The creative’s survival guide to job hunting
Creativity is something we’re all born with, but getting your foot in the door of the creative industries isn’t easy, especially if you don’t have the right connections, experience, or a degree.
Every time I talk about creative employment and the job market with my network, the general feeling is, it’s tough out there.
Redundancies, AI employees, and ridiculous base salaries are the daily reality.
Companies are cutting budgets, and it’s often junior to mid-weight talent who feel it most. Entry-level roles asking for two years of experience and offering £21,000 in London? Honestly, it blows my mind.
Looking for work right now can feel like a full-time job in itself, and keeping up with applications, automated rejections, and the endless waiting can really mess with your confidence and motivation.
So, if you’re in that stage right now, here are a few things I wish someone had told me when I started. These are small reminders that can make the process feel more human, intentional, and a bit less draining:
💬 Tap into the hidden job market
Did you know that around 80% of jobs are filled through referrals? Most opportunities never even make it to job boards. That means the more you connect with people (online and in-person) and show up on LinkedIn, the more likely people are to think of you when an opportunity comes along.
Start with your own network friends, mentors, and past colleagues. Let them know you’re looking. They might not have any opportunities, but they could refer you to someone who has.
Reach out to people who work at the companies you want to work at. Do you know anyone who is connected to them? Ask for an introduction; most people remember what it’s like to be in your shoes and are happy to help if you approach them thoughtfully. Don’t be afraid to chase a couple of times if they don’t get back. People are busy!
Go to events related to your niche or discipline and get chatting with people. I know networking can feel a bit cringe if you’re an introvert, but my number one tip is to approach it with curiosity and a genuine interest in others. Ask questions, listen, and find out what their challenges are; you never know how you might be able to help. It’s more about giving than taking.
Designer Anthony Burrill says, “Work hard & be nice to people.”My version?“Work the room & be helpful to people.”
🧭 Be strategic with your search
Instead of applying to everything, take a step back and ask yourself what kind of work actually gets you excited and which jobs you would be great at. Being intentional helps you focus your time and energy rather than just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Ask yourself:
What kind of job aligns best with my skills and interests?
What kind of people do I want to collaborate with?
What kind of projects would I like to work on?
Create a short list of dream companies, people you admire, and roles that align with your strengths, interests and values.
🎯 Personalise your outreach
When reaching out, take the time to make a real connection; you could share an interest, a mutual contact, or admire a specific project they worked on. Check out the latest news of that company, and see what they are up to. Have they just launched something new or won an award? If so, congratulate them!
AI can help you tidy up your words, but make sure it still sounds like you. People can tell when something sounds robotic or like a copy-and-paste.
🖌️ Get creative with your application (where possible)
CVs and cover letters are just one way in. Give them a taster of your creative thinking without giving all your genius ideas away for free.
What’s your favourite medium?
How could you prove your talent in their context?
How could you use your creativity to show you’re the right fit?
You could record a short video introducing yourself, create a mini portfolio zine, or build a micro deck. Even a small, thoughtful gesture that shows you’ve really considered the role can make you stand out from the crowd. Someone I know once applied for a copywriting role at a dating app. Instead of sending a standard CV, they wrote a love letter about the app and sent it to the hiring manager. They got called for an interview the next day and landed the job. They showed their creativity and copywriting skills in a way that perfectly fit the company’s tone and context.
🌍 Diversify where you look
Don’t put all your eggs in the LinkedIn basket. There are tons of creative recruiters and niche platforms out there, from The Dots or Major Players to WhatsApp community groups or Discord channels. Have a good search and find your people.
Freelancing is on the rise, so if you’re going solo, explore platforms like YunoJuno, Fiverr, or Upwork to find new projects and clients. Bonus job boards coming up.
🏆 Show your work
As my favourite Stefanie Sword-Williams says, “Fuck being humble.” Visibility isn’t bragging, it’s about sharing your journey and staying top of mind. Talk about what you’re learning, what you’re experimenting with, and the small wins that make you proud. Even if your network doesn’t interact, you never know who’s watching.
And remember, to be interesting, you need to be interested. (Thanks, Dale Carnegie). Visibility isn’t just about posting on your own feed; it’s also about showing up for others. Comment, like, and engage with people’s posts that resonate with you.
👯 Don’t do it alone
Job hunting can be exhausting and lonely. With all of the rejections, ghosting, and “we’ll get back to you”, it’s easy to lose hope. Find a job-search buddy or small accountability group to help you navigate the process.
You could check in weekly, share tips, swap feedback and share contacts. It makes the process less isolating and reminds you that you’re not the only one trying to figure it out.
❤️ Take care of yourself
Job hunting can be very tough, especially if you are unemployed and applying all day long. It’s important to have a life outside of it, too, so try to build small self-care rituals into your routine.
Journal to help you process your thoughts
Go for walks to give your mind space to breathe
Learn something new that sparks your curiosity
Create just for fun to keep your creative thinking agile
Invite a friend for coffee and disconnect!
It’s good to give your brain some rest and thinking space to get back to your applications with a fresh mind.
Remember, your worth doesn’t depend on the number of interviews you land. Every outreach, application and conversation is a win. Whether you have a job or not, you are still a creative, still talented, and still progressing.
Bonus
To help you diversify your search, I’ve pulled together a list of 26 job sites I’ve collected over the years. These focus on the creative commercial industry: design, marketing, advertising, and art. Hopefully, these will help you find new opportunities beyond LinkedIn.
Juniors
I LIKE NETWORKING
Award-winning career platform for women and non-binary people in the creative industries.UK’s #1 career app for young people looking to upskill & get experience in the creative industries.
Careers resource, on a mission to connect emerging talent with the creative industry.
Paid creative opportunities. Neither exposure nor experience pays bills.
Jobs and opportunities in the creative industries for underrepresented communities.
Midweight & up
Creative jobs board bringing the best opportunities to top talent.
Professional networking for the new world of work.
Global talent agency committed to accelerating ambitions, building brands and creating partnerships.
Recruiters for world-class design agencies and in-house studios.
Recruiters who create unexpected connections between creative people and creative businesses.
London recruitment consultancy, helping advertising design studios find design talent that fits.
Peas are talent specialists for creative & design, moving image and film and project management.
Creative Crowd is an independent talent partner for the creative industry.
Connect with a global creative community and hire the world’s greatest creative talent.
Fixing the employment gap for black and brown talent in the creative industry.
Independent recruiters for the creative industries.
Bringing the best out of everyone, including designers, writers, strategists and client managers.
World’s largest creative network for showcasing and discovering creative work.
Creative recruitment specialists sourcing talent for the best of the design and branding world.
Top recruitment agency in London, connecting professionals to media, HR and creative jobs.
Specialist Design, Marketing, Digital & E-commerce recruiters since 2002.
The go-to jobs board for creative students and graduates.
Professional recruitment service for all art-related businesses in the UK and around the world.
Jobs call for artists, contests, competitions, festivals, residencies, and open-call auditions.
The ultimate spot for art jobs, art careers, industry news, reviews, art grants, events & more.
Market-leading Recruitment Agency, specialising in Arts Jobs.
The market might be unpredictable, but your human creativity, resilience, and lived experience are still your biggest assets. You’ve got this!
If you’re feeling stuck or need a bit of guidance with your job search, I’ve got a few creative coaching spots open from November to January. You can book a free 30-minute call with me here.
