Your career learning platform.
Launchpad is a curated library of premium career guides built to support your journey from education to employment. Learn at your own pace, one guide at a time.
Everything you need, guided step by step
Launchpad brings career learning into one calm, focused space. Here is how to get the most from it.
The LabBrowse by category
Filter guides by CV support, interview prep, salary guidance and more. Find exactly what you need for your next step.
Learn at your pace
Open any guide and read through practical, jargon-free advice. Each guide includes key takeaways and reading time.
Apply with confidence
Put what you learn into practice. Browse reviewed roles and apply with a stronger CV, sharper interviews and clear expectations.
Learn at your pace
No deadlines, no pressure. Pick up a guide whenever you need it.
Practical and focused
Real advice you can use today, not theory you will forget tomorrow.
Built for growth
Progress from CV basics to salary negotiations with a clear path.
Always free
Every guide is free for emerging creatives, forever.
Show employers what you can do.
Lab Briefs are a core part of The Lab. They give you the opportunity to demonstrate your creative ability and build practical experience, even when you don't yet have a long work history.
What are Lab Briefs?
Practical creative tasks set by The Lab that let you produce real work, on your own terms, to show employers what you can do.
Why complete them?
They give you tangible evidence of your ability, something a CV alone often cannot show when you are just starting out.
Build experience
Each brief is an opportunity to build practical experience and add real work to your portfolio.
Get noticed
Employers can see your completed briefs and get a real sense of your creative potential before you even meet.
Ready to start a Lab Brief?
Complete a brief, add it to your portfolio, and show employers what you can actually do. It's free, optional, and designed for emerging creatives.
Employers can discover and shortlist you.
When you turn on Talent Discovery, employers can find you based on your skills and potential. If you stand out, they can add you to their Talent Shortlist, a curated pipeline of candidates they want to consider for current and future opportunities.
Create your profile
Build your discoverable profile with your skills, work and ambitions.
Get discovered
Turn on Talent Discovery and let verified employers find you.
Get shortlisted
Employers add you to their Talent Shortlist when you stand out.
Get considered
Employers reach out with opportunities that match your potential.
You're in control. Talent Discovery is completely optional. Switch it on or off anytime. You never need it enabled to apply for jobs.
Turn on Talent DiscoveryStarting out without experience? Start here.
A dedicated space for undergraduates and students. Build a CV from scratch, learn how to apply with intention, and understand how to use LinkedIn and The Lab together.
Build your first CV.
You do not need years of professional experience to create a strong CV. University projects, part time work, volunteering and societies all count. Use our interactive CV Builder to create a professional CV step by step, then download it as a PDF.
Start building your CVHow to apply with intention.
Direct, practical advice for emerging creatives. No generic motivation, just the habits that genuinely improve your chances.
Build a portfolio, not just a CV
Your work speaks louder than your job history. A small, strong portfolio beats a long CV every time.
Use projects and extracurriculars as evidence
University projects, part time roles, volunteering and societies all demonstrate real skills.
Research the company before applying
Understand their work, clients and culture before you apply. It shows, and it matters.
Research the role before applying
Read the job description carefully. Understand what the day to day work actually involves.
Tailor your applications
Adapt your CV, cover note and examples to each role. Generic applications get generic results.
Show personality where appropriate
Creative hiring is about people, not just skills. Let your voice come through.
Keep LinkedIn updated
Update your headline, projects and experience regularly. Recruiters look, even when you are not looking.
Use LinkedIn and The Lab together
LinkedIn for networking and research. The Lab for targeted early career creative opportunities.
Apply intentionally, not everywhere
A few thoughtful, well researched applications beat dozens of rushed ones. Quality over volume.
Two tools, one job search.
The Lab is not a competitor to LinkedIn. They are complementary tools. You do not need to choose between them.
Professional network, personal brand and industry connections.
- Networking with professionals across the creative industry
- Building your professional identity and personal brand
- Making industry connections and finding mentors
- Researching companies and people before you apply
The Lab
Targeted early career creative opportunities and career resources.
- Finding targeted early career creative opportunities
- Discovering employers suited to emerging creatives
- Accessing career tools like the CV Builder and Launchpad guides
- Applying to reviewed roles with transparent salaries
Using them together
- Use LinkedIn to research companies you discover on The Lab before you apply
- Use The Lab to find opportunities, then use LinkedIn to learn more about the team
- Use both platforms together throughout your job search, not one or the other
Browse by category
All Guides
22 guidesBuild Your First Creative CV
A clear, practical walkthrough of structuring a creative CV that gets noticed, from layout to language.
Preparing for Your First Creative Interview
Walk into your first creative interview with confidence. Here's how to prepare, what to expect, and what to bring.
Understanding Entry-Level Creative Salaries
What should you expect to earn in your first creative role? Here's how to understand salary ranges and evaluate offers.
Building a Portfolio Employers Will Remember
A memorable portfolio isn't about quantity. Learn how to curate, present, and contextualise your work for maximum impact.
What to Expect in Your First Creative Role
Your first creative job can feel overwhelming. Here's what to expect in those crucial first months and how to thrive.
Common Interview Questions for Creative Roles
From portfolio walkthroughs to process questions, here are the most common creative interview questions and how to answer them.
Tailoring Your CV for Different Creative Industries
A CV that works for publishing won't work for fashion. Learn how to adapt your CV for the creative industry you're targeting.
Negotiating Your First Creative Salary
Negotiating your first salary can feel intimidating. Here's how to approach the conversation with confidence and professionalism.
Freelance vs Permanent: Which Is Right for You?
Both paths have their merits. This guide helps you weigh stability against flexibility and make the right choice for your career.
Building a Personal Brand as a Creative Professional
A strong personal brand sets you apart. Learn how to build one authentically, without losing focus on your craft.
How to Build a Creative Portfolio That Gets Interviews
A step-by-step system for building a portfolio that cuts through the noise, tells a coherent story, and makes employers want to meet you.
50 Creative Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
The most common questions creative employers ask, broken down by category, with example answers and guidance on what employers are really looking for.
How to Write a CV With No Industry Experience
A practical guide for creatives who have never worked in the industry, covering what to include, what to leave out, and how to make your CV stand out for the right reasons.
How to Network Without Feeling Awkward
A practical, judgement-free guide to building professional relationships as a creative, even if the thought of networking makes you want to leave the room.
The First 90 Days in Your Creative Job
A week-by-week guide to your first three months in a creative role, covering what to expect, what to focus on, and how to set yourself up for long-term success.
LinkedIn for Creatives: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Everything a creative needs to know about LinkedIn, from setting up a profile that actually gets noticed to using the platform to find roles, build relationships, and showcase work.
Making the Most of Your Creative Degree: A Guide for Undergraduates
How to turn your undergraduate years into a launchpad for a creative career, from building a portfolio to making industry connections while you study.
From Postgraduate Study to Creative Employment
Navigating the transition from a Master's or PhD into the creative industries, when further study helps, when it doesn't, and how to position yourself for your first role.
Building a Portfolio While You Study
A practical guide to creating a standout creative portfolio during your university years, what to include, how to present it, and how to keep it growing.
Creative Placements, Internships and Work Experience
How to find, apply for, and make the most of placements and internships in the creative industries, whether you're an undergraduate, postgraduate, or recent graduate.
Networking as a Student: Building Creative Connections
How to build a genuine professional network during your university years, without awkward events or forced conversations.
Transitioning from University to Your First Creative Role
What to expect in your first creative job, how to navigate the transition from student to professional, and how to set yourself up for long-term success.
Ready to put it into practice?
Browse reviewed roles from employers and apply with confidence.
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