by Claire Marrec, Bilingual Career Advisor at Prospect
Translated from French. [ Read the original article in Le Franco here ]
In a way, job searching is an art! Whether we love it or not, it can sometimes inspire and other times unsettle us... As a career advisor and former recruiter, I observe clients daily who experience a wide range of emotions.
A Space for Expression
Art can be a fantastic tool for expressing our emotions. Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing this through a creative dance workshop where self-confidence and self-esteem are worked on at every moment. In artistic expression, we can quickly face our fears of rejection, frustration, or even the fear of being judged by others.
Beyond an activity that might be considered spiritual like yoga, this experience also revealed its hidden power for any professional: the ability to better manage our frustrations, fears, or simply any emotion that might overwhelm us and impair our critical thinking, which is essential in a professional setting. Many fears can be triggered during job interviews or even throughout your career, so it’s crucial to know how to manage them.
Whether through dance, theatrical or musical expression, artistic activities offer a non-judgmental space for expression and the release of unpleasant sensations, allowing everyone to explore themselves.
Developing Human Skills Through Art
It’s interesting to see the job search period as an opportunity to "update" yourself. Especially since the digitization and democratization of artificial intelligence, it is essential to prepare for the organizational changes companies are currently facing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, with ever-evolving technology.
Platforms like LinkedIn or Google Grow offer content to develop your technical skills or “hard skills,” and even your human skills. The digital library at Calgary's Central Library is also a good resource for this.
However, while you can learn to master MS Excel or Word perfectly, it is more complex to fully develop "soft skills" or human skills because they require more effort to integrate and practice. These skills include creativity, communication, problem-solving, empathy, and the ability to work in a team. These are highly sought after by employers in all fields.
And I suppose you see where I’m going… this is where art comes into play. Artistic activities, or art therapy more generally, offer an ideal space to learn, relearn, or simply refine these skills!
Artistic workshops such as improvisational theater workshops at La Cité des Rocheuses in Calgary, or group creativity workshops with presentations of your creations, can significantly improve your self-confidence, your ability to handle unexpected situations, explore teamwork, and even help you express yourself calmly in front of an audience.
Art in Your Work Environment
Scientific studies have also shown the benefits of having art in your workspace, just like our green plant friends! An environment decorated with artworks can stimulate creativity, innovation, and well-being, which will naturally have a positive impact on each person’s performance and job satisfaction.
Do We Possess Creativity or Not?
It’s challenging to discuss practicing an artistic activity without talking about creativity, which is often considered an “innate” skill. Well, this is not the case at all. Creativity is the ability to think innovatively, generate new ideas, and find innovative solutions to problems.
These innovative thoughts are actually manifested thanks to the sum of our experiences that connect with each other. For example, a talented painter can indeed tirelessly practice their technical skills, but their inspiration can simply emerge from observing nature, exploring the world, listening to music, or even discussing with others. Therefore, creativity is cultivated through curiosity, open-mindedness, and a willingness to experiment with new things.
Beyond Careers Where Art Is Obvious
In certain professions related to visuals, music, or dance, art is obviously at the core of the job. In these fields, a portfolio, which presents your previous works, often plays an important role in the recruitment process. Online platforms like Behance can help with this. Indeed, the portfolio sometimes takes precedence over the resume because it provides an immediate overview of the artist's experiences. The portfolio is a fantastic tool to connect with your resume in general to further highlight your applications, regardless of your profession.
Where to Explore Your Artistic Skills?
Does this article inspire you to explore? There are several ways to do this, here are some ideas, some of which are free: why not try a French improvisation theater session or perhaps express your creativity by creating your favorite mug in a Creative Café; the one that will inspire you every morning for your job search! Finally, to really focus on your professional life, Studio C in Calgary also offers workshops and team-building activities to support evolving professionals.
Be Creative to Develop Your Skills Using Art!
