PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Tafe Queensland to get y’all chasing yo’ dreams, because we don’t reckon you should wait to make great happen, no matter how big or small. Keep reading for some career direction inspo before sussing pathways into these roles via Tafe Queensland HERE.
Look, no one should pursue a career just because it pays well – that’s how quarterlife / midlife crises come about to bite you on the “I’m bored shitless” booty. Then again, there ain’t nothing wrong with pursuing a career that you’re interested in that also just so happens to pay insanely well.
The Creative Industry is a combination of industries that involve some degree of (yep, YOU GUESSED IT!!!!!) creativity. Traditionally these gigs don’t pay the best, especially at an entry level, but a few top tier roles will have you sorted financially for the rest of your life. That being said, it’s not an overnight exercise. You’ll have to work your ass off for years and even then there’s no guarantee that you’ll land the-best-of-the-best spot.
If you’re in it for the long haul and want to flex those creative muscles then consider some of these damn-fine jobs, y’all.
FASHION – Creative Director
The mantle of Creative Director can be irritatingly ambiguous for those who aren’t familiar with the role, because it’s used within several creative sectors. Like, you ‘direct’ creativity? Groundbreaking.
In the fashion industry, the Creative Director’s job is to know the brand aesthetic better (and more thoroughly) than their Birkin bag inner stitching. They’d think top-level and come up with broader concepts, colours and inspiration that’ll appeal to the brand’s demographic, then communicate those ideas to the design team. Their crew will design based on this direction, come back seeking approval / revisions before getting the thumbs up to get ‘em made.
For major labels, Creative Directors can easily make upwards of $250K annually – with smaller organisations usually paying between $120-$240K.
ADVERTISING – Digital Strategy Manager
Firstly, it’s time to bin the misconception that working with numbers / data doesn’t require creativity. When it comes to strategising the delivery of advertising in a digital landscape, you’ll first and foremost need to know your shit (like what variables are legit valuable vs. what’s not), as well as be creative enough to read between the lines (e.g. unearth insights that’d be missed by your average Joe / suggest direction with data to back it all up).
In addition to making upwards of $180K annually (usual range: $110K-$180K), Digital Strategy Managers are at the very core of their organisations. They work with all internal directors to suss what their specific marketing needs are, and develop strategy concepts that utilise new or preexisting technological infrastructure. In other words, you’ll use your strategy savvy to ascertain how to best deliver advertising results and make everyone a fuck load of moola.
MARKETING – Marketing Director
Reckon you could keep both eyes on a company’s image, brand and standing in the market without getting distracted? If you’re nodding your head in agreement, then working your way up to being a Marketing Director could be a solid fit. You’ll be making sure the needs of client / customers / future customers are met, as well as ensuring all the messaging you’re putting out their is communicating how your business is meeting dem needs.
Quality Marketing Directors are worth their weight in gold to large enterprises, with guns in the field equipped with several years of experience easily clearing $300K annually.
RETAIL – General Manager
General Managers in retail (fashion, luxe goods, etc) aren’t just a specific pocket of a organisation’s eyes and ears, they’re literally everyone’s eyes and ears. Like, they’ve got a lot of responsibility, which is probably why huge businesses fork out over $365K a year for a good’un.
GMs are in charge of planning, directing and coordinating all facets of a business – a fkn huge undertaking tbh. They’ll crack the whip when they have to in an effort to ensure everyone’s following tried and tested procedures, or scrap systems if they’re becoming inefficient. Lastly, they’ll be responsible for the hiring and firing of folks, but this predominantly happens at the top level.
PUBLISHING – Editor-In-Chief
Yeah, look, we won’t waste your time describing what an Editor-In-Chief‘s main duties are, because we’re assuming you belong to the majority of the population who know / love The Devil Wears Prada (ily Aunty Meryl 5eva). What we will do, however, is walk you through what Vogue‘s Editor-In-Chief / inspo for the aforementioned book and movie, Anna Wintour, is making.
Anna Wintour’s, y’know, Anna Wintour – she’s held her current title at Vogue since 1998 and is also Condé Nast‘s (the publisher that owns Vogue) Artistic Director. Even still, her reported US$2mil pay cheque is fkn mind blowing, not to mention her $200K wardrobe allowance.
On home turf, however, you’re likely looking at taking home $120K-$160K, which is still a decent wicket.
Alas, times have changed – pursuing a creatively inclined job won’t mean you’ll be scrapping the bottom of the barrel like the tired, starving artist stereotype would suggest. It’s quite the opposite, don’t you reckon?
If you’re feeling all ~inspired~ and such, then quit piss-farting around and hop to it. You can start climbing the career ladders of all these jobs ASAP, especially if you’ve got a related qualification from Tafe Queensland under your belt. Make great happen by sussing their courses HERE.
Photo: The Devil Wears Prada.
Sources: 2015/16 Australian Salary & Employment Outlook (Michael Page), The 2016 Hays Salary Guide, PayScale.
