Demonstrate an understanding of limits of own knowledge; by discussing and illustrating a range of approaches you will develop to achieve your personal career potential within creative industries.

Learning


A developed reflection on own skills and potential in relation to identified opportunities and take responsibility for your personal development towards the fulfilment of your career aspirations.

Reflection


Apply the methods and techniques that you have learned whilst collaborating with professionals in the creative industries and analyse insights gained into industry working practices (e.g. budgetary considerations, project management, marketing, etc).

Application

Assessment 1: Portfolio of exploration and developmental activities relating to progression into Industry, including careers engagement, practitioner engagement and identified destinations, including appropriate professional self-promotion. (100%) [LO 1, 2 and 3]


Further clarity will be provided in detailed project brief.

This is an opportunity for you to directly interact with career professionals in order to strengthen your employability and focus on your own career potential. You can achieve this through various routes, for example: Work practice; carrying our research to inform a case study; visits to studios or commercial venues, or interviewing practitioners. You will be expected to include primary research in the contemporary area of your career aspirations, and consolidate your findings with industry intelligence you find through professional and academic sources.

In undertaking your research you will further develop an awareness of the range of career and postgraduate opportunities for you, which will help inform realistic career goals and prepare you for entry into the creative indrusties sector. You will gather primary and secondary research illustrating various career paths to help you identify progression opportunities.

Your will prepare a portfolio that demonstrates an insight into the contemporary jobs market and employment opportunities for you. Your portfolio will include discussions and details of all areas pertaining to gaining employment, including:
• Illustrated evidence of interaction with practitioners (e.g. case study, industry report, journal of Work practice experience etc.)
• Required interview skills and techniques
• Your approach to finding and responding to job advertisements
• CV preparation
• Personal promotion
• Professional presentation of work
• The development and maintenance of contacts (e.g. networking through online and face-to-face activities – blog, Linkedin, membership of professional groups etc.)

This module offers you a unique opportunity to engage directly with career professionals to enhance your employability and focus on your career potential. You’ll explore various routes such as work practice, conducting case study research, visiting studios or commercial venues, and interviewing practitioners. You’ll conduct primary research relevant to your career aspirations and consolidate your findings with insights from industry and academic sources.


Through this research, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of career and postgraduate opportunities, helping you set realistic career goals and prepare for entry into the creative industries. You will compile a comprehensive portfolio demonstrating your knowledge of the contemporary job market, including:


- Evidence of professional interaction, such as case studies, industry reports, or work practice journals.

- Interview skills and techniques.

- Strategies for finding and responding to job advertisements.

- CV preparation and personal promotion.

- Professional presentation of your work.

- Development and maintenance of industry contacts, including networking through online platforms like LinkedIn and professional groups.


This module is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and insights to navigate the job market and secure employment in the creative industries, significantly enhancing your career prospects.

Work practice
Case study
Visiting lecturers from industry
Lecture and seminar group work
Researching and information gathering
Developing promotion strategies
Practicing professional presentations of work
Interview and personal presentation skills

VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)

Books

Barton, G., 2016. Don't Get a Job...Make a Job: New Edition: Inventive career models for next-gen creatives. London: Laurence King Publishing.

O'Neill, S.-A. and O'Hare, L., 2020. Securing Representation: Galleries, Agents and Artists: The Essential Guide to Navigating Artist Representation. New York: Allworth Press.

O'Neill, S.-A., 2017. Good Art Does Not Sell Itself: The Artist's Definitive Guide to Visibility and Opportunities. New York: Allworth Press.

Saltz, J., 2020. How to Be an Artist. New York: Riverhead Books.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Students will have access to studio space and college library and computer resources.
University learning resources are available on campus at Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, and online via the partner Need to Know pages of the university website.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/courses_and_study/partnerships/current_students/email/index.jsp