Changing careers - Pursuing your creative aspirations.

Monday, 28 July 2014

The Signs

[one_half last="no"][separator top="10"]The decision to switch careers is not something that should be taken lightly. Deciding to study again or starting from the bottom can seem time consuming and financially draining. However cliché’ it sounds, if you feel like something is missing in your life some introspection may be required to find happiness in your working life. [/one_half] [one_half last="yes"] [imageframe lightbox="no" bordercolor="" bordersize="0px" stylecolor="" align="right" animation_type="0" animation_direction="down" animation_speed="0.1"]Career change[/imageframe][/one_half]
Here are five warning signs that your current career may not be the right one for you.
  1. You feel your talents skills do not reflect your current responsibilities and could be used in a more productive and creative way. You lack satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in your tasks.
  2. You are bored at work, often feeling fatigued before the day even begins. You are not being challenged and often feel like the day is a grind.
  3. You have come to a point where your current salary is your only motivating factor for your current job.
  4. Despite making the “right” choices when selecting a career path, you still feel like something is missing from your working life and you want something new.
  5. You have conflicting ideals and values than your current line of work offers and you find it difficult to empathise with your current company.
If you have found yourself with any of these recurring thoughts, you may want to consider taking the leap and switching to a career that is more fulfilling. It is a scary proposition, but overcoming the fear and recognising the need to change is the first step!

The process

The next step is the research phase. This is where heavy introspection, research and “soul searching” come together to help you arrive at your next step. There are several ways to do this, but you need a focus area to begin with. Start by writing a simple list in a few different columns. Write down:

[checklist icon="fa-pencil" circle="yes" size="small" class="" id=""] [li_item icon="" iconcolor="" circle="" circlecolor=""]All your current skills and talents (However outrageous they may be, you never know what skills you may use throughout your career)[/li_item] [li_item icon="" iconcolor="" circle="" circlecolor=""]Your areas of interest. This can include your favourite pastimes, movies, television shows you enjoy watching or anything that you are particularly passionate about. Leave nothing out![/li_item] [li_item icon="" iconcolor="" circle="" circlecolor=""]A list of people you look up to and what they do. This can include family, friends or even celebrities. Think about why you look up to them and what is so appealing about what they do. [/li_item] [li_item icon="" iconcolor="" circle="" circlecolor=""]What is important in a job to you? This can include working hours, location and what you DON’T want in a job to help you narrow it down. [/li_item] [/checklist]

If there is any overlap in these categories, this is where you should focus. Once you have a short list, you need to be proactive about making sure the decision is correct. Email people in the industry, try some short courses (such as AIT’s free day courses) and get work experience on weekends if possible. The more you engross yourself in your desired industry, the better you will feel about leaving your current job.

The decision - Studying digital media

Congratulations! If you have arrived at the decision that digital media is your destination, you have a potentially exciting career to look forwards to. You might have a deep yearning to be creative and ultimately be able to gain employment in a job that will allow you to use your unique skills on a daily basis.  Digital Media encompasses a number of areas, including Film, Animation, Digital Design, Game Design, IT and app design and much more. These are specialised careers that are growing fields within the Australian landscape.

[one_half last="no"][separator top="10"]You might have a deep yearning to be creative and ultimately be able to gain employment in a job that will allow you to use your unique skills on a daily basis.  Digital Media encompasses a number of areas, including Film, Animation, Digital Design, Game Design, IT and app design and much more. These are specialised careers that are growing fields within the Australian landscape. [/one_half]

Creative-people
AIT Student Hugo Leitao believes that following his digital passions has inspired him to learn as much about the art industry as possible.

"I believe art is the perfect medium to express yourself and your passions in the most creative of ways. I find it brings new light and understanding to mine. As an artist, I see myself as a 3D Environment Modeler first and a Photographer second although there is no way to separate the arts in life, in your career and the impact they have in shaping your style. I am a dedicated researcher and lack no energy when it comes to my artistic endeavors. The main thing that pulled me into AIT was the energy about it. The place itself feels alive with creative energy, and the ongoing communication and sharing of ideas makes for a great artistic environment"

Finding a job - Digital media is the future

Are you worried about getting a job in the industry once you finish your studies? You shouldn’t be. The digital fields are consistently growing, many students do not realise is that there is a big shortage of skilled digital professionals in Australia. Global management consulting firm Mckinsey has estimated that by 2020 there will be a shortfall of around 85 milllion skilled jobs worldwide due to the constant changes in technology and the lack of people studying in the field. Popular job listing sites for the digital media field include Seek, Mumbrella, Tsmuea and The Loop where entry level jobs are consistently advertised. The most important aspect of getting a job will be the quality of your portfolio. This is where studying at AIT is a massive benefit, as every project you complete in class will go towards a portfolio that you can present to potential employers. This will be a big advantage over other candidates. Remember: Only you can take responsibility for finding employment in your industry. Leave no stone unturned and don’t discount a job because it isn’t perfect. Have a goal in mind, and learn the skills you need on the way to get there. Make connections, educate yourself and do what you love.