5 Pathways Into A Creative Career That Aren’t Uni

As rewarding as creative careers can be, finding work that aligns with your passions is far from simple. Uni’s great and all, but finding a course that is relevant to the career you’re pursuing and also provides you with enough hands-on experience to actually prepare you for the industry, is pretty much impossible.

So if you’re at a bit of a loss as to which pathway you should take, here are a few ways to break into a creative industry that don’t involve going to university.
 

Build A Portfolio

A good portfolio is the number one thing employers are looking for in creative industries. Finishing top of your class at uni is all well and good, but at the end of the day, if your practical work isn’t good, they’re going to hire someone else. 

This is why you should start building your portfolio right now. If you’re a designer, start building mock designs, if you’re a photographer, start up an insta account shooting subjects you’re interested in.

Another option – which is the hill that every creative will die on – is to offer your services for a low cost, or for free to get exposure. So gross, I know. The amount of things I’ve done for *exposure* is a little bit infuriating, but it will all be worth it in the long run. But never be afraid to call people out if they’re asking for too many freebies. 

TAFE

TAFE is the most obvious alternative pathway to uni when you’re looking to get into a creative field. There are hundreds of creative TAFE courses available at a bunch of different locations. From design and fashion to music and photography, TAFE has a course to match your passion. And at the moment, a lot of courses are completely free, so you really have nothing to lose. 

Another selling point for TAFE courses is that they dive straight into the practical skills you’ll need to thrive in a creative career, rather than spending most of your time focusing on theory. This will give you the chance to refine your skills so they’re job-ready as soon as you finish studying.
 

Traineeships

Traineeships are similar to an apprenticeship, but have a broader range of vocations. This pathway gives you the opportunity to learn on the job, rather than only being able to work in the industry after you already have the necessary qualifications. Traineeships are a common avenue to get into fashion and design, as well as photography and some slightly more obscure industries like perfumery. 

Depending on where you do your traineeship, you may or may not be paid for your work, but you will be given a tonne of experience either way. You can usually search for traineeships the same way you would look for jobs, whether that’s through internet searches or word of mouth if you already have a few connections in the industry.

Internships

Internships are quite similar to traineeships and apprenticeships, except you will usually need some kind of prior knowledge or experience to land one. Before I got into writing, I did a bunch of internships and volunteering work at various radio stations and magazines to build up a portfolio of experience that would help my CV stand out when looking for jobs. 

This can be a bit of a pain because a lot of the time this is unpaid work, and ultimately, you deserve to be paid for your skills! But if you’re trying to build a career in a field you genuinely enjoy, a bit of volunteering will hopefully be bearable. 

Community College

If you’re keen to give your creative career a push and pick up a few extra skills on the cheap, signing up for a short course or two could be a great way to go. You can find a bunch of relevant short courses online, as well as locally at community colleges, or private institutions like AFTRS. 

While Community Colleges don’t usually provide you with nationally recognised qualifications, their courses are usually cheap and short so you can earn a quick little boost for your CV.
 

These are just a few of many pathways to get a start in creative industries. Don’t be afraid to make use of any connections you have to the industry you’re keen to get into. It’s hard to get a start in creative fields, and everyone is using their own connections, so why wouldn’t you? Nobody is going to accuse you of being a nepo baby unless, you know, you are.

So put yourself out there, and show the world what you’ve been working on. It deserves to be seen, heard, worn, tasted, or smelt. After all, you never know who’s going to see your work, and the opportunities that could lead to.