Creative Change:

How to enter into a creative field from a different career

By Neubela Mai Allison

Problem

So you wake up one morning and decide that you want to re-connect with your love for interior design, fashion design, photography or any other creative field. Great, the only problem is that you have been working in a completely different field for the past 6 years and you have no professional experience in anything creative. Sound familiar? So what do you do???

Solution

Have you ever been looking for a store in the mall and you finally decide to use the mall map? Well, when you get there you locate the store that you are looking for but you also see a big diamond shape with the words “YOU ARE HERE.” The same theory applies here. While it is wonderful to know what you like and where you want to end up, you can’t get there with out first analyzing where you are in respect to that. You need to ask yourself some questions about your current skill sets; you may discover that you are closer than you think. You might already have some skills that can get your foot in the door and give you the opportunity to learn more. Here are a few steps that can help you make that S.W.I.T.C.H.

S – Skills – Determine what skills you already have that can also be used in the new field you are interested in and/or what skills you can acquire.

I worked in HR for several years and was interested in entering the world of interior design or fashion design. In HR I had worked in various roles; recruiting, employee relations, etc. So I definitely felt confident that I could be in any customer oriented role. I was computer literate, organized and personable as well. So I thought maybe an administrative role in the interior design field, but would I be able to earn the same money? or would I have access to learning the business? I also took some inexpensive sewing classes through a fabric dealer to learn more about fabrics and patterns.

W – When – Decide what your timeline is, when you would like to make the change.

Unless you have the luxury of leaving your job immediately, you will have to continue to work in your current field while looking for other opportunities and learning other skills that might be needed. Set a timeline that is comfortable for you and allows you to still maintain your performance in your present role.

I- Intern or Volunteer – Offer your self up for free labor.

I don’t know of any employer that can refuse this. I had such a great relationship at my HR job that I was able to change my schedule to work slightly longer hours for 4 days and take one day off. I used that free day to volunteer at a major design showroom. I actually got dressed up and went to a local design center and walked around to showrooms and introduced myself and left my resume expressing interest in volunteering. People were really impressed with my approach. I got several call backs and went with the one I felt I could learn the most from. Although I initially was just helping with organizing and the samples, I had an opportunity to learn about products, meet clients, and generally got to see how the showroom operated.

T – Track and Transition – Keep track of all the new things you are learning so that you can transition or modify your resume accordingly.

It is so important to keep your resume current. Although most resumes will primarily have work experience listed there is no rule that says you can not list intern or volunteer experience as well. In fact remember to include all exposure that is relevant to the new role or industry that you are pursuing.

C – Communicate – Communicate your desire to obtain a position in that field to your peers, supervisors and other neighboring companies.

In most creative fields there is a community where everyone sort of knows each other. Someone might know about something for you. Networking is critical; people will remember you if you make a positive impression.

H – Hunt – Begin the job hunt.

Once the time of completing you volunteer/intern experience is near it is time to start looking. Look locally, online, and ask around. It is also a good idea to get a written referral from where you have volunteered. Many design centers have an office where they have all the job postings for all the showrooms in the building, there are also postings at design schools, and on specific design related websites.

At the end of this process, I learned so much. My volunteer experience, a really great reference and my HR background helped me to get the job as a showroom manager in a high-end window treatment showroom. I found this opening on www.asid.org.

Although these steps are not law, it is a simple way to approach a major transition in your career. Before you start this journey a good scripture to meditate on is Exodus 31:3 “I have filled you with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” Be blessed and let your journey begin!