Many years ago I thought I knew everything.
To absolutely no one’s surprise it turns out I didn’t, but that didn’t stop me snorting a big fat line of Paul Arden and writing a list of 50 tips for students entering the creative industry.
#The50 was the most popular post I ever published. By squeezing every tip into Twitter’s now defunct 140 character limit (you’ll notice a couple of odd sentence structures here and there), the list quickly went viral. It crashed my site and brought in thousands of Twitter followers ready to be disappointed by my aggressively inactive account.
So with the benefit of hindsight, I thought it would be fun to revisit the list and see if any of the advice still holds water. For clarity’s sake I’ve split the list into two parts (you can read tips 26 to 50 here), so get comfortable and enjoy part one of #The50 things every creative should know.
1. You are not the first
There are very few “firsts” these days. Countless others have started studios, freelanced and requested internships. It can be done. #the50
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2. There is always someone better
Regardless of how good you are, there will always be someone better. It’s surprisingly easy to waste time worrying about this. #the50
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3. Success is not a finite resource
College fosters a zero-sum mentality — that someone has to fail for you to succeed. In truth, another’s success doesn’t limit yours. #the50
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4. You cannot score without a goal
If you don’t know what you want, then how can you pursue it? Having a goal defines an end point, and subsequently a place to start. #the50
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5. Starting anything requires energy
It takes more energy to start than it does to stop. This is true for physics, your career and that idea you need to work on. #the50
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6. The path to work is easier than you think
To get into the industry you need just three things: great work, energy and a nice personality. Many forget the last attribute. #the50
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7. Have a positive self-image
Your self-perception is your most important asset. See yourself as the person you want to be and others will see this too. #the50
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8. Create a clean and simple website
An online portfolio is the alpha and omega of your career. With a wealth of web services, there’s no excuse for not having a website. #the50
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9. Curate your work
Never stop editing your portfolio. Three strong pieces are better than ten weak ones — nobody looks for quantity, just quality. #the50
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10. Listen to your instincts
If your work doesn’t excite you, then it won’t excite anyone else. It’s hard to fake passion for mediocre work — scrap it. #the50
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11. Make your work easy to see
People are lazy. If you want them to look at your work, make it easy. Most of the time employers simply want to see a JPG or PDF. #the50
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12. Hand-write addresses
Clients, prospective employers and potential clients gravitate to letters with handwritten addresses. The personal touch goes far. #the50
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13. Time is precious — get to the point
Avoid profuse humour or gimmicks when contacting studios for work, they’ve seen it all before. Get to the point, they’ll be thankful. #the50
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14. Never take an unpaid internship
This is not a necessary evil — a studio that doesn’t pay their interns (at least the minimum wage) is not a studio worth working for. #the50
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15. Do as many internships as you can stand
Internships are a financial burden, but they are vital. They let you scope out the industry and find the roles that suit you best. #the50
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16. Don’t waste your internship
A studio’s work can dip, as can its energy. Ignore this and be indispensable, the onus is on you to find something that needs doing. #the50
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17. Make friends with a printer
A good relationship with a printer is invaluable — they will help you save money and the environment. #the50
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18. Find your local DIY store and pound shop
DIY and pound shops are great resources of cheap, ready-made artefacts ripe for tinkering, redecoration and recontextualisation. #the50
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19. Be patient
It’s not unusual to complete several internships and not find “a good fit”. Try applying to a studio you hadn’t considered. #the50
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20. Ask questions
Assume nothing. Ask questions, even if you think you know the answers. You’ll be surprised at how little you know. #the50
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21. Ask for opportunities
It will feel cheeky, but ask for things. Ask to be included in exhibitions, magazines, pitches… If you don’t ask, you don’t get. #the50
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22. Seek criticism, not praise
You learn nothing by being told how great you are. Even if you think your work’s perfect — seek criticism, you can always ignore it. #the50
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23. Make friends, not enemies
The creative industry is a small world — it’s a network where everyone knows everyone else. Remember this before pissing someone off. #the50
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24. News travels fast
A great intern will find their reputation precedes them. Jobs are nearly always offered on this word-of-mouth evidence. #the50
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25. Don’t get drunk at professional events
There’s a difference between being merry and paralytic. The latter will cost you your dignity, your reputation, and possibly your job. #the50
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