Career Mapping for Creatives
A systems-aware introduction to career development for emerging creative professionals
Career Mapping for Creatives is a three-hour workshop designed to support graduates and early-career creatives as they transition from education into the realities of professional creative life.
Creative careers rarely follow linear pathways. They are shaped by short-term contracts, portfolio work, funding cycles, and ongoing adaptation. This workshop provides participants with a grounded framework for understanding that landscape, and for developing agency within it, without defaulting to burnout, confusion, or unrealistic expectations.
Rather than focusing solely on employability or job-hunting tactics, the workshop introduces participants to a career-as-system approach, helping them to:
understand how creative careers actually develop over time,
recognise the structural conditions shaping their options,
and begin designing a coherent direction that can adapt to change.
Drawing on career development theory, strategic thinking, and psychological insight, the session equips participants with practical tools for:
navigating non-linear career paths,
making informed decisions under uncertainty,
identifying transferable strengths without fragmenting creative identity,
and building early career foundations that support sustainability rather than short-term survival.
Career Mapping for Creatives is particularly suited to university and training contexts, offering students an honest, supportive, and research-informed way to think about their futures in the creative sector — one that complements artistic training while addressing the realities graduates will face.
“A realistic and helpful approach to developing your career while still encouraging you to be optimistic and shoot for your ultimate goal, no matter how unrealistic it may seem”
“I found the content to be an excellent introduction to a more positive vision of my future career. I feel that I can apply more of my innate abilities to various aspects of my future career“
“The content and delivery was excellent. It really helped me see things differently, in a great way!”
“I 100% believe that my outlook for my career has changed. I have the tools to be able to navigate the trenches that is the industry.”
“I am more aware of how struggles can lead to opportunities”
“I feel I have more options and it has encouraged me to take more risks”
“It was great! I thoroughly enjoyed it”
Participant Feedback
“The Boundless Career Mapping for Creatives Workshop has been an invaluable resource for students at MTU Cork School of Music. Run annually for the last number of years, the workshop supports MTU CSM's goal of create industry ready graduates.
With Andrew’s expert guidance, students gain insight into the specific nature of creative careers, how they differ from more linear pathways, fostering adaptability & self-reflection.
The workshop empowers students to navigate career shifts with confidence, build networks, and maintain a sense of agency, supporting their success in the ever-changing creative industry landscape”
Irene O’Mara - Lecturer Voice and Theatre Studies, MTU Cork School of Music.