From designing flower arrangements to building movie sets, the creative world of art and design offers a diverse range of career opportunities. Almost every creative person will find a job in the field of art and design. Graphic designers and interior designers, for example, combine creativity with practical skills, while fashion designers rely solely on creativity.
People with art and design degrees are required in almost every industry for rewarding niche roles. Art and design practitioners use their imaginative talents to express their clients’ messages. Technical skills are becoming increasingly important for many art and design workers, making the industry very competitive.
Freelance artists who sell their own work have more creative flexibility, more flexible scheduling, and the opportunity to pick and choose their projects. They must handle their budgets, marketing, and public relations, among other items.
Fine arts, commercial arts, advertising, illustration, motion pictures, animation, web design, creative writing, and more are all part of Canada’s creative industry. Newcomers can find it difficult to break into these highly competitive fields, particularly if their first language is not English or French.
Newcomers, predictably, lack a deep understanding of local Canadian culture, which is also a prerequisite for some creative positions. Understanding popular culture and Canadian humor – what Mandrake Recruitment’s Rob Lawrence refers to as “the vagaries of Canadiana” – is important for an advertising copywriter, for example.
Jobs in the creative arts and design can be thrilling, challenging, and satisfying. The stereotype of the starving artist does not apply. Creative people are excited about what they do, their work conditions are less organized than in most other industries, and their working hours are also flexible or unpredictable.
Your resume should be formatted in accordance with Canadian requirements. Customizing your resume to suit the particular positions you’re applying for is also a good idea. Recognize your assets and talents, and emphasize them appropriately.
A portfolio is a set of work samples that show the ability to generate those types of work. You want it to demonstrate that you, above all other applicants, possess the necessary skills or experience for the job. Portfolio websites such as WordPress, Format, Wix, and Squarespace will assist you in developing your online portfolio.
You can sign up for industry events and register with specialist recruiting or staffing firms that can help sell your resume to prospective employers in addition to using Canada’s Job Bank website and other online job search sites such as LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Monster, Workopolis, CareerBuilder, SimplyHired, and many others. On platforms like Eventbrite, you can find industry events in your city or neighborhood.
In order to find work in Canada, you must network. LinkedIn is a good place to start if you want to expand your network.
Contract work can be a perfect way to get exposure before seeking a full-time career in advertising, architecture, or other creative fields. Indeed, temporary contracts are becoming more common in the creative industry, but they can also lead to full-time jobs. Aquent, Creative Circle, Creative Niche, Creative People, and Vitamin T are a few talent agencies that specialize in putting creative people in contract positions.
Speak with recruiters. Even if a job isn’t exactly what you’re searching for, recruiters will assist you in narrowing your hunt, tightening up your resume, and connecting you with people who are looking to hire people like you.
Average Pay: C$89,830 per year or C$43.18 per hour
Average Pay: C$67,790 per year or C$32.59 per hour
Average Pay: C$65,300 per year or C$31.40 per hour
Average Pay: C$65,170 per year or C$31.33 per hour
Average Pay: C$64160 per year or C$28. 33 per hour
Average Pay: C$69,850 per year or C$33.58 per hour
Average Pay: C$61,240 per year or C$29.44 per hour
Average Pay: C$62,760 per year or C$30.18 per hour
Average Pay: C$55,080 per year or C$26.48 per hour
Average Pay: C$57,210 per year or C$27.51 per hour
While having creative skills can help you earn money in your career, that doesn’t mean you can’t broaden your experience and skills beyond the arts. Gaining skills that can complement your artistic and innovative strengths can help you secure a lucrative place in the competitive job market, as the world increasingly relies on digital spaces to exchange and communicate ideas, concepts, and projects. Practicing your ability to express and show these abilities and strengths will help you stand out in the interview.
It’s also a good idea to have these crucial digital skills on your resume so that hiring managers and recruiters will see them when they take a fast look at your application. Knowledge of relevant tools and resources demonstrates that you are committed to personal development, the market, and keeping your skills and work current—and will, in turn, bring you ahead of the pack and increase your earning potential in the short and long term.
