Art and design : Your skills

Many graduate employers seek to recruit people who are lateral thinkers and creative problem-solvers. These qualities are natural to artists and designers and therefore make them an attractive asset, particularly to the UK creative industries sector. This sector relies on people who can think differently, formulate questions and solve problems.

Increasingly, artists and designers are also finding work in areas unrelated to the world of art and design. Creative skills are valued and actively sought across a wide range of employment sectors, as employers are looking to recruit employees who are adaptable and can generate fresh ideas.

Art and design courses equip you with a combination of practical skills mixed with theory. The specific skills differ according to the art and design discipline, but the following transferable skills are common to all subject areas:

• imagination and creativity;
• critical awareness of self and external factors and the ability to be reflective;
• interpersonal and social;
• resourcefulness;
• an appreciation of diversity;
• creative problem-solving;
• teamworking;
• the ability to work independently;
• decision-making;
• oral and written communication;
• visual presentation;
• information and research;
• self-motivation and self-management;
• organisation and planning;
• IT, particularly using creative software.

Taking part in exhibitions, shows and competitions and undertaking commissions also help develop these skills and can be used as evidence of drive, determination and initiative. Undertaking a period of voluntary work or work experience also helps develop skills in commercial awareness, communication and negotiation.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.