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In today’s digital-first world, virtual networking has become a crucial skill, especially for professionals and those aspiring in creative industries. Whether you’re seeking new job opportunities, collaborating with peers, or connecting with potential mentors, building an online network can significantly boost your career. 

If the thought of virtual networking makes you nervous, don’t worry! We’re about to show you how to professionally slide into someone’s DMs, and here’s the thing: almost everyone in the creative industries does it. According to LinkedIn, almost 80% of professionals consider professional networking to be important to career success.  

There are so many benefits to virtual networking; the first being that you don’t have to panic over whether you should go for a handshake or not. It also eliminates geographical barriers, providing easier access to industry leaders and inclusive spaces for diverse talent.  

Are you ready to learn how to create meaningful connections online and open doors to exciting career opportunities? Let’s dive in! 

Find the networking style that suits you 

Today, the opportunities and ways to network online are more abundant than ever. At a recent Creative Access masterclass talent acquisition expert Sara Machado shared her approach to building community – attending webinars and workshops, mapping out key industry figures, and connecting with them strategically. After her Autism diagnosis, Sara recognised the importance of finding a networking style that works for her, especially when social interaction can be draining or you have additional things to consider. 

The bottom line? You can build an authentic online community at your own pace, from the comfort of your home. So, what does virtual networking look like? 

What do these things have in common?  

  • Meeting for a coffee 
  • 1:1 Zoom call 
  • Mentorships 
  • Volunteering 
  • Interacting on social media 
  • Creative networks 
  • Collaborating with peers on a project 
  • Attending online events 

Answer: They’re all examples of virtual networking! 

It’s really common to struggle with imposter syndrome, but networking can help combat that feeling when you make connections with likeminded peers. 

How to be a confident virtual networker 

It is totally normal to be very nervous about networking, but we promise that when you prepare and practise, it will become aa useful and fun part of your professional life. Here are some things you might contend with or need along the way in building your confidence to network: 

  • Preparation. Write a 30 second intro to yourself that you can use to start conversations, with some details about who you are, what you’ve done, what you’re interested in and why you’re reaching out. Keep it conversational, light and direct. As Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom said at our Radio masterclass: “Failure to prepare is preparation for failure”. 
  • Be informed. Before attending virtual events or meetings, research the other participants or speakers. Knowing a bit about them will help you find common ground and ask relevant questions. It can also help to be knowledgeable about current trends in your industry and will give you more confidence during conversations. 
  • Purpose. Why are you reaching out to this person? Knowing the answer to that question will be a great reminder when you’re feeling nervous, whether the answer is, ‘I want to know what it’s like being a social media content creator’ or ‘They work for a company I have a question about’. Remind yourself of this. 
  • Embrace the awkward moments. If you have an online meeting with someone and you feel a little nervous, you don’t have to hide it – most people will find it relatable. No one is expecting you to be the smoothest networker and you’ll be laughing when later down the line, you have grown a brilliant network of connections you learn from and engage with. 
  • Imposter syndrome. It’s really common to struggle with imposter syndrome, particularly if you’re from an under-represented background in the creative industries, BUT networking can help combat that feeling when you make connections with likeminded peers. 
  • Confidence: List your skills, accomplishments, and experiences and review this list before networking to remind you of the value you bring. 

🔥 Remember: view networking as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than a test of your worth. Mistakes or awkward moments are learning experiences, not proof of inadequacy. 

Professional social media – have you got it? If not, get it.  

It’s easy to leverage all the social media platforms to your advantage once you know how each platform can benefit your networking goals. Each platform is an opportunity to showcase your personal brand in a different way and the likes of Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok all have unique benefits and demographics worth researching.  

For example, at our recent creative showcase Creative Access alumni Tierney Witty, Editor, Seven Dials & Trapeze said: “Publishing is on Twitter, not LinkedIn. Every publishing house will have a Twitter so follow them and send them a message.” Getting involved in BookTok is also an amazing way to engage with the publishing sphere and capture the attention of publishers and peers. 

If you’re interested in TV and production, join Facebook groups. Creative Access intern Lanna Cowles, ITV Sport’s trainee technical assistant recommends Facebook runner groups to make connections in the TV industry, “I was constantly refreshing them and being the first to apply, because a lot of them are first come first serve.” 

Last but not least, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with 722 million members in over 200 countries, and it was made for virtual networking. 1 in 4 professionals around the world have established new business partnerships by networking there, so create your profile if you haven’t already (Source: LinkedIn).  

Personal branding on social media 

Your social media profile on ANY platform should tell a clear story of who you are, what you care about and your aspirations. You can get this across in your personal statement or bio. What’s that you wonder? 

A personal brand or elevator pitch explains what you do and why you are unique in your field. It incorporates your experience, skills, and interests so that people can easily understand who you are and what you offer. 

You can also use your personal statement at the top of a CV in the profile section when promoting your successes whether at work or university, or when introducing yourself to others. You can incorporate this statement on your Instagram or TikTok by making a video or a post with the same content and pinning it to your profile. 

INSPO: Here’s Creative Access alumni Isabella Silver’s Instagram profile and an example of how to utilise a platform for branding and networking.  

Notice how she has a clear descriptive bio, a variety of labelled story highlights, and a combination of posts that detail her journalistic work, interests, passions and personality. These components create a strong impression of who she is a journalist and make it easy to find and get in touch with her. 

Some estimate that as much as 80% of new jobs are never listed but are instead filled internally or via networking.

Payscale

Horizontal networking 

Whether it’s ‘horizontal’, ‘lateral’ or ‘peer’, it all roughly means the same thing; connecting with people on a similar level to you as opposed to someone more experienced and/or senior. You can do this at any point in your career! If you’re at university and about to graduate, it might look like reading each other’s CVs and sending each other opportunities and roles. 

In a few years’ time, you might be talking with those same peers but about how to negotiate a salary increase or change industry. 

Having networks where you can mutually share and offer support can be especially useful for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. It helps to have a variety of people in your network, and it’s wise to get help with any challenges or collaborate on work projects with people who you, in some way, connect with. 

How to reach out online without being cringe 

“I will respond better to a DM saying ‘Alright mate? How’s it going?’ than an email with loads of unnecessary words. You just need to be casual and say, ‘Here’s what I do, I would love if you could look’. Be specific about what you’re asking of them and spell names correctly!” Jahmal Williams-Thomas, Reporter & camera operator, ITV News Granada Reports. 

Sliding into the DMs of a professional you admire is a craft. We asked virtual networking pro Ella Darlington, Head of comms & marketing at Creative Access for her top tips: 

  • Be specific about what you’re asking for – the person you’re reaching out to genuinely wants to help! However, if you’re vague about your request, it can come across as needing extensive guidance, which may feel like an open-ended commitment. Clear and focused questions make it easier for them to offer meaningful support. 
  • Offer a virtual meet up (or in-person if that works for you) 
  • Keep the communication short and sweet, it’ll help you to come across as efficient! 
  • LinkedIn DM or email is best for someone you haven’t met, or might have only met once 
  • Don’t ask for someone to just get you a job!  

“I will happily meet someone if they’ve looked at my experience and they have a relevant and specific question that I can help with, such as advice on navigating promotions, managing a team or clients in a comms agency, or making the transition from journalism to PR. Or even if someone is looking for a contact in a specific area of Comms/PR/Marketing, if you say, ‘I’d love to get into sports/music/tech PR’ I’ll happily make an introduction.” – Ella Darlington. 

Virtual spaces to get involved in  

Whether it’s a WhatsApp group chat, online event, forum or membership network, there are so many online spaces that you can be a part of. Do some research online to find the right ones for you, as well as asking any professionals you chat to if they know any groups they recommend. Here are some we’ve rounded up to get you started: 

Of course, Creative Access is so proud to host its own community that we welcome individuals to be a part of. We hope you’ve learnt something new about virtual networking and have fun putting it into practise! 

Interviews can be intimidating. However, we know that they’re also a chance for you to get to know the employer, as much as it is a chance for them to get to know you. Our expert team have pulled together their top tips on impressing employers and making the most of interviews in the creative industries…

Make sure you do your research

The key to preparation is knowledge and you can only get that knowledge through research. Homework about your target industry or organisation is never wasted time! Research the company and know its clients, recent work and values. How does the work they do resonate with you, and what makes them stand out as a company?

The ‘STARR’ method is a great way to showcase your past success 

STARR stands for situation, task, action, result & reflection. In simple terms, describe a particular challenge, your responsibilities in relation to it, the steps you took to address the challenge – and finally the positive outcome and what it taught you.

Building on your cover letter, think about the transferable skills you’ve gained so far and how they directly relate to specific tasks outlined on the original advert. Your transferable skills could come from your work experience, voluntary roles, personal projects, or hobbies.

Talk about what you’d love to learn from the role

As well as demonstrating what you can already do, your potential employer will know that you are invested if you’re asking about what opportunities there will be to gain new skills and experiences. What are you curious to explore in this role, and what are your long-term goals?

Prepare questions in advance

Aim to ask questions that show genuine interest in the company and the role. You could ask about opportunities for growth, team dynamics, or ask about any exciting upcoming projects or opportunities.

Flag any reasonable adjustments that are needed

Get in touch with the employer if you require adjustments to make your interview more accessible. Examples include wheelchair access, a different format for documents, or more time on an interview test.

Plan ahead so there’s no need to worry about logistics on the day

With an in-person interview, leave plenty of time to arrive at the destination and make sure you have any details about where to go. If the interview is online, etiquette is still important. Test out your video call software with a friend if you haven’t used it before.

Remember to breathe 

A lot of people find interviews stressful or anxiety-inducing to some degree. If this is something you’re struggling with, this might be a helpful time to learn more about mindfulness, breathing exercises, meditation, self-compassionate & other techniques to ground yourself. And don’t forget that an interview is ultimately a conversation where all sides are looking for a positive outcome.

Reflect

An interview is an exciting opportunity but as with anything, practice makes perfect. Even if the outcome isn’t what you wanted, it’s a fantastic chance to learn something new and build towards your goals.

Did you know the most common form of stress is work-related? April is #StressAwarenessMonth and here our tips on how to prevent and reduce anxiety and stress whilst at work…

Take a screen break

We know it sounds obvious but seriously, step away from the computer! Whether it’s receiving a barrage of emails, prolonged eye exposure to harmful blue light, or lacking creative inspiration that’s causing you stress, the best thing you can do is take 10 minutes away from your screen. Not only are you doing yourself a favour by giving your eyes a rest, but you’re giving your brain a chance to recalibrate too.

Get out in nature

Before work, on your lunch break or after work head out for a walk around your local park. It’s scientifically proven that being out in greenery calms us down and it can help you create that needed separation between work and leisure time. Plus, exercise is a great and healthy way to blow off some steam, releasing endorphins which counteract our feelings of stress. 3. Change of scenery 🚶🏻‍♀️ If you can, it can help to work outside your bedroom so you can separate your workspace from your living space that you relax in. If the office isn’t an option, you could head to a co-working space, a cafe, or a friend or family member’s house who’s also working from home for some company. You can even take a meeting outside on the phone whilst having a walk!

Reflect

What can you change and what can’t you change in stressful situations? A helpful exercise is to think about what you have control over, such as your actions and how you respond to other people’s actions. It can feel overwhelming when we worry about things that happen outside of our control, but try and shift to a problem-solving mindset: you are only in control of yourself, so how can you can react, respond or take action in the best way?

Ask for help

Importantly, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. A good first step is to make your line manager aware of how you’re feeling. They can help you prioritise and break down any tasks which feel overwhelming, or bring in extra support from the wider team. Make sure you use what your organisation has on offer too; lots of organisations have Employee Assistant Programmes which include free, confidential health and wellbeing support, mental health services such as counselling as well as legal and financial advice.

If you are struggling to cope with feelings of anxiety and stress, please speak to your doctor or the NHS via the 111 number. For urgent mental health support, Samaritans and Mind also have helplines you can call and online resources.

Creative Access trainer and clinical psychologist Dr. Victoria Mattison has also put together her top tips on taking care of your mental health in the workplace.

Remember, you’re never completely alone.

To celebrate Pride Month, we’ve pulled together 4 tips for employers on how to make their workplaces more inclusive for their LGBTQIA+ employees.

  1. Pronouns
    Including pronouns in email signatures or wearing pronoun pins helps avoid accidentally misgendering people. Encouraging all employees to include their pronouns in their email signatures not only normalises the use of pronouns within the workplace but also makes trans and gender non-conforming employees feel less singled out for using them.
  2. Gender neutral bathrooms
    Many gender non-conforming and transgender employees feel uncomfortable when the only options for bathrooms are either women’s or men’s. By having gender neutral bathrooms, it shows employers care about inclusivity and diversity. These bathrooms can be used by anyone and help avoid unsafe or frightening situations for trans and gender non-conforming people.
  3. Uplift the LGBTQIA+ community outside of Pride
    Although it is lovely to see companies showing their allyship during Pride Month, it is also important that employers are just as invested in the LGBTQ+ community outside of Pride. Making sure your company and workplace is just as inclusive and supportive throughout the rest of the year is what makes your workplace a positive space.
  4. Educating yourself
    Educating yourself and seeking out training on LGBTQIA+ issues is an important step in creating an inclusive environment. This is not limited to just employers but employees too. When everyone is informed, your LGBTQIA+ employees are less likely to feel distressed in the workplace.

If you would like to learn more about inclusive practices, sign up for one of our upcoming open workshops or contact us to explore our bespoke training courses.

Are you looking to go freelance? 

Freelance life can be liberating: you have great creative control; you enjoy flexible and remote work schedules; and it’s a chance to work independently and be your own boss as well as potentially increasing your earning potential too.  

With benefits like these, it’s no wonder that over 4 million people in the UK are self-employed. The creative industries such as TV, film, radio, music, theatre and many others hugely rely on freelancers with freelancers making up a third of the industry, double the rate of self-employment in the wider UK economy – so you’re far from alone in taking the leap.  

But whilst freelancing can be empowering, like anything, it does come with its challenges such as late payments, lack of sick and holiday pay, and you have to be working autonomously to some degree. Here’s our advice on getting set up as a freelancer in the creative industries so you can navigate securing clients, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing, and ensuring that you’re future-proofed for any tricky situations that may arise.

 

Setting rates and taking care of your finances  

It’s absolutely vital that you make sure you’re clued up on taxes and your finances as a freelancer.  

Firstly, you want to set rates. You can figure out a lot from researching what freelancers in similar industries to you charge on websites like Glassdoor, Fiverr or simply asking those in your network what they charge. From there you can set your own hourly, daily and project rates. Be sure not to undersell yourself and don’t settle for ‘exposure’ just because you’re new to the freelance game. Get a clear idea of a client’s budget and charge your worth.  

Joining an industry union (like the NUJ for journalists or the Musicians Union) can also help give you a good idea of standard industry rates and unions like these will provide legal and financial support, which can be a vital lifeline for a freelancer.  

Prepare your portfolio and work on your personal brand 

As a freelancer, among other new business activities, you have to make time to self-promote your services, skills and offerings to ensure you’re attracting a steady stream of new clients. It’s also goes hand in hand with building up your portfolio to establish your personal brand. By using social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or TikTok you can showcase your work to the world. However, we’d recommend setting up a website solely dedicated to showing examples of your previous work and experience, as well as making it clear how potential clients can get in contact with you. 

Don’t fret too much if you’re not a computer-whizz, there are some really great tools out there to help you create a website like a pro. Websites such as Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace who offer loads of templates that you can use. Here’s a handy guide on how to set up your first website. It’s super helpful to optimise your website with SEO practices (this basically just means structuring your web copy to ensure you rank highly on search engines based on what audiences are searching on Google when people go to search for your services or niche). You can find out more about how to do that here.  

Marketing yourself as a freelancer is key. Shouting out about your achievements on social media, keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and following and interacting online with others in your industry are all great ways of establishing yourself as a freelancer. The more vocal you are about your achievements and abilities and the more of an online presence you have, the easier it is for clients to find you and use your services. 

You should also ask former colleagues and clients to leave recommendations for you on your LinkedIn profile and testimonials that you can highlight on your website.  

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Build a network  

In our 2023 freelancer survey, 88% of freelancers we spoke to cited networking as a critical factor for success in their careers.  

Take time to map your network. You can even build a spreadsheet with everyone you’ve worked with and jot down how you could be of use to them and vice versa, then ask to go for a coffee to discuss mutually beneficial ways you can help each other. If you’re just starting out, it’s more than ok to be clear about the fact that a coffee meeting will be a chance for you to soak up information.  

Send a message to everyone you know (professionally and personally) telling them about your new career path and asking them to share the news with their friends and keep you in mind for any upcoming opportunities. You can also share the news across social media and ask friends to reshare with their networks.  

And whilst it’s important to build a network of future employers, don’t neglect the power of networking with your peers. You never know who might be in a hiring or commissioning position in the future.  

Ensure that you maintain a work/life balance 

Whilst it’s important to recognise the benefits of a freelance career, it’s equally important to be realistic about its challenges.  

If possible, separating your workspace and living space can be useful in establishing boundaries between your personal life and your professional life. Getting into a good working routine can also support this goal.  

Networking with likeminded creatives or opting to go to a co-working space a couple of times a week can help offset the loneliness that some freelancers feel when they start working alone. You can also join more official networks dedicated to freelancers in your niche or industry.   

Many freelancers feel the pressure to say yes to work due to fears around financial security, however taking on too much work without real breaks can lead to burnout. It’s super important to manage your finances and know realistically how much work you can take on throughout the year to prevent this. Learn how to say no to jobs when you need to take time to recharge your batteries.  

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Don’t forget to register as self-employed!  

As a freelancer you’ll have to pay tax via self-assessment (rather than through PAYE like you would if you were employed by an organisation). You can find out more about becoming self-employed here.  

There are a couple of different types of business that you can operate under as a freelancer: 

As a sole trader, your finances and your business’ finances are one. You’ll be in charge of every element of the business including invoicing and bookkeeping.  

As a limited company, you get to keep your personal and business finances separate.  

Top tips from our community: 

Sadé Lawson, freelance creative consultant in the music industry:

Have all your admin sorted, having a list of clients, making sure you understand when you need to do your tax returns or any legal requirements for a business that you’ve set up is very important.

Olaide Sadiq, freelance TV prodcuer:

My best advice would be for anyone who is looking to go freelance, or is already freelance, is networking within the teams that you’re already working in.

Links to resources and guides: 

Have your interview skills been gathering dust while you’ve been rising up the career ladder? Are you facing the daunting prospect of updating your CV with years’ worth of work and unsure how to? These moments can be intimidating regardless of what level you’re working at, but particularly if it’s been a minute since your last interview.  

We speak to hundreds of employers weekly and list some fantastic mid to senior roles on our opportunities board, so we know what employers are on the lookout for in interviews for more experienced roles. Here’s some essential tips for anyone who has reached a mid to senior role and wants to get ahead and prepare for your CV and interviews! 

Your skills are transferable 

You’ve gained valuable experience and a strong skillset at this point. Perhaps you’re interested in a role in a different industry, or with a change in focus, and you’re wondering how to demonstrate skill matches or transferable skills in that interview room. Employers often use the job description as a score sheet, so use it to your advantage. Write down or memorise key prompts so you can add relevance as well as personality. 


What makes you unique?  

Go armed with observations about how you would add value to the work or services employers already deliver. This could be anything from your culturally relevant insights or how you’d apply training you’ve acquired to the role, or perhaps you’ve had a rather unique pathway into the industry or you’re one of those lucky multi-hyphenate career types who don’t just specialise in one thing. All of this separates you apart from peers you might be competing against. 

LinkedIn is a window on your personal brand 

What does your LinkedIn profile currently say about you to folks that don’t know you? The chances are that employers will be checking your LinkedIn profile so make sure it’s up to date. You can enhance your credibility through recommendations and skill endorsements from colleagues (complete a few for others and they’ll return the favour). Also remember to add any new credentials and recent achievements to your bio, and engage with other like-minded professionals by commenting and sharing relevant industry insights. 

Don’t let nervousness prevent you from shining 

Remembering the STARR method (situation, task, action, result & reflection). It’s a great tool for your application and interview. In simple terms, describe a particular challenge, your responsibilities in relation to it, the steps you took to address the challenge – and finally the positive outcome and what it taught you.  Rehearsing a couple of project examples from your portfolio ahead of the interview will put you in a great frame of mind. 

A second pair of eyes  

Get someone who knows your professional capabilities and achievements to look over your CV and help you with interview preparation. It’s easy to be modest when logging your skills and achievements but modesty won’t get you your next role! Use the opportunity to practise your answers to interview questions and get comfortable with what you want to get across to the employer. 

Flag necessary reasonable adjustments

You’re not legally bound to disclose a disability if you’re not comfortable to, however, if making your interview more accessible could benefit you, get in touch with the employer. For example, confirming there’s wheelchair access, a different format for documents, or more time on an interview test.  

Our mental wellbeing is as important as our physical wellbeing; it can affect our overall happiness at work and at home and employers should take steps to support their staff with both. To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to share some of the steps we take at Creative Access to support the wellbeing of our team.

Wellness action plan

Here at Creative Access, we encourage our staff to fill in a wellness action plan when they join. This is an opportunity to share any mental or physical health issues they may have or share more generally what negatively and positively impacts their mental health. The plan is discussed with their manager and the employee can share and discuss strategies that help their mental health. The plan is reviewed and updated regularly.

Wellbeing activities at monthly meetings

Once a month, we invite our team to lead a wellbeing activity of their choice at the end of our company meetings. Previous activities have included sharing positive affirmations, mindfulness, a mini book club and sharing our favourite poems. These sessions are fun and relaxed, they help with team bonding and raise morale throughout the team.

Wellness working group

Our wellness working group is an open forum for our staff to share their ideas on how to improve our working environment. We discuss topics such as resilience, team morale and creating new policies, for example, organising team bonding activities.

Mental health training

We hold regular training sessions for our team on mental health and other key topics, so that everyone feels confident in talking about and handling sensitive topics and issues in the workplace. These are the same sessions we offer as open workshops and bespoke training for our employer partners. If you would like to find out more about the sessions we offer or join an open workshop please click here.

External resources

We regularly share external resources with our staff to support their mental health and wellbeing. These include links to websites like Mind and Rethink as well as information about helplines. This is so our staff can get the specialised help and information they need that we may not be able to provide.

We recognise that when it comes to supporting mental wellbeing, there is always more that can be done. That is why we cultivate an open company culture that allows our staff to suggest ways to improve our practices.

Click here to contact us if you would like to find out more about how you could introduce a similar open and supportive environment in the workplace.

As part of our Enhance Your Career series, we’ll be compiling resources to help you climb the career ladder in the creative industries and advocate for yourself in the workplace. 

More and more in the creative industries, employers are looking for transferable skills from varying experiences, versus direct industry experience. If you’ve figured out an industry or career path you’d like to pivot into but are still stuck on how to make the jump, we’ve pulled together our expert advice for getting prepared to switch careers and start applying for those dream roles! 

1. Think about your skills 

These could be from work, volunteering or your personal interests. Don’t feel worried if you don’t meet each and every one of the job criteria – demonstrate your passion and ability to learn. Something we often hear from industry experts is that passion and interest from candidates about the job they’re applying for is one of the most important factors when considering who to take on.  

You can also ask yourself these questions about the industry you’re entering: Do you need a qualification? Is there a free course you can access? Can you upskill within the company you currently work at e.g. undertake training? Is there anything you can do in your own time to hone your skills and make yourself an expert on a subject? 

Remember, your individual experience has value; use your own knowledge and expertise to let employers know why they need your unique perspective.  

2. Future proof your career  

When positioning yourself and your expertise, something to consider is how can you future-proof your career in this industry and adapt to change? A huge topic affecting most industries at the moment is AI. Think about if this is going to impact your new industry, and what skills can you develop to make yourself indispensable? 

3. Talk to people in the industry you want to enter 

We know that everyone bangs on about networking – and, whilst it can feel cringe – we promise it’s worth it. People enjoy talking about their interests and career journeys, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed for heading to a networking event or reaching out to someone you admire on LinkedIn to ask how they got into the field and if they know of any opportunities, events or industry bodies you could access. Most of the time, people are willing to help and would be happily reminded by a follow up email – just make sure not to overdo it.  

You can also attend relevant industry associations and events to expand your network and get advice from others already in the roles you want to enter. 

4. Chat to a careers advisor or a mentor 

You can access career advice for free through resources like the government-funded National Careers Service, and charities like the Young Women’s Trust which offers free coaching for women under 30.  

Research shows that people from under-represented backgrounds who advance the furthest in their careers all have a strong network who nurture their professional development. Creative Access regularly runs mentoring programmes with the likes of Penguin Random House UK and ITV, as well as our own mentoring programme for those on our career development programme

You can also ask your employer to sign you up for our career development programme.

5. Finally, update your CV and LinkedIn! 

Get your CV ready for the industry you’re entering; update your personal profile, make each experience relevant to the skills/transferable skills you’ll use in that role. Read our advice on how to craft the perfect CV and cover letter for the creative industries.

And if it’s been a while since you put together a CV and you’re looking for some more support, you can join one of our monthly CV workshops led by our recruitment team.  

LinkedIn is also one of the best tools for finding new connections and expanding your network. So, make sure it’s up to date with those transferable skills. 

If we’ve learnt anything from our decade-long contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) work, it’s that the dial to access and conditions for under-represented talent to thrive has shifted, but more needs to be done to minimise barriers. We’re also seeing employers do a better job of putting their money where their mouth is on inclusive practices, however, our data suggests that under-represented talent is still getting stuck at mid-level, with a third (33%) of those who don’t receive developmental support received no promotion in the last year.

Our own annual Thrive report data on DE&I talent & employer progress towards diversity goals shows that whilst a large proportion of employers have encouragingly upped their DE&I spend in the last year (68%), almost half (45%) of employers across the creative economy are currently focusing that spend on entry-level talent. However, what a huge majority (70%) agree is that DE&I spend focus needs to be applied across all career levels in the next year.

So what does mid-level retention look like for diverse talent? And what immediate next steps can employers take to maximise employee satisfaction, progression and belonging?

  1. Sign your mid-level talent up to a development programme. We suggest something that provides diverse talent access to training, mentoring and networking to improve confidence, skills & knowledge needed to progress in their career. Having your employer offer up role models that reflect your experience is hugely validating and is a data-backed way to propel progress.
  2. Seek out employer training! And be intentional about follow-up activity. From ‘disability equity’ and ‘eliminating microaggressions’, to ‘anti-racism in the workplace’ and ‘championing neurodiversity’, structured and bespoke training that follows the latest governmental guidance and research can be of huge benefit to anyone in an influential position whether that be a manager of people, an under-represented individual themselves, as well as senior leadership. It’s also important to make sure the training allows for safe and open discussion that could lead to meaningful enhancements to your inclusivity practices.
  3. Mentoring… As previously mentioned, research shows that people from under-represented groups who advance the furthest in their careers, all share one characteristic – a strong network of mentors who nurture their professional development. Creative Access runs a range of mentoring programmes, including one for mid to senior level individuals through our development programme. Mentoring partnerships typically last six months and we ask that mentors commit to meeting with their mentee for approximately one hour per month. Once you’re allocated a mentee, you’ll be invited to attend a training workshop, be introduced to your mentee and provided guidance notes and a template mentoring agreement for you to complete together. You’ll be supported by Creative Access throughout the process.

What does Creative Access want for diverse talent at all levels?

First and foremost, Creative Access is a social enterprise that advocates for under-represented talent in the creative industries. We do this by minimising barriers to access and by fostering conditions for talent to thrive which looks like: roles spanning all stages of the career, plus career developing opportunities, support and training. However, we can’t do this work without the support and buy-in of employers in the creative economy, people who also want to actually do something about better representing communities from under-represented backgrounds.

Whether you’re an individual from an under-represented group looking to enhance your career and take the next step up, or an employer, make sure your hiring managers and HR leaders know about Creative Access’ career development programme aimed at mid-level professionals. Drop us a message at: info [at] creativeacess [dot] org [dot] uk to signal your interest!

Are you unsure how to navigate *that* salary conversation with your line manager? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! As part of our ‘Enhance Your Career’ series, we’re sharing our top tips and resources that are relevant for every career stage and will help you put your best foot forward when negotiating your salary for a new role or for your next step up at your current one.  

Our expert team see hundreds of CVs every week, we’ve placed over 2,000 individuals and our data shows 92% of those we place stay on in the creative industries a year on, so you can trust us to help you make the most of your career! As research shows, those who are underrepresented in creative industries are often underpaid, so it’s an important conversation that you really want to be prepared for, should you choose to have it. Now let’s get straight to the tips! 

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Tip #1 – Reasoning 

You want to be able to provide a timely reason for wanting to renegotiate, so ask yourself, why now? Potential triggers include: 

  • A job offer. If you’ve been offered a job and the salary is less than what you think you deserve, you could leverage either current salary trajectory or industry standards (GlassDoor is a great resource for checking) 
  • A promotion. Perhaps you’ve been promoted but the salary increase doesn’t match with what you’d discussed, industry standards, or reflect what the role entails 
  • You’ve gained further qualifications. Knowledge is power, and if you’ve recently gained a qualification that significantly enhances your work performance and results, you want to be paid for it 
  • You’ve taken on a leadership role. Managerial responsibilities shouldn’t be taken lightly and if you’ve recently taken on a leadership role, it’s a great prompt for renegotiation 
  • You’ve gained in experience. Often, companies appreciate loyalty and for their employees to stay put, but continue to grow and add value, so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for a reward for that 

If you have no justification as to why you think you deserve a salary increase, it’s probably not the best time to ask for one.  

Tip #2 – Evidence. You are going to need it. 

Having established why now is the right time for a salary increase, it’ll be much easier to make your case if you can show why you deserve it through evidence of your hard work and the positive impact it’s had. 

Hopefully you’ve kept a log of achievements, projects or outputs and the part you’ve had to play in those, but if not, dig deep into recent projects and make note of: 

  • How you contributed to that successful project  
  • The positive impact your involvement had on those results 
  • The value of your skills to the company 
  • How you hope to continue to contribute to overall business momentum & success 

Tip #3 – Research 

  • Make sure you’re informed of industry standard salaries – check out GlassDoor, Indeed Salary Search, Check-a-Salary – and adjust for your position, location and level of experience  
  • Research other factors worth negotiating besides monetary ones – amount of holiday, ability to travel or work remotely, responsibilities, flexible-working, investment in training – however you should expect to back up reasons why any of these contractual changes will provide greater benefit to the company 

Tip #4 – Practise makes perfect, so rehearse! 

  • Prepare exactly what you want to say and memorise a strong introduction to get the best footing: ‘I’d like to talk about a salary adjustment because of the additional responsibilities I’ve taken on in the last 8 months. I’ve been producing X value for the business, and here’s what it’s resulted in’ 
  • You’ll feel more confident in your delivery if you practise with a friend first, and ask them to prepare you with tough questions 
  • Top tip: why not try role-playing being the other person in the salary negotiation. It can be a good reminder of what the person you’re pitching might want from you. Such as evidence, specificity or reassurance that you’re invested in the business! 

Tip #5 – Set expectations 

The outcome might not be what you had hoped for; what are you willing to compromise on? 

  • Before you go into the negotiation, have a clear idea of the package you’re happy to agree upon 
  • Know that your line manager may not be the end decision maker and understand their constraints 
  • You might decide to pause negotiations, renegotiate a different salary package or walk away 
  • Think about what your next steps would be for multiple possibilities 

Remember, there’s no one better to advocate for yourself than you. We wish you the best of luck and keep an eye on our #EnhanceYourCareer series this summer. Check out our other ‘How to’ resources.

If you’re an employer, check out our blog on why stating the salary puts your organisation at a competitive advantage here. 

Inspired by Erica Dhawan’s recent book, Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance, our director of intern and graduate recruitment, Anoushka Dossa, put together her key tips on how to communicate politely online with potential employers. Be it over email or zoom, read below for how to present your best ‘digital’ self…

What is “Digital Body Language?”

When communicating online, it can be easy to forget that our non-verbal cues – like tone of voice during video calls, or punctuation use in emails – are huge indicators of how we feel. In other words, our digital body language is really important when liaising with colleagues, professionals, and even just strangers online.

Think about the way you’d present yourself in an interview, for example. You’d show that you’re listening to the interviewer by nodding, smiling, and even using words of agreement – otherwise known as active listening.

Or, consider emailing a professional about a potential job role. Would you set the tone with some kind words, or jump straight into your query? And would you use exclamation marks to convey enthusiasm, or just stick with common full stops?

These are all factors to be considered, now more than ever since shifting into hybrid and remote working. So, here are some tips for both candidates and employers on ways to demonstrate good digital body language!

Use of Punctuation in Emails

Although it might seem like a trivial and straightforward part of emailing, paying close attention to the punctuation you’re using can make a huge difference, as it’s a strong indicator of our digital body language. Consider switching some full stops for exclamation marks to convey excitement and enthusiasm, or just taking the time to wish your recipient well in the email! Emojis are a grey area: they can be great for adding some personality to your emails, but don’t overdo it – and avoid using them when emailing about a more serious subject, as you don’t want to appear insensitive.

Email Response Time

One of the most common rules of thumb is to reply as promptly as possible to whoever you’re liaising with over email. Your response time is, in fact, another indicator of your digital body language; the quicker you respond, the more enthusiastic you seem. If you can’t respond quickly, ensuring that you write a brief line acknowledging the delayed response is often welcome! Online our gratitude is often less apparent, or may not be expressed at all. Sending a follow-up email after a virtual meeting can make it clear that you valued someone’s input and how much you value their time.

Conducting Yourself over Zoom Calls

It needn’t be all Zoom Doom! Over the past couple of years, we’ve all accustomed ourselves to online meetings; it goes without saying that there are significant differences between communicating over a video screen and chatting in real life. It’s important to make sure you stay engaged throughout the call, avoiding checking emails or anything else that might pop up on your screen. Be sure to consider the slight lag with all Zoom calls, and allow the other person to finish speaking before talking yourself.

Virtual Networking on LinkedIn

Similar to when emailing, it’s important to take note of the phrasing you use in messages when reaching out to professionals on sites like LinkedIn. Networking websites can feel slightly less formal than emails, so it’s typically more conventional to message in a “relaxed” tone. While maintaining a level of professionalism, you’ll come across more friendly and enthusiastic by simply taking the time to ask your recipient how they’re doing, i.e. “I hope you’re well” or extending the conversation beyond the work-related subject, i.e. “Have a good weekend!”

It may be helpful to take time out to observe your virtual self digitally. It can improve your relationships with others!

Freelancers are all too often the lifeblood and the lifesavers of a creative organisation. They’re the flexible extra resource we bring in when the workload suddenly increases and there’s no time (or budget) to hire; they’re individuals with incredible specialist skills who can change your organisation but you could never afford to hire permanently; they’re the crew on a theatre or TV production who make mind-blowing, award-winning work or in the case of many sectors in the creative industries, like film and TV, they are quite literally your entire workforce.

And yet, as Creative Access’ freelancer report shows, many employers are not treating their freelancers in this way. They are treating them as ‘other’ to their permanent employees; investing in training or wellbeing for everyone except their freelancers or worse, claiming to create a culture of ‘belonging’ that includes everyone except the large proportion of individuals not on permanent contracts.

If you have a creative organisation, at some point you will need freelancers. And here is our best practice for how to attract, retain and support the best freelancers in the business:

Think about their mental health and wellbeing

  • Being a freelancer can be especially hard on your mental health
  • Employers can play an important role in supporting freelancers with their mental health and wellbeing by opening up access to training and employee assistance programmes to freelancers

Give free access to your employee training

  • 78% of freelancers in our survey said professional training was one of the most important areas employers and industry bodies can support them
  • Ensure your freelancers can access all of your internal training
  • Really progressive employers are now offering freelancers a stipend for further professional training – it’s definitely one way to ensure the best freelance talent will remain loyal to you over your competitors
  • Or there may be professional training that your team could provide freelancers such as personal brand building, legal or financial management training

Provide a line manager and a mentor

  • For any freelancer working with you for more than a few weeks, they should be allocated a line manager, who should check-in with them regularly and provide performance reviews as they would with a permanent employee
  • You could also consider offering your freelancers a mentor through Creative Access

A culture of inclusion means everyone

  • If you are truly building an inclusive culture you can’t segregate employees based on their employment contract
  • Freelancers should be included in all social events, if you celebrate birthdays in your organisation make sure theirs is marked too
  • Make it clear you will make reasonable adjustments for disabled freelancers – 91% of disabled freelancers in our survey highlighted this was an issue with employers

Help them build their network

  • Having a strong and growing network is critical for freelancers to find new projects and earn money
  • Look at where you could help by writing testimonials for them on Linked-In or for their website or introduce them to people in your own network
  • Showcase the work they’ve done for you on your organisation’s channels and name check them