Jobs for creatives

Friday, April 21, 2023 /

Working as a creative is an alluring prospect, and with many remote options becoming available, there is no shortage of job opportunities. Creative careers demand imagination and innovation and, in turn, offer rewards and exciting career incentives such as flexible employment and fulfilling work.

There are many opportunities in creative fields as long as you are motivated and passionate about your chosen career path. This article examines the prospects and benefits of working in a creative field. We’ll also take an in-depth look at five creative career paths you may want to consider.

Creative careers in demand

Creative jobs are doing well in Australia, with the average wage for creative workers being 24% higher than the overall Australian workforce. Additionally, job growth in the creative industry is nearly double that of other occupations. Not only is there evidence of growing prospects, but creative careers also provide significant benefits. Some benefits that those in creative jobs experience include:

Flexibility
Creative careers often allow you to choose your hours, free of the rigid 9 to 5 structure. Many creatives even develop their own freelancing businesses as their sole or additional income source.
Inspiration
Working in a creative environment inspires innovation, allowing you to develop your skillset further and potentially pioneer a new technique.
Enthusiasm
Creative careers strengthen your ability to self-motivate and take the reigns of your professional development.
Networking
Successfully sourcing connections with other professional creatives and future clients is crucial to your success. By gaining experience in networking, you’ll gain stronger communication skills and greater confidence.

Creative skills

Creative careers are also beneficial for professional development, encouraging skills development such as:

Teamwork skills
Creative teams often require different skillsets and approaches, meaning you’ll need to adapt quickly to working with others.
Design skills
No matter the creative field, whether furniture making or makeup artistry, you’ll need to develop an eye for detail. Because of this, you may naturally improve your design and aesthetic skills.
Problem-solving skills
As a creative, the problems you face will have endless solutions. This means that you’ll develop versatile problem-solving skills and the ability to choose the best solution for each client.

If you’re interested in a creative career, studying at SWTAFE will present you with many creative job opportunities.

Makeup artist

Makeup artists (or MUAs) are extremely popular as social influencers and entrepreneurs and earn an average salary of $50,000 per annum. Makeup artistry also plays an important role in creative industries such as film, stage, television, and fashion. Additionally, MUAs also work in retail and events, helping individuals achieve the perfect look.

As an MUA, you must understand all the details about skin types, face shapes, and application techniques. The face is your canvas! Makeup artistry is about more than just making someone look pretty. It can also involve using prosthetics, airbrushing, and painting to achieve fantasy and horror designs.

To start your journey as an MUA, SWTAFE offers a huge range of courses, including:

Certificate III in Beauty Services
- This course will teach you skills in makeup application and various beauty services. These beauty services include waxing, lash and brow tinting, eyelash extensions, spray tanning, manicures, pedicures and nail art. This course is also delivered with practical tasks and assessments at Pure Academy, a fully-functioning salon. To enrol in this course, you must be 16 or older and have a year 10 or equivalent. You will also be required to obtain a Police Check before commencing.
Certificate III in Beauty Services (Traineeship)
- This course is for employed trainees in beauty salons or day spas. It offers the same skills as the regular Certificate III. The previously mentioned entry requirements also still apply.
Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
- A step above the Certificate III, this certificate builds on previous beauty skills and prepares you for salon work. This course also requires a Police Check, year 10 or equivalent and that you are 16 years of age or older.
Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy (Traineeship)
- This course offers the same skills as the regular Certificate IV. However, it is offered exclusively to currently employed trainees, where their place of employment is a beauty salon or day spa. The previously mentioned entry requirements also still apply.
Diploma of Beauty Therapy
- This course offers beauty skill development and additional knowledge in hot stone therapy, spa treatments and specialised facials. This course also provides experience in the Pure Academy salon and work placement through SWTAFE’s industry partners. To enrol in this course, you will need to have completed year 12. You will also need to demonstrate an ACSF level or 3 or provide evidence of completing a Certificate IV or higher qualification. Finally, you must be 17 years or older and have a Police Check and Working With Children check.

Hairdresser

From mohawks and mullets to wolf cuts and bobs, hair can allow great creative expression. When working with clients, hairdressers and barbers can be creative with their cuts, colours, and styles. Additionally, hairdressers must have an eye for detail and a dedication to sanitary practices.

SWTAFE offers numerous courses to prepare you for work as a hairdresser or barber, including:

Certificate III in Hairdressing
- Learn everything there is to know about hairdressing in this course. Gain skills in client consultation, hair and scalp treatments, haircutting, hair design, hair colour, lightening, chemical reformation, extensions and protein straightening. You also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the Pure Living Hair and Beauty salon. To enrol in this course, you must be 16 or older and have a year 10 or equivalent. You also must complete a Police Check before commencing.
Certificate III in Hairdressing (Apprenticeship)
- This course is identical to the regular Certificate III; however, it is offered exclusively to employed apprentices/trainees. All other entry requirements remain the same.
Certificate III in Barbering
- Learn traditional men’s haircutting structures and techniques, as well as beard and moustache grooming. This course also offers hands-on experience at the Pure Living Hair and Beauty salon. To enrol in this course, you must be 16 or older and have a year 10 or equivalent. You also must complete a Police Check before commencing.
Certificate III in Barbering (Apprenticeship)
- This course offers the same skills as the regular Certificate III; however, it is offered exclusively to employed apprentices/trainees. All other entry requirements remain the same.

Nail technician

Working as a nail technician is a fun and creative career, with many experimental designs currently trending in the nail art world. Nail technicians are skilled in maintaining and decorating carefully groomed fingernails and toenails with different colour polishes and decals. On average, nail technicians earn $55,000 a year performing pedicures, manicures and nail enhancements on their clients.

Becoming a nail technician does not require any formal qualifications. However, poor hygiene practices and techniques will quickly tarnish a nail tech's reputation. Learning the best practices as a qualified nail technician can improve your chance of success.

SWTAFE can help you begin your career as a nail technician with our Certificate III in Nail Technology. This certificate teaches you skills in manicure, pedicure, gel and acrylic nail enhancements and nail art. To enrol in this course, you must be at least 16 years old and have completed year 10 or equivalent. You’ll also need to complete a Police Check.

Additional courses offered at SWTAFE that can prepare you for work as a nail technician include our:

Commercial cook

Commercial cook might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to creativity, but as a cook, you’ll have the opportunity to create, plan and cook exciting menus with any combination of dishes. As a cook, you’ll make an average salary of $57,000 per annum in Australia and help with a number of tasks such as:

Supply management
Menu planning
Food preparation and presentation
Safe food handling
Cleaning
Customer service
Hospitality

If you’re interested in exploring a career as a commercial cook, check out our commercial cookery classes below:

Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
- This course will teach you skills in food safety, hygiene, supply management and overall cookery skills. This course provides you with hands-on skills and experience at our Warrnambool location and will prepare you for a career as a cook in restaurants, hotels, clubs, pubs, cafes and coffee shops. Enrolling in this course requires participating in a careers consultation with the Pathfinders Skills and Jobs Centre before commencing.
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (Apprenticeship)
- This course is for employed apprentices in cookery positions. It offers the same skills as the regular Certificate III. The only entry requirement for this course is an apprenticeship with a registered employer.

Furniture maker

Furniture makers, also known as cabinet makers, are woodworkers specialising in furniture making. This job is highly creative and hands-on, enabling you to design, build and even restore furniture such as cabinets, tables, chairs and more.

At SWTAFE, we offer two courses in furniture making:

Certificate II in Furniture Making
- This pre-apprenticeship course will teach you skills in carpentry, furniture making and cabinet making and covers basic furniture-making requirements such as safe hand and power tool use, understanding joints and construction, furniture assembly and static machine use. There are no entry requirements for this course.
Certificate III in Cabinet Making (Apprenticeship)
- This apprenticeship course will prepare you with the tools you need to go into a fully-fledged furniture-making career, learning in-depth, hands-on skills in selecting and measuring timber and installing and fabricating custom furniture and cabinetry. This course requires current employment as an apprentice in the cabinet-making industry.

Creative Jobs

This is only a small list of the many creative careers that you can pursue. There are heaps of ways to work in creative jobs, such as painting and photography. You could also consider writing or graphic design. Or you might consider a pathway in web development, creatively solving problems and building functional, beautiful websites.

Other creative jobs to explore include:

Copywriter
Packaging designer
Set designer
Media editor
Media designer
Interior designer
Event planner
Journalist
Illustrator
Tattoo artist

Realistically, any job can be creative with the right mindset and approach. The most important thing you can do to further your career is to show a willingness to learn. A creative career allows you to control your professional development and work in a field that interests and motivates you. SWTAFE offers numerous creative courses and opportunities in addition to the five discussed.