Surviving life after college

Transitioning from the structure of a university course to the chaos of real life is daunting and requires skilful decision-making and self-management. The first decision you face is whether to go for a studio job or try to make it as a freelancer.

“It’s important to find a living situation that lets you build a portfolio of work similar to your end-goal career,” says freelance illustrator Stephanie Cost. You will make lots of useful connections in a studio job and some say their skills improved much faster in this setting, but it could hold you back from doing what you want.

“One of the disadvantages of a studio job I found was the necessity to do assignments that weren’t related. “If you have a clear goal, I would recommend a freelance job all the way. Otherwise, getting a studio job first can help you work out the exact career path you want to follow.”