EMPLOYABILITY WEEK

What sort of help would be useful based on my current career thinking?

For this lesson I was shown different ways that I could gain experience to help find my desired career path, some of these options included:

• Careers Advice and Guidance: Free information given from the university with one-to-one appointments, careers workshops, application forms, mock interviews and gaining work experience.

• Live Briefs and Projects: Taking part in creative commissions and competitions. This gives me a chance to work with external organisers, build a portfolio and gain an understanding of what life is like in the creative industry.

• Creative Networks: Gain insight from professionals in the industry and build strong connections with them as they might be able to help you reach your goals.

• Start-Up Wednesdays: An opportunity to learn about becoming a freelancer with a series of workshops designed for people who want to work for themselves.

• Freelancers' Summer School: A chance to develop your own business. Provided skills on how to create your own business plan and pitch to a panel of industry professionals for a chance to win the Vice-Chancellor's Enterprise award and personal mentoring.

• Funded Studio Spaces: Recent graduates can apply for six months funded studio space along with valuable mentoring from creative professionals to help you develop your business.

There are many different opportunities that I can get involved in when it comes to developing my practical and creative skills, and in doing so finding avenues into employment. The main areas I want to look into are, Graphic Design, Illustration and Animation. I quite enjoy learning different skills from all three areas.

I have started to put together a plan of what I should do from this point on:

1. Start by updating portfolio to have more modern designs and a variety of artwork

2. Create business cards to be able to give to professionals in the industry

3. Update CV to have it based for the creative industry and go through various creative tasks I have taken on board

4. Start looking and applying for work experience/internships to gain knowledge about the industry