10 Types of Creative Careers

By Monster Contributor

By Monster Career Coach

You know that you're creative when...

  • The music that plays in your head is original
  • You doodle cartoons or drawings when taking notes at a business meeting
  • People compliment you after you act out scenes from your favourite movie

Have you wanted to apply your artsy talents to earn a living? Use that great voice of yours as a radio broadcaster. Write your way to fame and fortune in advertising or marketing communications. Or picture yourself relying on your imagination as a web designer.

Artistic, creative people can struggle to find careers that fit. When you're used to thinking out of the box it's easy to feel boxed in by traditional jobs. Good thing the world of work is broad enough to need your unique abilities.

What follows are 10 types of creative jobs in which you can develop and amazing and rewarding carer:

Creativity and Business

It can be argued that any job in business takes creativity, especially for problem solving. But there are certain careers in business that are truly based on imagination and ingenuity. Do you like preparing budgets and managing expenses? Would you also be interested in launching new products and services, using advertising campaigns and promotions? Here are two jobs that let you do just that:

Artistic Director
Artistic Directors work for orchestras, theatre groups and arts festivals. You'll have creative input, plus responsibility for finances, membership and other administrative areas. Help increase audience attendance for your favourite artistic events.

Marketing Manager
Business-types with creative leanings may be drawn to the field of marketing. In this job you get to work with ad agencies, research companies, design houses, packaging producers, public relations firms and other related suppliers. You'll also have financial responsibility for your products.

Film

You needn't move to Hollywood to realize your movie making dream. You will, in any case, need an eye for detail and a really good sense of how to tell stories visually. There'll be scripts to prepare, scenes to shoot, and hours spent editing to perfect the video.

Videographer
You make studio quality videos. These might be creative and fun, or serious and business-like. In general you're hired by employers who need corporate videos and films for training staff. Your knowledge of lighting, film speeds, setting and background choice - in addition to the technical aspects of shooting and posting videos - will qualify you for this career.

Graphic Arts

Drawing or painting. Sketching. Or creating animations. These are the kinds of artistic skills you've developed and savour. Graphic artists craft visuals that capture the viewer's eye. They design images and renderings using a variety of media.

Animator
Can you bring creative ideas to life with animation? If so you may be in demand with movie, commercial and video production houses. Likely you have knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (or similar program) and Maya or 3D Studio Max.

Architectural Technician
Drafting designs for buildings and living spaces is what architectural technicians do. You'll become a whiz at CAD (Computer Assisted Design) and visualization software. Combine your creative impulses with technical accuracy in this expanding field.

Graphic Artist
Use your visual artistry and creativity to design images of all types. Match these up with your computer graphics talent and you too could work in an ad agency, marketing company, public relations firm, fashion house, or other place where graphics need to be generated continually.

Website Designer
More than techie skills are needed when designing websites. Creative flair and knowledge of user interface requirements are essential. So is the ability to create arresting graphics.

Writing

You spin out words with the greatest of ease. Would you like to write copy that sells? Advertisements and brochures are filled with phrases created by writers. So are annual reports for companies. And pamphlets or other marketing material.

Copywriter
Copywriters tend to do their wordsmithing in advertising agencies and on content-heavy websites. They fabricate the writing in advertisements and commercials, to accompany visuals and musical themes. You should be able to adapt your material to specific audiences.

Visual Arts

Some people have a gift for seeing the world in ways that highlight its beauty and distinctiveness. Maybe you can walk into an empty room and see its possibilities. Or use a camera to capture pictures that speak a thousand words.

Interior Designer
This is a job for those with flair for harmonizing colours and furnishings to different spaces. You'll plan room themes, then purchase appropriate furniture and artwork. All within budget, deadline and client specs, of course.

Photographer
Professional photographers need to be familiar with product, event and portrait photography. Your picture shooting aptitude is needed by newspapers, magazines, content-heavy websites, and ad agencies, among others. So say "cheese" and apply today.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Jobs for creative people abound. Whether you're agile with a camera or can write like Shakespeare, there's a career where you can excel.

As a creative, though, you'll need to develop discipline. There is little room in the workplace for Bohemians who don't bother showing up when needed, or prima donnas who always demand the spotlight.

If you can combine your artistry with technical or business skills, all the better. You might find yourself designing a best-selling video game. Or writing the annual report for a major corporation. Even directing a film that the public goes wild over.

Just keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, while your mind explores the clouds. Translating the creative needs of your employer into usable content or design takes pragmatism - and revision after revision.

Here are some tips to get you started.