“The first task is going to be regaining your confidence”

Creative Career Conundrums is a weekly advice column from If You Could Jobs. Each week their selected panel of professionals from the creative industry answers your burning career questions to help you navigate the creative journey.

This week’s question:

I used to work in fashion photoshoot production and branding, but during the pandemic I was on a business trip and got sort of locked into being abroad, and I had to start English teaching to survive until I could leave. While living there I did a couple of published shoots, I wrote a poetry book, collaborated with photographers and I produced a lookbook remotely, but that’s it. I also ended up working for an agency where I was stuck, but they lied to me about payment and sponsorship of a visa and it ended badly. I now want to go back to where I was but my connections won’t really give me that chance anymore. I don't know where to start. I’m actually now 40 and a woman, so people may not consider me at all now.

How can I restart my career at this late age?

Katie Cadwell, co-founder of branding studio Lucky Dip and The NDA Podcast:

You’re not alone in facing a career crossroads. Many people struggle to return to the industry, whether they’ve been caring for a family member, raising children, or taking a break for other reasons.

For example, I recently listened to a brilliant podcast called Ghost Frame, that follows a motion designer (Sarah Beth Morgan) as she reaches a plateau in her career, not knowing what to do next. She talks to lots of creatives about their paths, and you realise that no one’s journey is linear – sitting on the precipice of your next move should be exciting, not daunting.

So the first task is going to be regaining your confidence. Knowing you have value to add, irrespective of your recent experience. The way you describe the past few years sounds tumultuous, but there will be positives to draw. You’ll need to reframe how you feel about it before you begin reaching out. If you doubt yourself and your abilities, that will come across immediately in interviews.

There are some workshops you could attend to kick start that process. Amy Kean runs an initiative called Good Shout, and more specifically, courses ‘to bring senior women out of their comfort zone’. Irrespective of the course contents, I think you’d find it empowering to meet like minded creative women at a similar stage in their careers. Jane Evans is worth following on Linkedin, as she’s leading the charge on conversations about mid-life creatives right now. It’s amazing how much internalised age-ism we all carry. Following her is a good start to try and break those biases.

Additionally, you can begin to rebuild your network. Long gone are the days of needing to attend coffee mornings or hand out business cards at conference breaks. Get onto LinkedIn, start by posting about where you’re at right now. I think so many people will resonate with how you’re feeling. You’ll find your new community there.

Finally, I want to say there are brilliant creative leaders who value life experience as highly as they do portfolios. Don’t write yourself off.

In answering your creative career conundrums we realise that some issues need expert support, so we’ve collated a list of additional resources that can support you across things that might arise at work.

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