Category: Creative Careers

Showcasing Transferable Skills: How to Highlight Them in Your CV and Cover Letter

In today’s dynamic job market, many professionals find themselves navigating multiple industries or shifting roles within the creative sector. Whether you’re moving from graphic design to UX, journalism to content marketing, or theatre to project management, transferable skills are your secret weapon.

But what exactly are transferable skills, and how do you showcase them effectively in your CV and cover letter? Let’s dive in.

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are abilities and strengths that you can apply across different roles, industries, and work environments. They are not tied to a specific job title or technical expertise but instead reflect how you work, communicate, solve problems, and interact with others.

Examples of transferable skills in creative careers include:
– Communication (verbal, written, visual)
– Project management
– Team collaboration
– Creative problem-solving
– Research and analysis
– Time management
– Client relationship management

Why Transferable Skills Matter in Creative Careers

Creative industries are constantly evolving. New platforms, tools, and mediums emerge regularly, making adaptability essential. Employers value individuals who can pivot, learn quickly, and bring a broad set of capabilities to the table.

For example, a theatre producer may transition into event management, a journalist may shift into digital content strategy, or a photographer may move into branding and marketing. In each case, the underlying skills (planning, storytelling, audience understanding, and attention to detail) remain highly relevant.

How to Highlight Transferable Skills in Your CV

1. Tailor Your Skills Section

List relevant transferable skills explicitly, using keywords from the job description. For example:
Key Skills:
– Creative storytelling
– Deadline management
– Visual communication
– Stakeholder engagement

2. Show Evidence in Your Experience

Instead of listing job duties, highlight achievements that demonstrate your transferable skills. For instance:
“Led a cross-functional team to deliver a multimedia campaign on a tight deadline, resulting in a 20% increase in engagement.”

3. Use a Professional Summary

At the top of your CV, include a brief summary that ties together your experience and transferable strengths:
“Creative professional with a background in visual design and digital marketing, bringing strong project management, communication, and storytelling skills to drive audience engagement.”

How to Talk About Transferable Skills in Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is the ideal place to connect the dots between your past experience and the role you’re applying for:

1. Start with Your Why

Explain why you’re interested in the role and how your background brings unique value.

2. Tell a Story

Share a brief example of a past project or achievement that highlights relevant transferable skills.

3. Link to the Role

Show how these skills will help you succeed in the position you’re applying for.

Example:

“In my role as a magazine editor, I honed my storytelling, project management, and team leadership skills, all of which I am excited to bring to the content strategist position at your organisation.”

Final Tips:

– Avoid jargon from your previous industry that might not resonate in your new field.
– Focus on outcomes and results.
– Be confident—skills like creativity, adaptability, and leadership are highly valuable across sectors.

In Conclusion

Transferable skills are the threads that tie your experiences together and make you a versatile candidate in the creative industries. By presenting these skills thoughtfully in your CV and cover letter, you can position yourself for exciting new opportunities, no matter where your creative journey takes you.

Ready to find your transferable skills? Complete your Creative Careers Skills Audit here!

Pricing Your Work as a Freelancer in the Creative Industries

In the ever-evolving world of creative freelancing, one of the most challenging aspects for many is pricing their work effectively. Whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, illustrator, photographer, or any other creative professional, setting the right price for your services is crucial not just for your livelihood but also for your confidence, reputation, and career sustainability.

Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate the often tricky waters of freelance pricing in the creative industries.

1. Understand Your Costs

Before setting any price, calculate your overheads. These include:
– Software subscriptions (Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva Pro, etc.)
– Hardware (laptops, cameras, tablets)
– Internet and phone bills
– Office space (home office costs or co-working space)
– Insurance
– Professional development (courses, workshops)
This will give you a baseline figure for the minimum income you need to cover your expenses.

2. Define Your Value

Pricing isn’t just about costs; it’s also about the value you bring to the client. Ask yourself:
– How experienced am I?
– What unique skills or perspectives do I offer?
– How will my work benefit the client (increased sales, better engagement, improved brand image)?
Don’t undervalue yourself by focusing solely on how long something takes. Clients pay for results, expertise, and creativity.

3. Research Market Rates

Spend time investigating what others in your field and region are charging. Resources include:
– Industry surveys
– Freelance communities (Reddit, Facebook groups, LinkedIn)
– Professional organizations
This will help you set a price that’s competitive without undercutting or overpricing yourself.

4. Choose the Right Pricing Model

There are several ways to price creative work:
– Hourly Rate: Useful for ongoing projects but may not reflect the value of creative deliverables.
– Per Project Fee: Common for defined projects like logos, articles, or illustrations.
– Retainer Agreements: Ideal for clients who need ongoing work each month.
– Value-Based Pricing: Pricing based on the impact or value your work provides to the client.
Often a mix of these models is most effective.

5. Communicate Clearly

When presenting your pricing to a client:
– Break down the deliverables and timeline.
– Clarify what is and isn’t included.
– Specify payment terms (deposits, milestone payments, final payment).
Professionalism and transparency reduce misunderstandings and build trust.

6. Be Prepared to Negotiate (or Walk Away)

Clients may negotiate—that’s natural. Be open but set boundaries. Know your minimum acceptable rate and don’t be afraid to decline work that undervalues you. Walking away from underpaid work leaves space for better opportunities.

7. Review and Adjust Regularly

Pricing isn’t static. As your skills grow, your portfolio strengthens, and your reputation builds, regularly review and increase your rates to reflect your enhanced value.

Final Thoughts

Pricing your work as a freelancer in the creative industries is both an art and a science. It takes time to find the right balance, but with clear thinking, research, and self-belief, you can create a pricing structure that supports your creative journey and your financial well-being.

Remember: You are not just selling time. You are selling talent, vision, and impact. Price accordingly.

How to Invoice Like a Pro: A Freelancer’s Guide

You’ve nailed the project. The client’s thrilled. Now comes the fun part; getting paid. But if the word “invoice” confuses you, you’re not alone. Invoicing might not be glamorous, but it’s your gateway to financial freedom and earning money for your work. Done right, it keeps your business flowing smoothly. Done wrong (or forgotten altogether) it can delay payments and mess with your income streams. Let’s break it down into something painless and explore some free tools to help you get paid without the headaches.

What is an Invoice?

An invoice is a document that says “Here’s what I did, here’s how much you owe me, and here’s how and when to pay me”. Invoices can be sent either at the end of a project (the most common approach for one-off jobs), or in multiple stages for larger or longer projects (helping with cash flow and protecting you if timelines stretch longer than expected). Typically, in freelance work you won’t get paid without one.

An invoice should include your name or business name (and logo if you have one), your contact info, the client’s name and contact info, an invoice number (for tracking – choose whatever system works for you), the date of issue, a clear description of services (e.g. “Social media campaign – May 2025”), payment terms (e.g. “Due within 14 days”), the total amount due, and bank details or a payment link.

Always keep your invoices clear and professional; they’re legal documents that you may beed to refer to in future. Avoid vague lines like “Creative work – £500”, specify what work you’ve undertaken, how many days it’s taken if relevant, and any other costs agreed. E.g. 2 days Content Creation work @ £225/day = £450, 2 days train travel Birmingham to London @ £25/each = £50.

You can create an invoice with a variety of free online tools that make it effortless:

Crunch is a UK-based online accounting platform designed with freelancers and small businesses in mind. Their free accounting software includes easy invoicing with professional templates, automatic invoice numbering, client contact management, invoice sending, and tracking for who’s paid and who hasn’t.

Invoice Generator.com offers an easy template for one off jobs, but without payment tracking or automatic issuing.

Canva offers invoices that match your brand aesthetic, with free invoice templates you can customize and download.

Pro Tips for Invoicing Success

Invoice promptly. Don’t wait until “later.” Send it as soon as the work is done.

Set clear payment terms upfront. Avoid awkward conversations by putting it in your contract.

Follow up politely. A quick “just checking in” email 1-2 days after the due date is perfectly acceptable.

Stay organized. Use tools or spreadsheets to keep track of what’s been sent, paid, and overdue. —

Why Good Invoicing = Good Business

Invoicing isn’t just admin. It’s a reflection of your professionalism. Clear, well-designed invoices show clients that you’re serious, trustworthy, and ready to do business again. As a freelancer or creative pro, you wear a lot of hats. But “accountant” doesn’t have to be one of them.

Unlocking Your Potential – Complete a Creative Skills Audit

In today’s dynamic job market, creative professionals must be more than just imaginative. Whether you’re an aspiring designer, filmmaker, writer, or artist, your success depends heavily on a diverse skill set that goes beyond traditional creative abilities. Transferable skills – skills that apply across roles and industries – are vital for sustaining a long-term creative career. Understanding these skills and evaluating which you have lots of and which can be improved can help you grow, pivot, and thrive in the ever-evolving creative landscape.

What Are Transferable Skills in Creative Careers?

Transferable skills are abilities you develop through various life experiences-education, work, volunteering, and personal projects that are valuable in different job roles and industries. In creative careers, these skills are essential for collaboration, problem-solving, managing projects, and navigating uncertainty.

People often develop valuable transferable skills in non-creative industries that can seamlessly support a creative career. For example, working in hospitality helps build strong communication, time management, and problem-solving abilities—skills crucial for managing clients, meeting deadlines, and collaborating on creative projects. Teamwork in a fast-paced environment, handling difficult customers, or managing shifts are experiences that demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and leadership. When talking about these experiences, focus on how the skill was developed and how it applies to creative work. For instance, rather than simply saying “I worked in a bar,” you might say, “My experience managing customer interactions in a busy restaurant sharpened my communication and multitasking skills, which I now use when coordinating production timelines and working with diverse teams in creative settings.”

Key Transferable Skills for Creative Professionals

1. Personal Attributes

These include persistence, resilience, and self-confidence-traits that help you stay focused, bounce back from setbacks, and remain motivated through challenging projects.

2. People Skills

Effective communication, relationship-building, and networking are vital for creative collaboration and career advancement.

3. Employability Skills

Skills like initiative, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and time management ensure you can independently manage workloads and deliver value across different contexts.

4. Technical and Practical Skills

Even creatives must master tools of the trade-whether it’s design software, basic accounting, or social media marketing. These practical skills directly support creative output and business growth.

How to Complete a Creative Skills Audit

To truly understand your strengths and development areas, completing a creative skills audit is essential. Using a structured tool like the Creative Careers Skills Audit document, you can self-assess and reflect on your current capabilities. Here’s a simple Step-by-Step Guide:

DOWNLOAD THE SKILLS AUDIT TEMPLATE

1. Review the Skills Categories

The audit is divided into four main sections: Personal Attributes, People Skills, Other Employability Skills, Technical and Practical Skills

2. Rate Your Proficiency

Use a 1-5 scale: (1 = Not yet developed, 5 = Highly proficient). Be honest – this is about identifying growth areas, not just showcasing strengths.

3. Provide Evidence

For each skill, include a specific example that demonstrates how you’ve used it. For instance: Persistence (4): Completed a year-long independent documentary despite limited funding and setbacks.

4. Identify Patterns

After completing all sections, look for clusters: Are you strong in personal attributes but lacking in technical skills? Is time management an issue across multiple roles?

5. Set Development Goals

Use your audit to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. For example: “Improve my financial skills by completing an online course in creative budgeting by December.”

Why It Matters

A creative skills audit isn’t just a one-off task-it’s a career habit. It keeps you accountable, self-aware, and agile. By recognising which transferable skills are your strengths and which need development, you can seek opportunities that stretch your abilities, apply for roles with confidence, and future-proof your creative journey. Whether you’re just starting out or navigating a mid-career shift, understanding and cultivating transferable skills is the key to unlocking your full potential in the creative industries. Revisit your audit every 6-12 months. Track your progress, update your evidence, and evolve with your creative goals.

Building a Social Media Portfolio

Social media can play a huge role in promoting your work and being found. In a time when most of the population consume digital content regularly, it allows you to reach a whole new audience quickly; whether you’re an artist taking commissions or a writer producing their own play and trying to sell tickets. Alongside your website (how to build a portfolio website), your social media can double as your portfolio, especially in the early stages of your creative career. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are already where a lot of creative discovery happens. You can use them to build a visual identity, show off your process, and attract people who might want to hire or collaborate with you.

Think of your feed as a curated space — like a gallery or sketchbook. You don’t need a polished client list to make it look professional. You just need intention, clarity, and a little consistency.

If you don’t have an existing portfolio of your work, find out how to start your own portfolio here.

Instagram Tips

Instagram is still one of the best places for visual portfolios. To use it as a creative portfolio:

Even if you’re still building a body of work, you can post:

TikTok Tips

TikTok is great if you want to show off your process and personality — and get discovered organically. You don’t need to go viral. Just start showing up.

A few strong videos that showcase your work and vibe can go a long way toward getting seen — even by people outside your immediate network.

What About Facebook?

Facebook isn’t as portfolio-friendly visually, but:

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

Social media doesn’t have to be stressful or perfect. If you treat it like a creative space, not just a marketing tool, it becomes part of your portfolio — and a way to invite people into your world.

Build a Following (Without Feeling Awkward About It)

You don’t need a massive following to get freelance work or build your creative portfolio — but growing an engaged, genuine audience can help open doors, connect with other creatives, and even attract clients organically.

To build a following that actually cares about your work and engages with your content:

Ask Friends and Family to Follow You – Friends and Family will want to suppor your work. Follow them and see if they follow back, message them and ask them to give you a follow (it doesn’t cost them anything), or use the ‘Invite Friends’ feature on Facebook. Make sure your phone number is attached to the account so you pop up in their ‘suggested accounts’ too.

Show up consistently – You don’t have to post every day. But posting consistently (a few times a week or even once a week) keeps you visible and helps people get familiar with your work.

Share your process – People love to see how things are made. Try posting sketches, drafts, behind-the-scenes clips, your workspace or tools, or Timelapse’s.

Talk about what you’re doing and why – Add a bit of story to your work so people feel like they’re getting to know you: “This was a practice at framing a subject”, “still figuring this one out, what do you think?”, etc

Engage with others – Reply to comments, share what you think on other people’s work, share people’s posts in your stories (with credit), etc. If you supprt others, they’ll support you.

Remind people what you do – Repeat your creative identity often, using your captions and bio e.g. “headshot photographer available in Birmingham” (how to find your niche)

Try trends (authentically) – Join in on trends if they genuinely interest you, especially on TikTok or Reels. But don’t feel pressure to force it if they don’t feel the right fit. Add your spin or twist to fit your niche.

Make it easy to follow or contact you – Pin your best work, link to your shop, commission form, or full portfolio, and tell people how to work with you or where to see more.

Don’t chase numbers – You don’t need 10k followers to get work. A small, focused audience of people who get what you do and engage with content (liking, commenting, sharing to their story, etc) is much more powerful and converts to meaningful engagement, commissions, purchases, etc more easily. Growth take time!

Content Creation Tips:

Promotion Strategy:

Final Reminders

With a professional looking portfolio, there’s no need to delay. Get started on shouting about your work now.

Remember:

How to Create a Portfolio Website

Whether you’re a director, illustrator, filmmaker, writer, or any other type of creative, a strong online presence is essential. Your portfolio website helps people understand who you are, what you make, and how to work with you—even if you’re just starting out.

This guide walks you through building your online creative portfolio in three stages, how to create a portfolio even if you don’t have much paid client work, and how to communicate your creative identity clearly and confidently.

Stage 1: The Link Tree (Your Starter Presence)

This is your quick-start option. Use a free link-in-bio platform like Linktree to organise and share your best work and contact information.

What to Include:

How to Build It:

Stage 2: Basic Website Portfolio

If you’re looking for a more detailed option, explore building a portfolio website using platforms like Squarespace or Wix. These platforms are free to get started with and are great to use if you just want a direct link to send to potential clients, but they have a yearly cost (approx £100) if you want your website to show up on Google or to have a custom domain (e.g. yourname.com)

What to Include:

How to Build It:

Stage 3: Comprehensive Website

If you’re looking to create a fully comprehensive home base for your work as a freelance creative, you’ll want to create a detailed website in a similar way to above (with a paid for domain), packed full of your work and experience, and a shop front for your business.

What to Include:

How to Build It:

Don’t Have an Existing Portfolio?

If you don’t have an existing portfolio, don’t panic. There are plenty of ways to showcase your work, even if it isn’t paid or for real clients. You might choose to showcase:

How to Talk About Your Work:

Be honest and confident. Instead of pretending the work you’ve done is for a client, frame it as:
“A hypothetical branding project for a fictional family-run bakery.”
“A musical response to my feelings about [insert recent event]”
“A photo exhibiton based around the theme of family and age differences, using my siblings as models”

Supplement your website with social media

Finished your website portfolio? Now find out how to support it with social media.

How to Find Your Niche and Write an Elevator Pitch as a Freelancer

Starting out as a freelancer can feel overwhelming—especially when people ask, “So, what exactly do you do?” If you’re not sure how to answer that yet, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Hopefully this article will help you:

What’s a Niche, and Why Do You Need One?

Your niche is your creative focus. It’s a combination of the type of work you do (e.g. being a photographer) and the kind of people or clients you want to work with (e.g. specialising in theatre or live music photography).

Having a niche helps because:

Step 1: Find Your Niche

You don’t have to choose your forever niche; you can always change (and your skills developed will transfer), but for now just pick a direction to start with.

Ask Yourself:

Example Niches:

Choose something that feels fun, doable, and in demand. You can always shift later.

Step 2: Write Your Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a one or two-sentence introduction about who you are and what you do. It’s called that because you should be able to say it in the time it takes to introduce yourself to somebody who got into a lift with you, before they reach their floor and get off.

Simple Formula:

“I do [type of work] for [type of client] so they can [benefit].”

Examples:

Tips:

What to Do Next

Now that you’ve got a niche and a pitch:

You don’t have to have everything figured out to start. The most important thing is to try things, learn what you like, and talk about your work in a way that feels real and confident. Your niche and pitch will evolve with you.

Where to find Jobs and Opportunities

Breaking into the creative industries can feel like navigating a maze where it’s a struggle to even find the entrance. There are plenty of opportunity out there, but knowing where to find them is a challenge. Here’s a few of our recommended platforms dedicated to helping creatives find meaningful work, internships, freelance gigs, and career resources in the arts and creative sectors.

Arts Jobs

Run by Arts Council England, this platform is a staple for anyone seeking roles in the UK’s arts and culture sector. From theatre and dance to museums and visual arts, Arts Jobs offers opportunities at all levels. It’s especially valuable for early-career artists and administrators.

Creative Access

With a mission to support under-represented talent, Creative Access partners with major employers to offer inclusive internships and roles in media, publishing, and the arts. The platform also provides mentoring, masterclasses, and career development tools.

Mandy

Aimed at performers, production crew, and voiceover artists, Mandy connects creatives with casting calls, film jobs, and theatre gigs worldwide. You can create a profile, upload reels, and apply directly to roles in acting, film, TV, and more.

Spotlight

Spotlight is the leading casting platform in the UK, used by casting directors in film, TV, theatre, and commercials. Actors can create profiles, be scouted by agents, and apply directly for professional roles. A must-have for any performer aiming to work at a professional level.

Spotlight requires either formal training or 2 professional credits (find out more here). Book a chat for more advice on how to get started with this.

If You Could Jobs

This platform offers roles across the creative sector, along with discussions about current topics and conversations around the creative working world in the site’s Journal.

OpenHire

A platform aimed at freelance work, focused on transparency and equity, OpenHire encourages inclusive hiring practices in the arts and cultural sectors.

Arts Marketing Association (AMA)

AMA is a go-to hub for professionals in arts marketing, audience development, and digital engagement. Alongside their career development opportunities, their job board highlights specialist marketing roles at arts venues, festivals, and cultural institutions across the UK.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is essential for professional networking and job hunting. Follow creative agencies, arts organisations, and people doing your dream role (and ask them for a Zoom call to learn more). Post about your portfolio and recent achievements to build a presence.

ERIC App

ERIC is tailored for Gen Z creatives and entry-level talent. The app offers creative career advice, industry events, job alerts, and internship opportunities in media, fashion, design, and more. It’s ideal for those just getting started.

Guardian Jobs – Arts & Heritage

The Guardian’s job section is known for high-quality listings in journalism, education, and arts. Their Arts & Heritage section often features roles in public engagement, curation, fundraising, and arts education.

Indeed

While it’s not niche-specific, Indeed hosts a wealth of creative jobs if you refine your search terms. Use filters like “creative director,” “copywriter,” or “arts administration” to dig into listings across sectors and locations.

Arts Professional

Part of ArtsProfessional, Culture Jobs is a UK-focused platform highlighting a range of roles across different cultural organisations. Sign up for a weekly newsletter of jobs and opportunities

The Dots

A professional networking platform for creatives that features job listings, portfolio showcases, and collaboration opportunities.

Stage 32

Stage 32 works with over 2,000 industry executives and has been recognized by Forbes magazine as the leading source for educating film, television and new media creatives through our Next Level webinars, classes and labs.

Design Jobs Board

A platform focused on UK-based jobs in graphic, UX, and product design.

Arts Emergency

Arts Emergency is an award-winning mentoring charity and support network. We work long-term with under-resourced young people in London, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

The creative industries are full of vibrant, diverse opportunities—if you know where to look. Whether you’re seeking your first design internship or a career on stage, these platforms offer access to the tools and opportunities to help you thrive.

Don’t forget: the creative job search is also about community. Engage with these platforms, attend events, join networks, and keep your portfolio up to date. The right opportunity could be just a click away.

Book a Chat & Get Free Advice and Support

Looking for new opportunities, need support with a personal project, or just after some advice?
Book a quick chat with the RicNic team to get unstuck, ask questions, or explore your next steps. We can help with everything from career planning and freelancing to opportunity-hunting, CV reviews, and more.

Our team brings a wealth of experience in event and theatre production, new writing development, and creative careers—and we’re connected to a broad network of industry professionals ready to offer shadowing, mentoring, or a helpful chat. Using proven coaching techniques, we’ll help you clarify your goals, find answers, and leave the session with a clear set of actions—plus our practical advice along the way.

Book a chat with us here

Freelance vs. Employed: What It’s Really Like Working in the UK Creative Industries

If you’re starting a creative career in the UK—whether in design, media, art, or marketing—you’ve probably heard the word freelance thrown around a lot. But what does being freelance actually mean, and how does it compare to being employed?

Let’s break it down.

What Does “Freelance” Mean?

Freelancing means you’re self-employed. You don’t work for one employer full-time; instead, you work with multiple clients or companies, often on short-term contracts or one-off projects.

Freelancers in the creative industries might be:

You manage your own time, workload, and income—and you’re responsible for your own taxes (through HMRC’s Self Assessment). Rather than a set place of employment (like a shop or office), you might work from home, co-working spaces, cafes, or on the go, and

The Pros of Freelancing

The Cons of Freelancing

Taxes and Income

Being freelance means you can set your own rates for your work; hourly, daily, or per project. As your experience increases, so can your rates; however many freelancers fall into the trap of setting their initial rates too low when starting out and undervaluing their work. Freelancing does, however, mean that income can vary month to month depending on workload. You’ll often invoice clients after completing the work, and then wait to be paid (unto 30 days).

Being employed usually means you work permanently or on a fixed-term contract for one company. You typically get:

In employment, tax is deducted before the money reaches your bank account by your employer, and you don’t have to worry about this. Being freelance, however, this is your responsibility through a yearly ‘self assessment‘. You can offset expenses against your income though, such as travel and office expenses relating to your work. You won’t have holiday pay, but can pick and choose your own schedule to suit your needs, and you won’t be restricted to somebody else’s schedule.

Which Is Right for You?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some creatives thrive on the freedom of freelancing, while others prefer the security of employment. Many people even do both—working a part-time job while freelancing on the side.

If you’re starting out, try both to see what suits your lifestyle, goals, and personality.

The UK’s creative industries are full of freelance opportunities, especially in design, media, marketing, and the arts. But freelancing requires hustle, organisation, and resilience. Whether you choose the freelance path, traditional employment, or a mix of both—it’s about finding the right fit for you.

Talk To Us

Interested in finding out more or have questions? Book a chat with us and we can help.