Graduating and going out into the "real world" is daunting for most people, and it can be especially rough for those of us pursuing a creative career. However, it's important to remember that it takes time to build a fulfilling career, and that there's a reason you chose this path in the first place. Here are some tips to help you get through this tumultuous phase of life and set yourself up for success!
Reach Out to & Expand Your Network
In school, we are always surrounded by a community of like-minded people. This makes it easy to put together projects and help each other out.
When you graduate, it's easy to feel like that community has suddenly scattered! If that's the case for you, you can look for artist or musician meetups in your area (check facebook groups, meetup.com, etc.), or see if your friends can introduce you to their other friends and acquaintances. Having a strong network of creatives will not only help you feel less alone, but it will also put you in a great position to be recommended for jobs, gigs, projects, etc.!
Look for Opportunities
While networking is a great way to get creative opportunities, you can't always wait for them to come to you. Searching for opportunities from scratch may be daunting, but we've made it simple by creating a database of internships, jobs, grants, and more to help you find the next step in your creative career! The most important thing is to keep your mind open and cast a wide net - you never know which opportunities might end up leading to something big!
Adopt a Growth Mindset
Even though you're done with school, the learning doesn't stop here. If anything, now is the time to learn all the things they didn't teach you! You can learn something from every thing you do - whether it's your part-time job or your side project. If you're constantly on the lookout for what you can learn from a situation, everything you do will become a valuable use of your time. The skills you pick up will help you find your niche or area of expertise down the line!
Remember that Post-Grad Anxiety is Normal!
Hopefully, you find these action items helpful for dealing with post-grad anxiety. We're often fed the idea that we should have things figured out once we're done with school, but it's really just the beginning! Don't forget to give yourself the time and space to experiment, take a break, and sometimes fail. Building a fulfilling creative career is a marathon - not a sprint.
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