How do I get started in a creative career?

"How do I get paid to do [insert creative skill here] if no one will give me an opportunity to prove I can do [the creative skill]?!"

Does starting on a new creative career path feel like a chicken-and-egg problem?

Here’s how you get started:

1. Learn to do The Thing. (You don’t need expensive formal training which takes up all your time. You can watch tutorials online, while working full time.)

2. Practice The Thing by pursuing personal projects.

3. Find low-paid/free freelance projects to prove your skill at The Thing. (Don’t just work for free for the big guys: Find charities, students, etc who need you!)

4. Do some paid freelance work, even if it's low cost.

5. You now have the skill, and have a proven back log of work. You can find a job or freelance at a regular rate!