Category: FEU Training Blog

Most of us realise that achieving our goals is not always plain sailing. We’ll definitely experience setbacks and have to figure out how to overcome these to move forwards and we’ll certainly feel like pulling the duvet over our heads and giving up on occasion. But, when we’re passionate about something, we know that the hard work and sacrifice is worthwhile and this helps us to push on to achieve our dreams.

However, I was reading an interesting piece of research recently (Miller & Wrosh, 2007) that warns against too much struggling. This is because, they say, working on unrealistic goals, which can’t be achieved or show no positive progress, is bad for us - mentally, physically and emotionally – causing side effects such as increases in C-reactive proteins, a mark of systemic inflammation and a major cause of burnout, chronic fatigue and even ME in extreme cases.

This suggestion resonated with me because, while I’m willing to put my all into achieving what I want and living up to my commitments, like most people, I’ve had times when I’ve felt like the mouse on the wheel, always running but getting nowhere. This came with a number of negative consequences too including lack of concentration, less resolve and ability to find solutions and, eventually, sickening fatigue.

So, to ensure that you remain in the best nick for your goal-getting journey, it’s helpful to review your goals on a regular basis and think about the following:

Do I truly want to achieve this goal?

Sometimes we set ourselves a goal that we think we should achieve, maybe something that others have suggested or are doing. But, when we re-consider the goal, we realise that it doesn’t feel authentic and, actually, we’re just not that interested in it.

If this is the case, it’s probably time to drop the goal in question. You may not be able to do this immediately and longer-term planning might be involved. However, if you’ve dis-engaged from a goal and feel little or no genuine enthusiasm for it, it will be much harder to achieve and you’ll feel much less fulfilment in the process and the end result… no matter how good it looks on paper.

Also, it’s exhausting and joyless putting huge amounts of effort into something that you’ve no stomach for resulting in less energy and determination to face hurdles and setbacks…much better to concentrate on something that has real value to you.

Am I still passionate about this goal?

“Find a job that you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” said Mark Twain. Don’t you just love that feeling when the day speeds by and you haven’t noticed the time because you’ve been so absorbed with and delighted by your work? One of the great things about working in the creative industries is that, when it’s going right, it’s just sooooooo right.

However, even if you love your work, there will be times when you need to draw on your strength and resilience to stare down adversity. If you’re enthusiastic and believe in what you do, you’ll be much more able to dig deep when you need to.

Remember, there’s no shame in admitting that you’ve lost the taste for a particular area. It’s human nature to get bored and maybe you need to explore new avenues, develop new skills and experience the thrill of the unknown again. While change may take courage and consistent effort, it takes a far greater toll to continue to do something that just doesn’t spark your interest anymore.

Am I trying to achieve too much?

Personally, I thrive on a varied range of activities but, to my great relief, I crossed a couple of goals off my list recently. OK, I may want to achieve them one day… but I realised that they obviously weren’t a priority otherwise I would have done them by now.

While it’s often exciting and motivating to have several goals on the boil at once, if you’re working on too many, it can be overwhelming and damage your ability to focus on what you truly need and want to do.

I found it liberating to make a positive decision to re-prioritise my goals and throw out the ones that have been hanging around on my ‘to do’ list without any real attention. Now, these interlopers are no longer lurking in the wings making me feel guilty about what I should have done and this allows me to concentrate fully on what I am doing.

From the range of research I’ve done and my own experience, the art of success and satisfaction seems to be knowing when to try, try and try again until you succeed and when, for whatever reason, to drop something so that you can free yourself up to concentrate on the things that will be much more rewarding. Or, as Miller & Wrosh put it, to avoid struggling too much and disengage before it gets too serious.

More info

• For more on goal setting catch up with our webinar recording.
• Sign up to FEU Training’s e-course Overcoming Freelance Challenges.

Most of us have to attend interviews of some sort of to secure work. These may be a formal affair or a seemingly casual coffee/drink somewhere. Whichever is likely to be the case for you, we have some tips about how do prepare in order to present yourself at your best in any situation.

1. Do your homework

If you want to work for an organisation, find out about it. Read what they publish, watch or listen to their productions and check if there is anything being discussed in the press about them. In many interviews you will be asked for your opinion about what they do so familiarising yourself with recent developments, their ethos and objectives (usually detailed on their website) will put you in a good position to answer this.

2. Identify likely questions (including ones you’re nervous about and work out some good answers

Often the biggest worry about interviews is that a specific question will be asked that you don’t have an answer for. For example, a common concern is explaining a career break. So, instead of worrying, brainstorm appropriate answers beforehand. Ask friends and colleagues for ideas if you need to. It’s amazing how these questions lose their power when you spend a bit of time planning responses to them.

3. Get some practise

The musicians and actors amongst us would never dream of rocking up to a performance without attending a single rehearsal. Yet many of us think we can walk in to interviews cold and persuade someone why they should choose us over every other person interested in doing this work. It may work, but it’s a risky strategy that can often leave us tongue tied in practice.

So, practise talking about yourself and your experience. Ask someone to interview you and get them to give you feedback about how you come across, what went well and what could be improved. This can also be a good way to discover whether you have any unconscious habits such as rocking or pen clicking that you might want to eradicate. Colleagues who know your career history are good to do this with, as they will be able to tell you if you are underselling yourself.

4. Record yourself

If you can’t find someone to do practise interviews with, and even if you do, it can be really valuable to record yourself so you can gauge for yourself how you appear. Many of us have a record function on our smart phones or can borrow one. Just choose an interview question and record your answer and see if you can convince yourself. You can experiment with speaking faster or slower, louder or more quietly. You will also be able to see if you need to improve the language that you use, or if you undersell yourself by using dismissive statements like, “I’m quite good at…” or “I’m reasonably good at…” when in fact you are an expert in your field.

5. Turn up on time

Sounds a bit obvious but checking the time beforehand and making sure you allow time for holdups is very important. It is also worth having a contact name and number in case you do get held up, so you can give them a call and explain that you have been unavoidably delayed.

In the same vein, it is important to make sure you are dressed appropriately. If the standard dress is business suits, that’s what you should wear. If the standard dress is casual and you turn up in a suit, they will possibly, even at an unconscious level, think you are not going to fit in. So find out what the dress code is likely to be. If you get it wrong, make sure you dazzle them by what you say so they forget about what you’re wearing.

6. Have a plan B

If you put all your eggs in one basket and elevate any single opportunity into the one that will define your future, you run the risk of putting so much pressure on yourself to be successful that you may be unable to relax and give your best.

Having alternative options such as other work you have applied for, or people you can contact, means less will ride on that particular interview and you can approach it without the desperation that comes from convincing yourself that the rest of your life depends on a positive outcome.

7. Remember that you are interviewing them too

Interviews are a two way process. They are also your opportunity to meet the people you will be working with, check out their attitudes, culture and values and decide whether or not you want to work with them.

8. Prepare some questions

It is good to go with some questions to ask, but if they have answered them all during the interview process, or if your questions are no longer relevant because what you have learned during the discussion, then feel free to say just that.

9. Ask for feedback

If you are unsuccessful, ask for feedback. If it is not available, review the interview yourself. Honestly assess what went well as well as what you could have done differently. It doesn’t give you a balanced view if you only focus on what went wrong. Reminding yourself of what you did well allows you to remember and to do those things again at the next interview. Make notes of what you learned from the process, list any steps you need to take, then forget about it. It doesn’t help to beat yourself up about something you can’t change. Onwards and upwards!

10. Networking opportunity

The worst outcome you should aim for is that the meeting is a useful networking opportunity. Just because you don’t get the work doesn’t take away from the fact that you have just had a useful discussion with someone who you could work with in future. If nothing else, an interview can be a great opportunity to introduce yourself to someone new and make a positive impression.

Your CV is a marketing tool. It’s how you catch the attention of a prospective client or employer and say, here I am, your ideal candidate! It’s a way of capturing the essence of you, or at least the professional you that wants to find more work, all in one or two pages. It’s not your life story, so you can choose what to include or leave out.

1. One size does not fit all

A CV is not a static document: you need to select and present your most relevant experience for each specific role or client in a way that represents you and your experience in the best light for that opportunity.You don’t have to start from scratch each time, but you should certainly be making tweaks every time you send your CV out.

2. Make it easy to read

I don’t know about you, but when I pick up a document that has cramped paragraphs, with no white space and tiny text, I really don’t want to read it and, even if I did, it is much more difficult to read. I often see people using a smaller font to squeeze everything they have ever done onto two pages. Unfortunately, instead of dazzling with your wealth of experience, the reader is put off because they have to find somewhere with good light and look out their reading glasses. Bad start.

So use a reasonable sized font, I would suggest 12 point. Also, make sure you choose a readable and modern font. When I see something printed in an old font like courier or times roman, I assume the person who produced it is behind the times and perhaps not very computer literate. This may not be true, but it is how I react. Similarly, if someone goes for a ‘fun’ handwriting font, I assume they are not serious. Obviously this is a personal response, your intention may be to stand out, but beware these choices may also alienate your reader.

3. Take care over the layout and order

Once you have a font you are happy with, make sure you have a good balance of white space on the page to make it look attractive and easily readable.

Use a variety of indents and spaces between paragraphs (but not too many as it can start to look scrappy). Use a combination of paragraphs and bullet points, my preference is to use the paragraphs to give examples and tell stories, and the bullets to list examples.

Put the most relevant experience (in relation to the position you are applying for) first. If you keep the best to last, the reader might not read that far so they could miss it. The prime space on your CV is the top two thirds of the first page, that is your primary selling space, make sure you make the best use of it.

4. Make it interesting

Your CV should be an interesting document to read. Show don’t tell, by which I mean give examples of your skills and experience rather than stating that you have the skill. For example, consider the following:

“I am very resourceful when under pressure.”

Or:

“I am resourceful under pressure, e.g., in my latest theatre production role, I quickly tracked down a mobile generator in response to a power cut, which meant the show could go on.

Which do you think is more powerful? I prefer the story but you need to watch your word count so make it brief. Also, if you are making a ‘general’ statement, follow this up with a recent and specific example to illustrate your point.

5. Keep it simple

It is hard sometimes to think of ways to make your CV stand out from the crowd, so people get creative with the software they use to create amazing layouts. This can of course work, but it can also fall flat. I was once sent a CV that had been beautifully prepared but was unfortunately sent in a format that was incompatible with my version of word, so it printed out in an old typewriter font, with bizarre spaces between paragraphs. It is always safer, regardless of the format you have used to send your CV as a PDF. That way you can be confident that it will appear as you want it to.

Another way to try and stand out is to use colour or shading. There are risks here too, if someone prints your CV out in black and white, not only will the impact of the colour be lost, but some parts may be hard to read, and with shading, may even become illegible.

It makes much more sense to keep the technology simple and dazzle them with your experience, personality and the unique qualities you bring, which you can describe in the text, rather than try to demonstrate your technical skills, unless that is the role you are applying for of course.

6. Say what you can do, not what you can’t

It is important to be truthful on your CV, but that does not mean you have to draw your readers attention to any gaps you may have in your experience.

For example, which of these two would make you want to keep reading?

“I have not actually run a department like this, but I am sure I could.”

Or:

“In my last position, I managed the distribution of equipment across three remote sites and coordinated staff work schedules on behalf of the manager. I’m sure that this experience will be an invaluable resource for this position.”

I would keep reading the second statement.

7. Length

Generally speaking your CV should be no more than two pages long. If you think it important, you can add a separate page with list of credits or reviews. But, as discussed above, remember that people often don’t read to the end so your most important points should be placed on the first page. Actors are advised by Equity to have a one page CV and they have specific guidance on this for their members.

8. Personal Profile

Your personal profile is the first paragraph on your CV and is like the leading paragraph of an article in a newspaper or magazine. This is the paragraph that tells the reader what to expect, and why they should keep reading. So make sure it is clear, concise and packs a punch.

Ideally it should be no more than a couple of sentences about you that details why you are ideal for this position and what the greatest benefits of having you on board are.

This introductory paragraph is also the ideal place to share key experiences, prizes and awards. Don’t leave them to the bottom of the second page. Even if you don’t go into detail, you can tease with, for example, “Award winning journalist…” Then the reader will read on to find out what award it was you won.

Many people find that this is not an easy paragraph to write, and it can be useful to ask someone else who knows you and your work well to write it for you, then you can tailor it to something you are comfortable with.

9. What you should include

Generally speaking you only need to include experience going back about 10 years, anything older doesn’t really need to be on there. The exception to this would be if something you did before this was really relevant to the work you are trying to get.

In this case make sure you include it, and if the appropriate place to put it is at the bottom of page two, then find some way to refer to it on the first page. The profile paragraph is a great place to put a highly visible short reference to key experience.

It always amazes me what people don’t include on their CV’s, just because it is old, or not specifically relevant to the position being applied for. In our workshops we have met people who played rugby for England, interviewed the Dalai Lama, written about religion in Albania when it was illegal to do so and many more amazing achievements. None of which those people were currently including on their CV. Yet all of those experiences gave important insights into their courage, determination and perseverance.

If you have done something noteworthy, regardless of how long ago it was, make sure you include a reference to it on your CV at the very least. You don’t lose the insights, knowledge or skills that you gained. It is experience that you will always have and it could provide a talking point at the interview.

10. What you don’t need to include:

• personal details such as your age, marital or parental status. You are legally not obliged to provide this information.
• details of your education unless you are at the start of your career and have little work experience. However, it is important to include professional qualifications that are required for this work.
• interests unless you do something that is relevant to this particular opportunity.
• headings like ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘Personal Profile’, it’s pretty obvious what they are and just takes up valuable space.

In summary, when writing your CV, remember that it is a sales pitch, so make it compelling, interesting and easy to read, emphasising why you are the best candidate for this role.

For more information see our CV Writing Quick Tips and our CV’s, how to write them with impact Q&A. We also have lots of other useful advice and guidance in the Digital Learning Centre.

The saying “necessity is the mother of all invention”, is relevant to creative freelances because most of us don’t have huge lumps of spare cash tucked away to use whenever we need specialist or expert support, so instead we get…well…creative! We find other ways to get what we need, swapping favours or finding alternative solutions, which of course includes learning to do things for ourselves.

There are arguments for and against the self-sufficient route: you might save money and resources by learning to do your own IT, marketing and administration. However, this support work may end up taking too much time away from your creative endeavours. So, investing in the right support at the right time can be invaluable in freeing you up to do what you do best. Focusing on finding work to fund that support is in many circumstances the best route.

However, tasks, including support work, that are related to your core creative work and that you enjoy doing, may have potential to be a new source of income.

For example, I’ve met several musicians who have learned about the technical side of recording and producing through necessity, and have then gone on to make it an integral and lucrative part of their creative life. I can think of at least one who enjoyed it so much they moved away from their original plan and embraced this as a career change, becoming an established and sought after music producer.

I know actors passionate about the power and influence of the voice who have become voice coaches. I’m thinking of one in particular, who I met on a training programme as a fellow coach. The way she would read someone’s body language, and identify the impact this had on their voice was astonishing. Surpassed only by the difference that would be achieved when her advice on posture and focus of attention was followed and we could all see seemingly magical improvements happen before our eyes. She is still a working actor but loves this related and relevant side-line that she has developed.

On our ‘Diversify your Portfolio’ workshop, I once saw someone have a ‘eureka moment’, when they realised that they could combine their singing, with the voluntary work they currently did in old folks homes to offer something that she wanted to do anyway, but which she could also get paid for.

Writers who have self-published have made money by sharing what they learned through that process to help others to do the same. Self-publishing can be a steep learning curve and there are many out there who do have the means to pay and are looking for someone reliable to help them.

As with all things there is always a balance to be sought. For some people what started as a necessary diversion can become a new passion and the dream and goals shift entirely, making it the main objective rather than an enabler. At the other end of the scale, where it is a chore, as soon as you can afford to ditch it, you should.

In that big grey area in the middle, where the side-line might become a substantial contribution to your income, the balance has to be found when it begins to make you unavailable for the work you really want to do. But in a way, as long as you are doing something you enjoy, that’s not the worst place to find yourself. And as Jimmy, the manager of the band from the film The Commitments said, “We’re worrying about the direction of the band, and we’ve not had our first gig yet.”

So, have a think about what are you doing right now on a voluntary basis, e.g., for friends, family and colleagues that could provide a source of income? We often disregard the things that come most easily to us, on the basis that anyone can do them. But the fact that you find yourself helping other people on a regular basis suggests that really they can’t.

Also, what new skill have you acquired to facilitate your career that you really enjoy doing? A good sign of this is that you keep finding excuses to do a bit more on it, and can lose hours working away on it. What potential does this skill have to be an additional earner for you?

On our website we have a range of case studies where we interviewed working actors, musicians, journalists and writers that have participated on our courses. Many of them talk about having diversified in all sorts of ways to support and supplement their income. Side-lines range from training, selling technical expertise, producing, doing tour guide work and historical narration. Have a read, you may find some inspiration, or even recognise something you are already doing that you could build on.

For more information see our Diversifying your Portfolio e-course. We also have lots of useful advice and guidance in our Q&A and Quick tips in the Digital Learning Centre.

I USED to hit the beginning of every January like a lead balloon with a feeling that I couldn’t quite breathe – partially due to too much Christmas cake admittedly - but more to do with anxiety brought on by the thought of what I should or shouldn’t be doing in the coming year.

Sick of this, I decided to rethink this whole ‘New Year, fresh start, exciting adventure, best year ever’ approach to see how I could make the transition from one year to the next a smoother and happier experience. Here are some suggestions that might work for you too:

It’s your choice

Some people find the start of a New Year motivating and can’t wait to make and act on their resolutions. I’m not one of them. Whether it’s caused from lack of sunlight or from bursting out of the festive bubble back to normality, I’ve found that January isn’t the month for me to put pressure on myself to be or not to be…whatever.

Nowadays, I find that choosing not to try to get the year off to a flying start by making a long list of ‘to dos’ helps me ease into it without feeling guilty or panicked about all the things that I must do to enhance my life.

However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t regularly plan and review what I’ve done and set new goals for what I want to achieve in the future. Indeed, I do. But, I choose to do this at times when I feel more energetic and buoyant such as April and September. As a freelance, it’s up to me to appraise where I am now and what direction I want my career to take from here on in, but, in my case, January simply isn’t the best time for this...so I don't do it.

Stop stopping and start starting

I never resolve to give up ‘stuff’ at this time either as I’ve found it sets me up to fail. Darkness and cold weather make the option of a glass of vino and something tasty of an evening a veritable lifesaver. So, if I need to make challenging changes, I address these later in the year when my resolve is stronger and I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself.

Instead of cutting out, I tend to add in. For example, I might take up something new – not necessarily anything momentous or vital to career success but something that’s interesting and will help jolly me along through the winter evenings. For example, my local cinema offers half price tickets once a week so a few friends and I have our own cinema club. Also, buffing up my rusty French is on the cards. The course isn’t expensive and is a cost-effective way of being ‘good to myself’ without having to fight with the bank manager to re-define ‘overdrawn’. Ooh la la.

As a result, not only am I doing something enjoyable, but this bit of reverse psychology has positive results - using my brain in different, non-pressurised ways makes me more motivated and productive at work too.

Getting organised

Apart from the work I need to complete, I like to clear the decks at this time by addressing those tasks that are essential but drop to the bottom of my priority list because I find them tedious, for example, ‘admin’.

It’s equivalent to sharpening your pencils and tidying your room before starting to swat for an exam - I like to think of this as preparation rather than procrastination thank you! The result is both a sense of achievement and relief that these pesky activities are now done and dusted for the time being as well as a sense of clarity that sets me up nicely for the coming months. Also, because I can do such activities in automatic mode, my creative mind gets space to think up and ponder upon ideas that may well turn in to actions in the near future.

Meditation

Not much of a meditator usually, I do find that 15 minutes a day around this time an effective way to shake off anticipatory anxiety. Also, surprising, I find that deliberately not thinking often results in some great ideas. And, if I end up falling asleep, who’ll know? I’m meditating.

Do what works for you

Whether you hurtle into the New Year with the energy of a demented whippet chasing a rabbit, or, like me, your approach is more meandering-come-whistle softly, what’s important is that your strategy works for you.

Wishing you a very happy and successful 2017!

More info

If you need help in 'Overcoming Freelance Challenges' try our e-course, which includes tips on getting motivated, confidence building and dealing with setbacks.