What Next - Careers Advisory Service - University College Falmouth

Your Degree in
Illustration – What Next ?
Emma Symes – Careers Adviser
emma.symes@falmouth.ac.uk
01326 370460
A service provided by University College Falmouth on behalf of University of Exeter & University College Falmouth.

Your Options……………………..
• Jobs in Illustration
• Jobs related to Illustration
• Jobs completely unrelated to Illustration
• Postgraduate Study
• Teaching
• Self Employment.
• Travelling!

Employment . . . The facts
• Majority of illustrators are freelance
• Jobs available in most areas but proximity to a city can be
advantageous, particularly if without an agent
• Agent can take up to 40% commission
• Earnings during the first year can be sporadic while contacts
build up
• Business skills are as important as creative skills.
• Short self-employment courses can be useful for understanding
all aspects of business and marketing

• Possible markets include:
The Work
• Editorial (magazines, newspapers and comics)
• Books
• Advertising (posters, story boards, press)
• Fashion (forecasting)
• Merchandising (greeting cards, calendars, t-shirts, ceramics etc)
• Corporate work (brochures, catalogues)
• Multimedia (video games, websites, animation)
• Specialisms:
• Scientific, technical, and medical illustration

Other jobs related to Illustration
• Graphic Designer
• Art Director – advertising
• Animator
• Multi-Media Specialist
• Medical Illustrator
• Fashion Illustrator
• Picture researcher/editor
• Printmaker
• Games Developer
• www.prospects.ac.uk

Destinations 2010
• Freelance Illustrator – Bristol / Devon / Isle of Lewis / Wales
• Junior Graphic Designer – James Ellis Stevens Ltd
• Artist in Residence – Greentree Gallery, Haywards Heath
• Brand Activation Executive – Maxxium Uk Ltd, Stirling
• Graphic Designer – Seasalt, Falmouth
• Junior Account Executive – Fuller Creative, Brighton
• Computer Games Artist Sega Games – Creative Assembly
• Youth Worker – Devon County Council Exeter
• Self-Employed Masseuse – Exeter
• Wardrobe Assistant – History in the Making Ltd, Hampshire
• Waitress – 3 Wishes Cafe, Sherbourne
• Student Mentor – UCCF (Christian Unions, Leicester)
• Studying: MA Illustration, Life Drawing

Did you know?
60% of Graduate vacancies do not specify the
degree discipline
Employers are looking for:
• A Good degree
• Work Experience
• Transferable Skills:
- Communication skills
- Research skills
- Team working skills
- Ability to meet dead-lines
- Plus motivation and interest

event organiser…librarian…
holiday rep…financial adviser…
social work…journalism…
television…human resources…
marketing…advertising…
accountancy…theme park manager…
retail management…legal work…
youth work…publishing…
public relations…hospitality management…
stockbroker…personal trainer…
business management…local government…
personal assistant…charity fundraiser…
estate agent…pilot…
careers adviser…counsellor…
wines and spirits retailer?

So, how do I make that leap to the next
stage?

Relevant Skills
In order to embark on a career as an illustrator you need:
• The ability to market you skills in order to secure commissions:
negotiating, pricing and deadlines
• Professionalism
• Imagination and creative thinking
• Knowledge of CAD techniques and printing processes, including
computer graphics
• Research skills
• Ability to produce work in multi-media format

Tips for success!
• You need to have a clear strategy and a highly
professional approach in your job search.
• You should have a business card, a CV detailing your
skills, experience and interests, and a structured
portfolio of work / website.
• Excellent networking skills are needed in this
competitive area.

Know what the employer is looking for.
Know the job and the employer –
research
Know what you have to offer (selfawareness)
Prioritise, and place key ‘selling points’
on the first page
Powerful, active, positive language
Think visually – how does it look?
Get people to proof read for errors!
* * * Write an effective cover letter! * * *
Tips for success?
Develop your skills
• Academic Work
• Employment
• Placement/Work Experience
• Voluntary Work
• Interests & Activities
• Travel
• Responsibilities

Security?
What are you seeking?
Self
employment?
Variety?
Respect/prestige?
Your
preferences
Good training?
Intellectual
stimulation?
Chance to
make a
difference?
High salary?

Work Experience + Transferable Skills
= The
X
Factors

Transferable Skills
You may have more Skills than you think
• Look at yourself in a wider perspective
Student, voluntary work, part-time work
• “I only work in a bar”

Transferable skills
You will need to provide EVIDENCE of these on your CV,s
• Self-Reliance Skills – Self-management *
Self-awareness * Pro activity * Networking
Willingness to learn * Self –promotion
• People Skills – Team working * Interpersonal skills * Oral
communication * Leadership * Foreign Language
• General Skills - Problem-solving * Flexibility *Business Acumen
* IT/Computer Literacy * Commitment
• Specialist Skills – Occupational skills * Technical skills *
Professional skills

Sources of vacancies
• Creative Opportunities – University of the Arts
• Creative Living
• Creative Review
• Artshole
• Mad
• Children’s Illustrators
• The Creative Handbook
• Writers and Artists Handbook
• a-n magazine
• Media Bugs

Sources of Vacancies/Directories
• Artyfacts – Vacancy Bulletin
• Advertisers Handbook
• “The Guardian – Monday Creative and Media
• The Independent – Wednesday
• Association of Illustrators
• Medical Artists Association of Great Britain
• Design & Art Direction (D&AD)

• Ambit
• Comics Journal
Journals / Publications
• 3 by 3 Contemporary Illustration
• Juxtapox
• Newyorker
• Visual communication
• The Journal – The Association of Illustrators
• Writers and Artists Yearbook

Other Jobs….
60% of Graduate vacancies do not specify the
degree discipline
Employers are looking for transferable skills:
E.G.
• Communication skills
• Research skills
• Team working skills
• Ability to meet dead-lines
• Plus motivation and interest

• Human resources
• Retail buyer
• Training
• IT
• Administration (Arts)
• Marketing
• M15!
• Campaigns Organiser
• Events Manager
• Accountancy
• Finance
General Graduate Jobs

• www.prospects.ac.uk
• Prospects directory
• www.doctorjob.co.uk
General Graduate Jobs
• Guardian newspaper, The Daily Telegraph etc.
• www.gradsouthwest.com
• www.unlockingcornishpotential.co.uk

• Prospects Planner
• www.prospects.ac.uk
Completely Unsure

Postgraduate Study
• www.prospects.ac.uk search courses
• Prospects post graduate directory
• Prospectuses
All available in the careers library

FUNDING
Post Graduate Funding
• Enquire at the institution where you are planning to
study
• Arts & Humanities Research Council www.ahrc.ac.uk
• Funderfinder – computer package in the careers
library
• Postgraduate Funding Guide
• Careers Development loan

TEACHING
How do you know you want to teach?
Preliminary research:
• Visits to schools
• www.GTTR.ac.uk Graduate Teacher Training
Registry (GTTR)
• www.gtce.org.uk/ General Teaching Council for
England (GTCE)
• www.tda.gov.uk/ Training and Development
Agency (TDA)
• Student Associate Scheme (SAS) - Cornwall

How do I apply for a PGCE course?
You must apply through the GRADUATE TEACHER TRAINING REGISTRY
(GTTR)
To apply for any courses through the GTTR, you will need to complete an
online application.
You can submit up to 4 choices of ITT provider, listed in order of preference.
You cannot submit more than one application in the same cycle.
The application fee for 2010 entry is £17.
Consult the relevant prospectus to research the course and to check that
you can satisfy the admission requirements.
Entry profiles, containing more detailed information about courses, are
available on this site. www.GTTR.ac.uk

Preparation for application
Demonstrate that you have gained experience of working with children,
or that you intend to do so before interview.
Does the course have an 'Open Day' or end of term exhibitions that
you can visit? If you wish to make an informal visit, ring the tutor
beforehand to check whether it is convenient.
Does the course have a distinctive structure, emphasis, reputation?
Rank your choice of PGCE course. Check out the size of courses and the
likelihood of being called for interview at your first choice (subsequent
choices might have filled up quickly with first time applicants).
Double check your eligibility - degree, GCSE at C grade or above in
English Language and Mathematics. If you do not have these GCSE
qualifications, check whether the institution provides 'equivalence'
tests.

Self – Employment / Freelance
• Business Link –www.blinkdandc.com
• Creative Skills – www.creativeskills.org.uk
• Unlocking Cornish Potential – UCP
Graduate Business Start Up Support
• “Working for yourself” – both by The Daily Telegraph.
• Princes Trust
www.princes-trust.org.uk
• Shell Live-wire
www.shell-livewire.org

Travelling
Travelling Independently
Round the World ticket – Trailfinders
See Publication – Work your way around the World
www.anyworkanywhere.com
Ski or Watersport season
http://www.natives.co.uk/skijobs/skijobs.htm

Travelling
Teaching English as a Foreign language TEFL
“JET” , “British Council” + other teaching programmes.
TEFL course available across UK – nearest Truro
College
Working in the USA
BUNAC” www.bunac.org –work abroad programme
US,Canada,Australia,New Zealand

Travelling
Could you Travel and find work related to your Degree?
Benn’s Media (available in the Careers library)
Ferdinand Zweig – Falmouth Travel Bursary –
Closing date – end March 2011
Voluntary Work – Home or Abroad
http://www.wwv.org.uk/
or Worldwide Volunteering publication

Other Sources of Help
• http://careers.falmouth.ac.uk
• Books and Handouts on CV’s
• Video – Interview Technique.
• Careers Interviews:
Every day book for an appointment
Careers Co-ordinator 01326 253273
• Drop-in (Tremough): Just turn up
Every day except Wednesday 9.30 – 11.30

How to contact us.
• In person (Woodlane Library or Tremough - Academic Services)
• Phone 01326 253735 x 2735
• careers@falmouth.ac.uk
• Website careers.falmouth.ac.uk
• Emma Symes Careers adviser
emma.symes@falmouth.ac.uk
• Good Luck and go for it !