As part of the Creative Opps' recent Mentorship Programme, Richard Turrell and Suzanne Boast joined Michelle Kambasha for a straight-talking fireside chat on careers in the creative industry.
Creative Opps have done a brilliant job turning that session into a greatest-hits guide to navigating the creative job market. Whether you're just starting out or a few years deep, these 10 takeaways are a sharp, practical reminder of how to keep moving forward. Take a look below! 👇
"When the Creative Opps Mentorship Scheme drew to a close at the end of May, 25 mentor–mentee pairs converged at Lanzarote Works for a final evening together. Ostensibly a wrap-party, the mixer doubled as a micro-masterclass thanks to guest speakers Suzanne Boast (nee Alden)and Richard Turrell of Handle Recruitment. Their straight-talk on job hunting, networking, and future-proofing a creative career put the past six months of mentorship into perspective, leaving every pair feeling more prepared and energised to enter the competitive creative job market.
One month later, those insights are still ricocheting — so here’s a distilled look at what was shared and why it matters.
Ten Take-Away Actions (in full)
1. Draft your CV of the future
Richard's line isn’t just a catchy sound-bite; it’s a strategy. Picture a résumé dated two or three years from now—one that already lists the dream title, the software you’ve mastered, the campaigns you’ve shipped. Once that imaginary document feels tangible, trace its bullet points back to today: which side-projects will supply those skills, which online course plugs the knowledge gap, which mentor can open the right door? Framing ambition this way turns wish-lists into step-by-step road maps.
2. Turn passion into clarity
Enthusiasm alone can sound like noise; hiring managers tune in only when they see the signal. That means translating buzzwords like passionate about design "into language that demonstrates value: "I“I care about design systems because they shrink dev time by 30 %.”Make the benefit explicit and your passion suddenly speaks their dialect.
3. Hunt the hidden market
“So many jobs don’t get advertised.” Suzanne reminded us that a hefty slice of vacancies never reach job boards. Instead, they’re filled through back-channel referrals, direct approaches or a quick DM that lands at the exact moment someone hands in their notice. Treat every project share, portfolio link-drop and coffee chat as a stealth application—because, in reality, it might be.
4. Live on the "boring" platform
Yes, LinkedIn feels like the beige waiting room of the internet, but that’s precisely why it works: the people with budget and final say are scrolling there during their first coffee. Keep your profile current, feed it small, thoughtful updates, and lend your voice to threads you genuinely care about. The algorithm rewards consistency long before it rewards viral bravado.
5. Lead with curiosity
Networking gets easier the moment you swap self-promotion for genuine questions. Ask a senior creative how they picked their first freelance rate; ask a recruiter what makes a portfolio memorable. The answers build rapport, and—crucially—they teach you something Google can’t...“Most people love to be asked about themselves".
6. Spreadsheet everything
No-one wants to be the candidate who forgets which version of their CV they emailed or which salary range they quoted. A simple sheet—date, company, contact, link, attachment name—turns chaos into recall-on-demand. When a recruiter rings unexpectedly, you’ll sound prepared because, well, you are.
7. Cover letters: specific or skip?
Think of the cover letter as a ticket to the main show (your CV). Make it laser-targeted—mention the hiring manager by name, mirror the language of the role, reference a recent project of theirs—and then copy every mission-critical detail into your résumé for the later stages. If specificity feels impossible, send your CV alone and spend the saved time tweaking your portfolio.
8. No easy delete buttons
Gatekeepers are ruthless because they have to be. Typos, giant attachments, broken links, a “To Whom It May Concern” greeting—all are instant excuses to declutter an inbox. Triple-check, send yourself a test email, open it on mobile, and only then hit the real Send. As Richard put it: “Don’t give them a reason to delete your email or to delete your application.”
9. Follow the shifting money
Budgets migrate. Ten years ago they lived with ad agencies; today a surprising volume sits inside fintechs, sports-data start-ups, even climate-tech R&D teams that suddenly need storytellers. Keep your sector radar wide, not just fixed on the usual creative hotspots. “There is money; it might just be in different places to what we historically know about.”, said Suzanne.
10. Network, 100%
Every conversation—Slack DM, conference queue chat, panel Q&A—is a chance to expand the circle that will one day recommend you. Treat these interactions like compound interest: small deposits now balloon into opportunity later. Ask, listen, follow up politely, and before long the "hidden job market" in point 3 feels a lot less hidden.
Suzanne & Richard's advice is proving as durable as it is practical. Plot your “CV of the future,” translate passion into clear value, track every application, show up where hiring managers actually look, and never give anyone an easy excuse to hit delete. Whether you’re fresh from our scheme, any others, or years into the game, these principles remain the quickest route from creative ambition to concrete opportunity. Keep them front and centre, and the next career milestone is already in sight."
About Creative Opps
"Creative Opps CIO was established in 2020 as a charity giving young people who have faced socio-economic disadvantage access to the tools, networks, and experience that they need to independently achieve their ambitions.
We deliver user-led programmes, designed by and for young people, to support members in creating positive change for themselves and their communities. Whether this be through mentoring, work placements or bespoke individual support, we are here to unlock potential and make a lasting impact on a young person’s life.
Our mission is to teach young people transferable skills relevant to their interests and guide them to successfully navigate their chosen pathways. Our vision is for all young people to understand the power of their creativity and use it to benefit their communities. Our values are Inclusivity, Diversity, Youth Leadership, Reflection, Innovation and Social Impact."
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About Handle Recruitment
We opened the doors in 1978 and built our reputation in the music industry. We quickly realised that a great brand is not always a household name. A great brand is something people connect with, not just a place they work. Somewhere that helps them become better at what they do. It could be a record label, it could be in media, it could be a tech start-up.
Supporting Great People in Marketing | Finance | HR | Office Support | Sales | Legal | Event Operations | Post-Production.
The Talent Solutions we provide, Permanent, Temporary and Interim Recruitment | People Consultancy | Outsourced Freelancer Payroll & Compliance.
The Industries we support: Music | Film | TV | Entertainment | Fashion | Live Events | Sport | Publishing | Post-production.