What is the best career for a creative person?
If you are someone with out-of-the-box ideas and have unique approaches to doing things, then a career in the creative industry is the path for you.
There are ample choices of jobs for creative thinkers in the current job market that often don’t require a college degree.
And as opposed to some misconceptions that people may have, artsy careers are fulfilling and they pay well.
Besides, studies show that creative industries have faster job growth and slower job loss when compared to the other sectors of the economy.
Plus, 60% of employers believe creativity to be an essential skill to excel in leadership roles.
Pretty amazing, right?
Read on to learn more about jobs for creative people and related FAQs like the following:
- What is creative thinking?
- What jobs can you do if you are creative?
- How to get high-paying creative jobs?
- Where can you find jobs for creative thinkers?
- What are some common FAQS about jobs for creative thinkers?
What is Creative Thinking?
Creative thinking is the ability to view things from a perspective that is different and far from the conventional stereotype.
And no, creative thinking is not limited to artistic careers. It is in fact, a valuable skill that employers often look for in candidates.
Creative thinkers can add value to any role with their open-mindedness, unorthodox problem-solving skills, and analysis.
So, what are creative jobs?
Take a look at the following list of creative careers that pay well:
| Acting | Advertising |
| Marketing | Architecture |
| Art & Design | Fashion |
| Artists | Film Making |
| Photography & Videography | Writers & Poets |
| Musician | Painters |
Also Read: What are some creative resume templates?
Top 5 Highest Paying Creative Jobs
Creative jobs can be a part of various industries with different roles and responsibilities.
The options are plenty, and the paycheck for these roles is highly rewarding.
Listed below are the top 5 highest paying jobs for creative thinkers:
Film & Video Editor
Usually, as a part of the film industry, film & video editors work with producers, directors, and scriptwriters to create engaging storylines by lining up video footage that conveys meaningful information.
While many of these professionals have a bachelor’s degree in film production or editing, it is not a mandatory requirement.
What you do need is a creative streak, a bird’s eye view, and a good grasp of camera functions and video editing software like Adobe Premier Pro, Pinnacle Studio, etc.
The average salary of a film and video editor in the US is $62,650 per annum.
Video Game Designer
If you have a background in computer science or programming, coupled with good creative thinking skills, you can consider becoming a video game designer.
Video game designers are not only responsible for developing and designing games but also for creating storylines, writing code, and performing quality control.
Another valuable skill that can be an asset for this role is creative writing.
These professionals make a median salary of $95,291 a year in the US.
Also read: How to draft a game designer resume?
Multimedia Artists and Animators
As a multimedia artist or an animator, you will create two and three-dimensional models, visual effects, and computer-generated images for films, video games, and other media.
These artists even conceptualize ideas for characters, backgrounds, scenes, and other animation elements to bring the client’s vision to life.
The basic requirement to get hired for this position is a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, animation, or a related field.
Apart from that, possessing an artistic flair and an eye for detail is a must to excel in this position.
The median annual salary for this role is $72,520.
Also read: Guide for making a stellar animation resume
Art Directors
Art directors oversee the visual elements and style of a product. They are responsible for determining the best way to present a product, brand, or service visually.
From packaging to the media presence, they come up with innovative ideas to showcase the new item in the market using photographs, arts, and other design elements.
Most art directors have a bachelor’s degree in design or a related field along with relevant experience in the field and earn an average salary of $92,780 yearly.
Also read: What is a great art director resume sample?
Writers and Authors
As the name suggests, writers and authors make a comfortable living by writing intriguing stories, books, scripts, novels, advertisements, and so on.
If you have a flair for writing and great communication skills, you can become a self-published writer or an author.
However, some salaried positions may require you to have a degree in English or communication.
Bestselling authors earn at least $160,000 per annum, while the average yearly salary of a writer is $53,250 in the US.
How to Land High Paying Jobs for Creative Thinkers?
Simply possessing creative thinking skills is not enough to land you high-paying creative jobs in today’s job market.
Depending on your niche, the requirements to bag jobs in creative positions can widely vary.
For instance, the requirements to become an art director are completely different from that of a videographer.
With that being said, here are some general tips that will help you get closer to your dream creative role:
Hone Your Skills
Irrespective of your niche, you need to polish your skills if you want to get hired for creative roles.
You can develop your skills or even acquire new ones by getting a degree, taking up certification courses, and gaining hands-on experience in the field.
And don’t limit yourself to hard skills. Put in the time and effort to develop transferable skills like good communication, organizational skills, etc.
You can find plenty of free online courses to help you do the same.
Also read: What skills should you put on a resume?
Know Where to Look for Creative Job Opportunities
Unlike the traditional sites for job listings, there are special sites that list vacancies for only creative positions. Some of them also offer the option of setting up your online portfolio.
Given below are some of these job listing sites:
| Behance | Dribble |
| Creative Hotlist | Art jobs |
| Creative pools | Screen Skills |
| Talent Zoo | Crop |
| Corofolt | Working Nomads |
| Jobspresso | Dezeen Jobs |
Build an Online Portfolio
Since most creative jobs are related to projects and visual work, you can compile your artwork, designs, write-ups, and other projects on a personal website or a platform.
This will serve as visual examples of your work and artistic style, allowing recruiters to refer to it when they probe your candidacy.
Online platforms like Behance allows users to showcase their work snd see other people's work as well.
Ensure to add a link to your online portfolio in your resume.
Join Groups and Network
Joining community groups of like-minded professionals who belong to the same industry and niche is a great way to get inspiration and learn more about the emerging industry trends.
When you join and stay active in these groups, you can get noticed by potential employers, get first dips on job vacancies, and even get some clients for your work.
Build an Impressive Resume
Just like any other job, having a top-notch resume is the key to getting shortlisted for a creative job vacancy.
Your resume has to justify your creative thinking skills and present your experiences in the best possible light.
One common mistake that candidates make with their resumes is that they use the send the same resume for multiple job vacancies.
It may require extra effort but if you tailor your resume according to the job description of the target creative position, it will help you get more interview callbacks.
Also, your resume must contain enough industry-related keywords to make it ATS-friendly. (ATS or Applicant Tracking Software is used by recruiters to select the most relevant resumes)
Also read: How to build an ATS-friendly resume?
Prepare for Interviews
Preparation is key if you want to nail any job interview and get hired.
Ensure to practice common interview questions and research the company you're interviewing with.
Recruiters want to hire candidates who are genuinely interested to work for them. Hence, by knowing alot about their company and showcasing the same during the interview, you will get an edge over other candidates.
You must also thoroughly analyze the job description of the role you're interviewing for.
The job description will give you an insight into the top requirements of the company. Based on this, the recruiters will likely ask you questions during the interview.
Also read: What are the most common job interview questions in 2022?
FAQs about Jobs for Creative Thinkers
The following are some of the commonly asked questions about jobs for creative people:
What is the highest paying creative job?
Among many others, creative directors are one of the highest-paid creative job positions. The average salary of a creative director in the US is $135,362 per annum.
Do employers want creative thinkers?
According to studies, 97% of employers consider creativity an important asset when hiring candidates. Therefore it is safe to say that employers want creative thinkers in their workforce.
Can you get creative jobs without a degree?
Yes, it is possible to get creative jobs without a degree as many of these positions value skills more than education.
What are some jobs that require imagination and creativity?
Floral designers, art directors, chefs, and photographers are some jobs that require imagination and creativity.
What are some jobs that require creativity and organization?
Interior designers, video editors, advertising managers, and user experience designers are among jobs that require not only creativity but also organizational skills.
Are there any medical jobs for creative thinkers?
Yes, among many others, healthcare writers, medical illustrators, and forensic scientists are some medical jobs that are well suited for creative thinkers.
Key Points to Remember
Here are a few key points from the blog:
- Studies show that creative industries have faster job growth and slower job loss when compared to the other sectors of the economy.
- Creative thinking is the ability to view things from a perspective that is different and far from the conventional stereotype.
- Creative thinkers can add value to any role with their open-mindedness, unorthodox problem-solving skills, and analysis.
- Among others, acting, marketing, and advertising are some of the creative careers that pay well.
- Art directors, authors, animators, editors, and designers are some of the highest-paying creative jobs.
- You can land jobs for creative thinkers with the right skill set and a stellar resume.
If you need expert guidance on your career-related queries, visit our Career Activator Platform, which offers 24x7 chat support. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com.
