7 essential skills for the creative industries

Did you know that the creative industries have almost 2.3 million jobs in the UK as of 2021 (Creative Industries Council)? With a positive trend in economic recovery from the pandemic, the creative industries is booming and it’s a great place to consider a career. In this blog, we dive into some of the skills that you may need to progress into the creative industries.

1. Creativity

You don't need to be able to draw the best images or visuals. That's not what creativity is. Creativity is defined in the English language as:

"The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness."

This may seem like an obvious quality to have but creativity is a skill really sought after when entering the creative job market. You need to show that you have a showreel that isn't just the same as all the others that recruiters look at. Incorporate creative ideas and methods as part of your portfolio to stand out from the crowd. Coming up with cool ideas, testing if they work, and failing fast to enable you to try again is a great way to show passion and resilience.

2. Communication

When working on the next blockbuster movie, there will never be one visual effects artist working on the whole film. There are many, even hundreds of artists working on the shots. Therefore, communication and teamwork are key skills to succeed. Being able to listen to instructions and cooperate with team members to solve problems and work through tasks will increase productivity massively.

3. Adaptability

The creative industries are constantly changing and developing, even more so with the introduction of new technologies. As an artist in the creative industries, keeping up with new technology is key. But more importantly, adaptability also refers to your ability to adjust to the environments that you will be working in.

"The creative industry is rapidly evolving, and even on a daily basis, what you work on will never be the same as the day before! Get ready to work in a fast-paced environment, but by doing something you're passionate about, it should be exhilarating!" - Shanae Bedford, undergraduate Visual Effects alumni

The creative industries are growing and if they keep growing at the same pace, they could create 900,000 new creative industries jobs by 2030. This gives so much scope for budding creative students to find a place in the industry. The flip side of this is that you need to be able to change and adapt in these situations.

4. Working to deadlines

Being able to work to tight deadlines is also a key skill for the creative industries as you will be given a brief and you will need to have completed your task by a certain time so other tasks can be completed.

Think of it like a big jigsaw puzzle - without all the pieces, the puzzle cannot be solved. Therefore, the puzzle will not be solved if you do not meet your deadline.

So, keep up!

5. Time management

Similarly, you will need to have good time management to meet deadlines. People manage their time in a variety of different ways. For example, some people make lists, some prioritise their tasks and some use Gantt Charts and other visual formats.

We recommend finding a method that works best for you and sticking to it. The most important thing is that you break down the larger tasks into smaller ones to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, planning your time will help you work more productively.

6. Passion

Another key point, rather than a skill, is that you need to have a passion for the work that you are doing. Creative roles can be very demanding, and it is highly important that you are passionate about your profession as this will carry you through tough times.

7. Proactivity

If you master all the skills mentioned in this blog, you will be a more productive creative artist, allowing you to progress and impress recruiters.

Want a way into the creative industries? Here at Escape Studios, we offer undergraduate, postgraduate and short courses in a range of creative subjects. Check out our course list to see which way in you could pick!