Published 4 Jul 2018

High Demand Careers for Creatives: 7 Dream Jobs That Actually Pay

by Olivia Blazevic

Does your stomach churn at the thought of working in an office? Is your dream to turn your creative aspirations into a full-time career?

Then look no further, because we’ve compiled a creative jobs list of 7 innovative careers that are sure to inspire you to take the leap and find your creative calling.

Creative Careers in Australia

It’s a common misconception that artsy careers don’t make money – leaving us creatives torn between our passion and the need to generate a stable income. Generally speaking, the bulk of us choose the latter as a priority, leaving our creativity boxed up and never to see the light of day again.

The tricky thing about being an artist, is that along with creating your ‘art’ you also need to be making a stable living. This is why to be successful, you must create a harmonious relationship between your passion and profit. Below are 7 creative career paths that do exactly that, and won’t leave you living pay check to pay check.

1. Interior Designer

How to Become an Interior Designer – Qualification: Professional Interior Design Course

Interior Design Job Description

Interior Designers are responsible for the planning, design and details for building interiors. This can range from the construction of commercial and industrial spaces, to retail and residential spaces. Interior Designers focus on planning, creating and enhancing these environments.

Very Strong

Job Growth

$52,0

Annual Interior Design Salary Australia

What do Interior Designers Do?

Day to day, Interior Designers will do some of the following tasks:

Discuss design concepts and offer advice to clients
Evaluate a clients’ requests
Develop and design building and retail interiors, residential and other general spaces
Organise interior foundations such as lighting and air-conditioning
Organise drawings and other decorating guidelines
Design furniture
Work collaboratively with contractors and tradespeople in the early stages of the design process

Top 5 Skills

Active Listening

82% important

Speaking

78% important

Reading Comprehension

75% important

Service Orientation

72% important

Social Perceptiveness

72% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Design

95% important

Customer and Personal Service

85% important

Building and Construction

83% important

English Language

81% important

Administration and Management

73% important

Browse Interior Design Courses

2. Beauty Therapist

How to Become a Beauty Therapist – Qualification: Diploma of Beauty Therapy

What is a Beauty Therapist: Job Description

Beauty Therapists are responsible for performing a variety of beauty treatments on clients, involving, but not limited to skincare, body treatments, nail care, spa therapy and aromatherapy. Beauty Therapists may also perform some administrative duties such as greeting clients and taking bookings.

Very Strong

Job Growth

$44,0

Beauty Therapist Salary Australia

What Do Beauty Therapists Do?

Speaking with clients about their needs, examining their skin and providing guidance on skin care, treatments and cosmetic application
Performing manicures and pedicures, this may include decorative nail art, artificial nails, nail repair, and other nail-focused treatments
Executing facial and body treatments, for example massages
Hair removal through services such as waxing, bleaching, laser hair removal and other specialised treatments
Other housekeeping tasks such as taking bookings, coordinating appointments and upholding client records
Offering advice on and selling cosmetic products

Top 5 Event Management Skills

Active Listening

78% important

Speaking

75% important

Service Orientation

72% important

Critical Thinking

68% important

Active Learning

65% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service

89% important

Sales and Marketing

73% important

Administration and Management

60% important

Education and Training

59% important

English Language

57% important

Browse Beauty Therapy Courses

3. Wedding Coordinator/Event Planner

How to Become a Wedding Planner – Qualification:
Diploma of Event Management

Event Planner Job Description

Event Planners are employed by clients to organise and coordinate services for a wide range of events, which include conferences, functions such as birthdays and weddings, industry events and general seminars.

Very Strong

Job Growth

$54,000

Event Planner Salary

What Does an Event Planner Do?

Promoting events to potential customers
Answering queries regarding services provided and the price for room and equipment rental, as well as catering and other associated services
Meeting with clients to speak with them about their needs, then discussing package options to achieve the clients’ goals
Arranging a variety of services catering, displays, decorations, audiovisual equipment, location and venue, transport and more
Negotiating the type and costs of services to be provided within budget
Supervising work done by tradespeople and contractors

Event Management Skills

Active Listening

80% important

Reading Comprehension

80% important

Speaking

80% important

Coordination

78% important

Critical Thinking

78% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service

87% important

English Language

85% important

Communications and Media

74% important

Clerical

70% important

Administration and Management

69% important

Browse Event Management Courses

4. Graphic Designer

How to Become a Graphic Designer – Qualification: Graphic Design Diploma

Graphic Design Job Description

Graphic or Creative Designers create visual concepts to convey notions through informing and inspiring, and in turn capturing the attention of consumers. Graphic Design can be done both as freelance and in-house.

Very Strong

Job Growth

$50,0

Graphic Design Salary Australia

What Do Graphic Designers Do?

Deciding on both objectives and constraints of the design brief via discussions with clients
Carrying out research and assessing the communication requirements as requested by the client/client brief
Undertaking research and examining communication requirements
Inventing design concepts for the objective to be effectively communicated
Organising mock-ups, layouts, sketches and illustrations to convey design concepts
Keeping client files on record for future use

Top 5 Graphic Design Skills

Active Listening

78% important

Reading Comprehension

75% important

Critical Thinking

70% important

Time Management

70% important

Coordination

68% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Communications and Media

90% important

Design

89% important

Fine Arts

84% important

Computers and Electronics

78% important

English Language

69% important

Browse Graphic Design Courses

5. Copywriter

How to Become a Freelance Writer in Australia – Qualification:
Certificate IV in Marketing

Copywriter Job Description

Copywriters can work either permanently in-house or on a freelance basis, to create written content that is focused around marketing, advertising and general descriptive content. This copy can range from more creative text, SEO-focused text or more research-based text, with many other forms found in between.

Strong

Job Growth

$55,0

Copywriter Salary

What Do Copywriters Do?

Speaking with the client about the primary message they’d like to convey and their target audience
Discussing visual and content concepts with other team members
Producing drafts to present to clients
Adjusting the content until the client is content with the final result

Top 5 Skills

Active Listening

85% important

Reading Comprehension

85% important

Writing

82% important

Speaking

80% Important

Critical Thinking

75% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

English Language

99% important

Communications and Media

93% important

Law and Government

79% important

Telecommunications

60% important

Computers and Electronics

59% important

Browse Copywriting Courses

6. Photographer

How to Become a Photographer – Qualification:
Diploma of Photography

Photographer Job Description

A self-explanatory one here – a photographer is essentially an artist with a camera. Photographers utilise a combination of technical skills and creative flair to take photographs of just about anything. Majority of photographers are self-employed.

Different Types of Photography

From weddings, people and places, to landscapes and nature, the possibilities are really endless with the photography industry.

Strong

Job Growth

$53,0

Photographer Salary

What Does a Photographer Do?

Adjusting camera settings such as apertures, shutter speeds and focus depending on environmental factors as well as what effect is desired
Testing equipment before its use to ensure it is working efficiently
Setting up artificial lighting and other equipment, such as flashes and reflectors
Determining picture composition
Enhancing, retouching and resizing images if requested and required, using digital software and other equipment

Top 5 Skills

Active Listening

75% important

Speaking

70% important

Service Orientation

62% important

Social Perceptiveness

62% important

Active Learning

60% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service

87% Important

Sales and Marketing

84% Important

Computers and Electronics

77% Important

Fine Arts

74% important

English Language

64% important

Browse Photography Courses

7. Social Media Manager

How to Become a Social Media Manager – Qualification: Diploma of Social Media Marketing

Social Media Manager Job Description

A Social Media Manager is responsible for putting a social strategy into place, depending on client or company goals, whilst also monitoring any other actions from other colleagues. The Social Media Manager has the final say in which platforms are best suited to the businesses industry and what kind of creative content and copy you will make.

Strong

Job Growth

$58,0

Social Media Manager Salary

What Does a Social Media Manager Do?

Produce a business social media strategy and develop steps to put this into place
Produce creative concepts that align with the client’s/organisation’s goals
Recognise influential opportunities, engage regularly with audiences via selected online platforms
Sign off on social media content, copy, tactics and other campaigns
Have knowledge of effective copywriting, creativity, analytics, SEO knowledge and general organisation skills

Top 5 Skills

Active Listening

80% important

Social Perceptiveness

80% important

Speaking

80% important

Time Management

78% important

Critical Thinking

75% important

Top 5 Knowledge Areas

English Language

87% important

Communications and Media

87% important

Administration and Management

82% important

Sales and Marketing

78% Important

Customer and Personal Service

76% important

Browse Social Media Courses

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