How to Find a Job in the Creative Industry
How to Find a Job in the Creative Industry
Philip VanDusen:
Hey, everyone. Welcome back. If you’ve been struggling to land a job or freelance gig in this tough market, this video is for you. I recently got a DM from someone asking, 'Hey Philip, I’ve been struggling to find a job in the creative industry. How can I improve my chances of landing a role?' this episode is going to give you some answers.
I totally get it. The job market right now, especially if you are mid-to-late career, can feel daunting. But here's the thing: it’s not hopeless, and with the right strategies, you can set yourself up for success.
Today, I’m going to walk you through 5 actionable tips that have worked for me and many others that I've coached and mentored. Even if you're not in design, these are transferable tips that can also help you break into new or adjacent industries, build connections, and ultimately, land the role you’ve been striving for.
OK, Let’s dive in.
1. Tailor Your Resume
The first thing you need to do is update and improve your CV. I can’t emphasize this enough. A generic resume won’t cut it in this market. Look closely at the job description of the position you are applying for and the list of skills they are looking for. This is a goldmine for the words and phrases you need to use in your resume.
Remember 9 times out of 10 your resume is being vetted initially by the ATS or Applicate Tracking System - a robot that is designed to weed out all but the most qualified candidates and if your resume doesn't contain many of the keywords that are in the actual job description, then chances are you aren't even going to make the very first cut.
So, first, format your resume using the ATS resume standard (just Google it and follow the directions exactly). It's not going to be pretty or highly designed, but it's going to get you past the robots. Then edit your resume so it includes a number of the keywords in the job description. Also, if you’re a creative professional, think about the skills and achievements that directly apply to the roles you’re applying for.
For example, if you’re applying for a senior graphic designer position, don’t just list every design job you’ve ever had. Sure, highlight your design capabilities, but also any more leadership-level opportunities you've had: in creative direction, project management, or how you’ve spearheaded successful campaigns.
If you can, quantify your achievements. Maybe it’s increasing a brand’s engagement by 25% through a visual rebrand or cutting design studio development time by 40% with more efficient workflows - or increasing the output of the studio while also increasing design approvals or adoption rates. Real numbers help you stand out in a sea of resumes.
2. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Next up is taking a hard look at your LinkedIn profile. I can’t tell you how many creatives I see who don’t treat LinkedIn like a professional portfolio. - Which is what is CAN BE if you fully leverage it's functionality.
First let's talk about your "Headline" This is the content that comes right after your name and usually lists your job description or title.
This is the most indexed section on LinkedIn for metadata. So when clients are looking for specific service providers, this information is captured by LinkedIn’s SEO algorithms to be served up in search. Maximize this by listing as many of your job titles and core capability sets as will fit. You want to be searchable so capture keywords that people will be searching. You can use 220 characters in this section and I suggest you use as many as possible.
Now, let's talk about the BANNER image. Think of this like a giant billboard to promote yourself on. You can feature work from your portfolio in it, you can promote your website, any content, courses, videos or podcasts you have. And make sure to add a Call-to-Action in the banner telling people what you want them to do.
‘ABOUT’ SECTION: This is the second most heavily indexed part of LinkedIn for SEO after the headline that's after your name. You have about 2,000 characters you can use in the ABOUT section - and again I suggest you try to use them all.
You have about 220 characters on desktop and 92 characters on mobile before you have to click "see more" - so make sure to write something really intriguing. That way, people want to keep reading and are more likely to click “see more”.
Make your About section concise but also a compelling narrative of who you are, what you’ve done, and how you can solve problems for the companies you want to work for.
I've done a great video called “LinkedIn Power Tips - How To Build an Incredible Profile and Get More Clients” that does really deep into even more tactics you can use in your LinkedIn profile. The link is in the description below.
3. Reach Out to Hiring Managers
Many designers use tools like Apollo and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to find contact hiring managers - or people who are in leadership roles that can get your resume on the desk of the hiring manager for the role you are applying for. For creatives, this might mean connecting with creative directors, heads of marketing, or agency leads at your dream companies.
But don’t just hit ‘Connect’ and hope for the best. Personalize your message. Let them know why you’re reaching out and how you admire their work or their company culture. Share a quick line about what you can bring to the table. Trust me, that personal touch goes a long way in getting noticed.
You know, breaking into a new field or finding a job can be a lonely process—especially when you’re doing it mid-career, when things feel like they should be a little more stable. But I’ve learned that having community support makes all the difference in helping you stay motivated and focused. That’s why I created BONFIRE, my membership community for creative professionals.
It’s a place where we share these kinds of strategies, where we help each other overcome roadblocks and grow our careers. Whether you’re looking for support in your job search, need advice on navigating client relationships, or just want to be part of a group that understands the unique challenges we face in the creative industries, BONFIRE might be the perfect fit for you.
It’s a small group of pros who are serious about growth and ready to take their careers to the next level. We meet regularly to exchange ideas, share wins, and work through real-world problems together.
If that sounds like something you’d benefit from, just go to philipvandusen.com/BONFIRE to learn more about it. I’d love to see you in there.
4. Build Your Network
Networking is probably one of the most underrated but powerful tools you have. When I was breaking into the creative industry - in my case the apparel industry- I made it a point to connect with people at companies I admired.
One easy way to do that is to join your local AIGA - American Institute of Graphic Arts. They have meet-ups and events where you can meet other creatives - and also people who are in high-up leadership roles that are the people who do the hiring. You never know who you'll meet and how that connection might benefit you down the road.
I can't stress this enough: You’ve got to get out there—virtually or in-person—whether it’s through LinkedIn, creative communities, or industry events and conferences. You need to attend webinars, engage with content creators, and comment on their posts. Not just a thumbs-up or a Like, but a thoughtful comment, one that asked a question, and starts conversation. You never know where a simple conversation might lead. Sometimes, opportunities come from the most unexpected connections.
5. Practice Interview Skills
Once you’ve got a foot in the door, it’s all about nailing the interview. Practice your answers, rehearse your success stories, and get comfortable speaking about your experience confidently.
As a creative, think of examples where you solved a tricky design problem, managed a cross-functional team, or increased brand visibility. The more you practice, the smoother you'll be.
One thing I recommend you do is practice talking about your portfolio from a strategic point of view, not just an aesthetic one. Describe what the goal of the design was, what action it was supposed to illicit and who the target audience was. Including some context like referencing the competitive environment that the company was operating in - and how your creative work stood out shows you think about the business implications of your work - which is a sure way to impress the person who is interviewing you.
One Power Tip:
Be sure to do your homework on the company you are interviewing with. Read current news stories about them, try to understand the company culture as best you can. You might even want to connect with some other creatives who work there to get the inside scoop. I can tell you from experience of interviewing over a thousand designers in my 30 years in the industry. There is no quicker way to bomb an interview than to show that you haven't done your homework - by not understanding the companies industry, competition, product lines, locations, etc.
OK, Let’s do a quick recap:
1. Tailor your resume: Make it specific, quantify your results, and highlight the most relevant skills. And format it to ATS standards
2. Optimize your LinkedIn profile: Treat it like a portfolio—polish your headline and your ‘About’ section.
3. Reach out to hiring managers: Make connections with people in leadership roles at the companies you are targeting.
4. Build Your Network: Build relationships through IRL conferences and meet-ups - and by engaging in online communities and events.
5. Practice interview skills: Be prepared to tell success stories that showcase your value AND your understanding of the business results that were the goal of your work.
It might feel like the odds are stacked against you, especially in today’s job market, but don’t let that hold you back. It’s all about perseverance, refining your approach, and staying open to opportunities that align with your strengths. You’ve got this.
If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to like and subscribe. Drop a comment below if you have any questions, and check out the link to BONFIRE if you want to connect with other creative pros and take your career to the next level. Thanks for listening, Stay Creative and I'll see you next time.
