How can this 32-year-old photographer get back into the industry after a retail detour?

"The job search so far: Since graduating in 2020, Mr. Brown has worked on and off as a photographer. These days, that role requires a multitude of skills, including social media management, launching e-commerce campaigns, creating in-store marketing assets, and video production across multiple platforms. This 21-year-old finance grad received 30 job rejections. What should he do to get hired? In 2022, Mr. Brown left his job as a lead product photographer and social media co-ordinator for a furniture company to work in retail."

"The move away from his preferred industry was difficult, but he says the pay wasn't enough. "I was basically expected to do the work of about four different departments, and I was only making around $16 an hour, on top of commuting," he says. In October, he was laid off from his retail job and he's been trying to re-enter the photography field. He's applied to more than 550 jobs this year, through Indeed and similar job-seeking platforms."

"His main challenge: Mr. Brown feels he's been out of the industry for too long and lacks relevant experience. Though he has strong portfolio pieces, he says some employers have suggested it is not industry-specific. For example, he has shot commercials and his images have been used on billboards. "But when I've explained that in job interviews, they kind of shrug at me and say, 'Well, that's great, but can you shoot a TikTok for a used car dealership?'" he"

Chris Brown, 32, has a Bachelor of Photography from Sheridan College and lives in Burlington, Ont. He seeks full-time roles such as photographer, videographer, digital content creator, digital media assistant or digital marketing co-ordinator. Since 2020 he has worked intermittently as a photographer and gained social media management, e-commerce campaign, in‑store asset and multi-platform video production skills. He left a lead product-photographer and social-media co-ordinator role in 2022 due to low pay, was laid off in October, and has applied to over 550 jobs while networking, cold-calling and tailoring applications. He feels out of industry, lacking industry-specific experience despite commercial and billboard work; employers ask for short-form TikTok-style content.

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