How to stand out when you’re starting out
Starting out in the creative industry is both exciting and daunting, with plenty of pressure to stand out, especially during the job search. For It's Nice That's Wise Guides series, we've curated a whistle-stop tour of some of the most essential current advice and tips that we frequently impart to emerging creatives – all drawn from knowledgeable employers, clients, recruiters and creatives who have experienced the climb firsthand.
Whether you’ve recently graduated or are making your own way into the creative world, embarking on your all-important first steps into the industry can be daunting and thrilling in equal parts. Alongside the promise of the unknown, this period brings the inevitable pressure to stand out and get noticed, especially in the process of job-seeking.
Breaking into the creative industry without existing connections or privilege can feel like a steep uphill climb. While there’s no one simple fix to get ahead, we believe that setting yourself up for the best chances involves a delicate mix of knowledge, preparation and action.
So, notebooks at the ready: Let's get you off to the best start in industry.
🧠 Getting your head into CVs and applications
Step one in laying the foundation for a job search? Honing that CV. It’s been estimated that recruiters spend an average of five to seven seconds looking at a CV, which means it needs to work hard at making that first impression.
The first rule in making your CV shine to potential employers is to tailor it to the specific opportunity you’re applying to. Make sure it’s clear, readable and only share relevant experiences and skills that demonstrate why you’d be a great candidate for a role.
Different layout interpretations of the same CV (from our full CV guide)
This might be disappointing for anyone trying to send as many applications as possible, which leads us to our second tip: Try to apply for a few roles you care about, over a scatter-gun approach. Employers can be instantly put off by applications that feel non-specific to the role.
From the appearance to the content, a CV should also ideally capture who you are as a creative. This can include everything from the format and tone-of-voice you use, to your choice of typeface. Then, once that has passed the first round and you’ve secured an initial chat, it's time to check out our advice on preparing for job interviews, to guide you from the nerves of the invitation to the importance of preparation.
Find our full guide on creating a great CV here
🧱 Building a standout portfolio
Whether you’re a budding visual creative, wordsmith or more of a strategist, having a portfolio you’re proud to show will set you apart from the crowd.
You might have heard that a lot of creatives use Instagram as their portfolio, and of course a website is great too; but most times a PDF portfolio will be the universally accepted format. This is for anything from job applications and email outreach, to potential clients or meet-and-greets, such as portfolio reviews.
Again, this is where tailoring and editing will become your best friend. Start with curating the work you’ll include: Select your best and most relevant work for the situation. It can be tempting to include everything “just in case“, but trust us, this can be more damaging than helpful.
A well-organised portfolio typically includes a cover page, a curated selection of 5-10 projects, and a final page, ideally with a note or contact information.
🙋 Leveraging personal projects
Not having tons of work experience can feel like a barrier to putting yourself out there. This is where personal projects become a great way to show your niche and what you want to do more of. No matter how big or small, they often make a portfolio far more exciting and memorable, since you’re showing work you feel passionate about.
Now a designer at Youtube Creative, read Ben Eli's Creative Lives interview here to discover how he leveraged personal work in this way.
📨 Making industry connections
Phrases like “your network is your net worth” can sound cringe, but it’s true that contacting strangers is another unavoidable element of starting out. You might as well embrace it, because whichever creative discipline you specialise in, networking can significantly aid your first or next steps within a career.
If you’re a freelancer or in full-time work, you might need to reach out regarding an open role, asking for career advice or in search of a creative collaborator.
Making and sustaining relevant industry connections is easier said than done, but in 2024, this might translate to sliding into your favourite creative’s DMs, chiming in on a Linkedin post, joining an after-work sports team or having a chat with someone in your co-working space, studio or Slack channel.
Email outreach is timeless and sending a great email to the right person can also lead to a host of different opportunities, from meeting a new mentor to getting a press feature to collaborating with someone you admire.
💻 Nailing your online presence
Once you’ve done some online or IRL networking, it’s useful to have somewhere to point people to, like a portfolio website or social media profile. Think about creating a public-facing destination where someone can quickly find out more about you and your interests.
Lots of platforms exist to display your work, from the classic LinkedIn page, portfolio website or Vimeo to social-focused options like Instagram and TikTok.
While it might feel like you need to post widely to cover all your platform bases, not everyone needs all these elements. Choose a couple of online spaces you feel comfortable with and keep your work well-presented and up-to-date.
Remember, people often Google potential employees and collaborators, so it’s important to ensure you’re findable and the various links to your work across platforms are functioning.
⚖️ Using social media in a healthy way
Of course, there is no right or wrong way to use socials to stand out, but there are ways to set boundaries to ensure you get the best out of them while looking after yourself.
Establishing different accounts is one way to set boundaries between your public work and personal life. Then, think quality over quantity. Especially on Instagram, sharing what you love is far more likely to produce better outcomes than sharing what you think people want to see.
Building a social media presence takes time, consistency and patience, so try not to dwell on how well something performs.
Find our full guide to using Instagram for your career in a healthy way here
🔎 Searching in the right places
Once you’ve nailed your CV and online presence, and are primed for some cold reach-outs, it’s all about knowing where to look. Alongside our Opportunities Board, plenty of platforms are dedicated to creative roles, some specifically for freelancers and others useful if you’re based outside of London.
Signing up to newsletters and mailing lists will keep you in the loop, and digging around on LinkedIn never hurts. It’s about keeping your eye on what new roles, initiatives or opportunities are popping up and when.
Ultimately, you never know where that first opportunity might come from. It might be a result of your second networking event, a LinkedIn DM, your thirtieth cold email or someone seeing your Instagram post.
In a climate that feels increasingly hard to make creative noise among the din, once you’ve laid a solid foundation, keep doing your best to put yourself out there in the way that feels right for you.
Looking for more guidance on standing out when you’re starting out? Check out the resources below:
...
This is an edited version of an article taken from It's Nice That's 'Wise Guides' series, written by the Creative Lives in Progress team.
Written by Creative Lives in Progress
Mention It's Nice That