Many students ask me how to get a job in their field of Multimedia without any professional experience or a network…
I agree that there are very few job posting for a “Freelance Multimedia Designer interested in web, print or programming, no experience necessary.”, but this shouldn’t hold us back from creating doing those jobs. It takes some hard work and planning.
My Advice…
I would recommend signing up for a taxation number (it’s free in most countries) and get yourself an accountant to read the “Yearly projected income” tax stuff. If you have this, you wouldn’t be afraid to give customers two prices, the full price or the promotional price. (you know what I mean?)
Learn who you are.
Sit down one night with a bottle of red wine, and no interruptions, and write your personal profile. Everything you can think about yourself as a child, as a person, as a creative, as a parent, your likes and dislikes, everything! It’s very therapeutic and can eventually clarify your professional intentions and project an image of your future desired working environment. Write a book about yourself if you have to, just put it in print. This will be for your eyes only so don’t try to put yourself down or boost yourself up.
Now start promoting yourself.
Take the main points from what you have learnt about yourself after reading and re-reading your personal profile and make a simple website. Use an open source CMS (WordPress, joomla) so you don’t have to mess with it too much. Make yourself an “About” page for transparency and a portfolio page with some of your work and a contact page with links to everywhere on the net you can be found.
Use social networking for SEO. Remove any drunken party pictures from the internet and make a Facebook page. Tweet your field of expertise and show interesting videos on your YouTube channel, …etc….
Start your own community (or join an existing one) and recruit members who may want your product or who know someone who may want your product. Discuss up-and -coming developments with other members. Make alliances with other Multimedia-ites and link to their web pages and have them link back to you.
Sign up to get information from all the freelance jobs forums out there. Although you may never use them, it’s great for inspiration.
Put some comfy shoes on and get out there. Make some alliances with your local pubs, cafes and restaurants. They are always looking for free media and it’s a great way to promote both of you.
Most of all, start believing in yourself already now. There is a thin line between seeing yourself as a professional or an armature. It’s all about integrity and having a professional attitude. Don’t let any one ever tell you differently or you will always feel like you are just starting.
See: Jante Law
Have fun and have pride in your work, no matter how it compares to anyone else’s. It’s your unique selling point.