#54 How Do You Get a Job In India's Creative Industry?
Recession, layoffs, no new hires, etc. are things we hear on a daily basis. But is this true for the creative industry in India?
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Welcome to The Book People, a weekly newsletter on the business of media and storytelling.
The Indian economy, similar to many others worldwide, has experienced a slowdown in recent quarters. This has resulted in fewer job opportunities, reduced salaries, fewer promotions and appraisals, and delayed hiring. However, the Indian creative industry has not faced the repercussions of this as severely as other industries in India, or even creative industries in other countries. Job listings for Indian tech giants have dropped by 90% compared to 2022, and in America, digital media houses like Vice and Buzzfeed News have shut down operations and Penguin Random House New York fired two of its publishers.
However, creative industries in India, like publishing, digital media, podcasting, OTT content, etc. are thriving. Publishers are launching imprints, corporations are viewing podcasts and magazines as effective marketing tools, and the digital media market is said to triple in the next 6 years.
There are also more job opportunities for recent graduates as well as seasoned professionals. As we compile job opportunities across the industry every week, we’ve noticed an increase in job opportunities by traditional publishers in the past few weeks, as well as more start-ups hiring for multidisciplinary roles.
However, this field is getting increasingly competitive because many people are trying to enter the industry. And, because there are no barriers to entry like a professional degree or course, it all comes down to how you set yourself apart.
So what are companies looking for?
An understanding of the ecosystem: This means having an in-depth understanding of the trends and knowledge of top companies, writers, awards, etc.
Previous experience or certification: Experience of working in that field, or a degree, certification, or diploma that shows you have the understanding and knowledge required to work in the industry.
Proof of Skills: Any work sample that shows you're competent enough to actually do the work given to you, i.e., writing samples, marketing plans, scripts, etc.
These pointers may seem simple enough at first glance, but putting them into practice becomes a dilemma for most newcomers. For example, how do you show previous experience without ever having worked in this industry? How do you keep up with trends if you don’t know where to start? What kind of work samples are recruiters even looking for?
Sounds stressful, doesn’t it? But there are many ways to tackle these questions and make it easier to pitch yourself to recruiters.
Almost all creative professions require you to have a portfolio, i.e., a collection of your previous work.
If you’re an editor, a portfolio for you would comprise of articles/manuscripts/short stories/etc. that show the kinds of edits you have done to improve the work. If you haven’t edited anything professionally, you could always edit your own work or your friend's work and include that in your portfolio.
If you’re a graphic designer, you can set up a portfolio on Behance to showcase the different kinds of designs you have done.
If you’re looking to start as a freelance writer, write a few articles on the niche you are interested in so companies can assess your writing skills.
If you still don’t know where to start and want more in-depth knowledge of the industry before you choose your career path, you can take up a course that teaches you about the industry, like The Bound Publishing Course.
This is a 3-month online course that gives you a complete overview of the Indian media, publishing, and digital content industry. This Course goes beyond theory and gives you a chance to network with over 50 industry leaders who are part of the Course faculty. It also helps you decide helps with placements with a recruitment drive and career assistance.
Job Board
Discover the best opportunities in India’s publishing and creative industries.
Copy Editor - Aleph Book Company - New Delhi-based
Key responsibilities include working with colleagues from sales, marketing, production, and operations, in addition to editorial work. Know more about the job here.
Interested candidates can send in their applications to editorial@alephbookcompany.com.
Graphic Designers - Fingerpint! Publishing - Noida-based
Passionate and ambitious graphic designers for an in-house position to craft stunning covers across our list. Know more about the job here.
Interested candidates can send in their applications to gavin.morris@prakashbooks.com.
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