In-house creative departments look to expand

Creative professionals have a lot of opportunities in today's employment market, even more than individuals looking for work in several other industries. Businesses of all sizes and fields strive to incorporate creativity into their promotions or branding. The perfect design can truly help set an organization apart from the pack.

Creative individuals who are looking for work in 2012 should consider focusing their efforts on in-house creative departments. Many larger organizations incorporate a localized workforce that is entirely devoted to conceptualizing and distributing creative materials for their specific organization. In-house creative teams save businesses money in the long-run, as more resources can be funneled into the department, rather than outsourced. Not to mention, many in-house creative departments were able to hire new employees in 2010 and have steadily increased in size over the past years.

The majority of in-house teams are small, with less than 10 team members on staff, reports Cella and InSource's joint In-house Creative Services Industry Report 2010. However, over the course of 2010, staff increases were seen across the board. Unfortunately, 56 percent of respondents still feel that their teams are understaffed, which presents unique opportunities for job seekers.

People who are looking for graphic design jobs, multimedia jobs and a variety of other niche positions should heavily evaluate the benefits of becoming a part of a larger organization. The opportunities associated with working for a bigger company go far beyond more intimate design cultures. There are many avenues that individuals can travel down - they may choose to grow professionally within the creative department or even transition to a more business-oriented marketing position for the same company. Truthfully, starting a career at an in-house organization will give workers endless possibilities for future work and networking.

Perhaps the only caveat to working in an in-house creative department is that it requires a considerable time investment and, at times, it may be quite exhausting. Since there are often fewer employees, completing projects in a 40-hour work week can feel next to impossible, as there is far too much to get done. In the In-house Creative Services Industry Report, respondents indicated that staff members might expect to add at least one to five additional hours of overtime each week to accommodate for an influx of projects.

Job seekers can greatly benefit from joining an in-house workforce. Becoming a small part of a bigger picture offers each individual a chance to grow professional in an established organization, which can help them create a unique network of their own.

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