“It seems to be something we can’t avoid”

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:

Speaking honestly, it is me and many others I speak to, that are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the creative world (I’m a junior art director). Internships/placements/apprenticeships and lower level jobs (where all juniors generally cut their teeth) in the creative world are being taken away because “there's not enough budget” or it’s “too time consuming to help train”. With the rise of AI software, simple jobs that would be given to new starters (ie. copy, alternative media, strategy, socials etc), are now being prompted in AI by mid-level creatives, because it is quicker and cheaper (but not necessarily better, in my opinion). How are new creative talent expected to elbow their way in? What will happen to the creative food chain when mid-levels are promoted to senior and there is no one there to replace them with enough experience? Why is the ladder into the industry slowly being pulled up?

What are agencies, and the creative industry as a whole, going to do about AI replacing junior-level roles (And asking mid-level positions to manage this)? What will happen if new talent is not helped into the industry?

Shanice Mears, co-founder and head of culture & communities at The Elephant Room:

The rise of AI, I think, has had a hit on jobs, widely. The effect has caused the industry to take a slight pause, and that is not to dismiss the concern or effects when it comes to junior roles, because I think you’re right when it comes to career development, we have a responsibility as an industry and as leaders to make sure that junior talent coming in can see a path for themselves and be supported throughout.

I just think that the way in which the industry is heading, it seems to be something we can’t avoid. I’d advise thinking about ways to use it to your advantage and what that might look like as an enhancement rather than feeling fear, although I know it’s easier said than done.

I do also think you should think about your way into the industry. Depending on who you are, where your based and what you can apply for, there are several things you can to do to enhance your learning, re: mentorship programmes, networking events, online portfolio reviews (which I know Creative Lives In Progress does). Or industry players like D&AD have their night school. The key here is to not feel discouraged because I know when you are junior it can be easy to do that. Also think about ways to enhance your portfolio – is there a personal project you’ve done or could do, maybe there’s a way to share more online?

I think all of this will contribute to your CV. The landscape or barrier to entry is changing and I think we need to feel more equipped on what that now looks like, and more empowered.

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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