5 Ways to Stay Active in Your Craft

Whether you're in between jobs, recently graduated or enjoying the summer these tips will help you hone in on your favorite skill, learn a new one or stay motivated in your job search!

1.     Practice

Freelance. Practice makes perfect. Plus, it’s a great resume booster. Depending on your work you can check out a site like this or you can pitch to a local or favorite publication.

2.     Educate

 Skillshare. I just recently discovered this amazing site. It’s great for learning a new skill or perfecting one you already have. If you're feeling super confident you can even teach a class. The community offers classes on topics like DIY, technology, design, writing and crafts. The first 14 days are free then you can choose to continue with a free subscription or upgrade as low as $10 a month with access to the learning community. They even have financial aid and student pricing!

3.     Motivate

Ted Talks = LIFE. These are very inspiring! I find myself watching them whenever I get discouraged and need to get back on track. Warning: once you start watching them you might not be able to stop. They're also really good conversational topics. Here are a few to start off and get you thinking! Once you watch them, share with a friend! Monica Lewinsky: The Price of Shame, Mel Robbins: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over, Meg Jay: Why 30 is Not the New 20, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: We Should All Be Feminists , Tracy McMillan: The Person You Really Need to Marry, Thandie Newton: Embracing Otherness, Embracing Myself

4.     Network

 Find a mentor who’s in the field you aspire to be in. They can not only help you with working towards your career goals but give you great advice. They’ve already “been there and done that” and can tell you what not to do to avoid simple career mistakes. Also, they can help you stay motivated and on track. LinkedIn's "Find Alumni" Connections page is also a great tool to use!

5.     Advertise

 Find a space to portray your work. Whether it’s issuu, digital resume, website or LinkedIn. Getting yourself out into the webspace is a great way to publicize your work… you never know who’s watching!

Learned something new? Feel free to comment below! I'd love to hear some tips from you or let me know if you plan on using any of the tips shared above!