yourself that as an artist, you've chosen a
challenging career that requires patience and courage, along with talent.
Don't hide at home! Join social activities and boost your
networking efforts. These will help you market your creative efforts, as well as helping
you to find job prospects. The Metropolitan Tribe http://www.metrotribe.org
can help you do this. As an artist,
you are welcome to join You might also want to consider joining a success team or getting
some advice and career
counseling Ask people if they would grant you informational interviews. These types of
interviews may not net you a specific job, but they will provide more exposure to
the field and more contacts for your network. You may meet an employer while you're
informationally interviewing who would be willing to give you a chance to show what you
can do. At the very least, you'll acquire information that will help you
figure out what you really need to break into a specific field, and to whom you need to
address your inquiries.
Don't give up and think that you are
a "failure" if you have to do other work to make ends meet. Leave enough time to
constantly work at what you love, too..and the work will follow!
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