What does the work behind a creative job actually look like?

Creative jobs look exciting from the outside – but what does the day-to-day actually involve? In this activity you'll hear from someone whose 'fun' job turns out to be mostly admin, editing, and the pressure of constant self-promotion.

This activity is designed to be flexible and can be used as follows:

  • During a lesson - 30 minutes. Students work in pairs and then share their reflections with the rest of the class.
  • During tutor time - 20 minutes. Students watch the video independently and then discuss one of the topics together.
  • As homework - Students watch the video on their own and complete the reflection at their own pace.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 5
  • PSHE Association KS3 codes L4, L12
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes L8, L11

1. Before you start

Take a moment to think about the following question:

  • Think of a job that looks fun or exciting from the outside - a musician, a YouTuber, a footballer. What do you think they spend most of their working time actually doing?

If you're working with a partner or team, share and compare your thoughts before continuing.

2. Watch the video

v0055 square

Mark Jarvis - Entertainment Presenter

Mark is an entertainment presenter who works across radio, video, and live events in London. He calls what he does "presenting admin" - because most of his time is spent editing, writing scripts, sourcing content, and managing social media rather than actually presenting.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Mark say he spends most of his time doing - and how does that compare to what you'd expect?
  • Why does Mark say he has to post on social media all the time, even when he doesn't want to?

3. Reflect and discuss

First, add a personal reflection based on the following:

  • What is one thing about the reality of Mark's job that surprised you most?

Next, think about the following and discuss with your partner or group:

  • Mark says the fun part of presenting is "only a very small part of the job." Does that change how you think about creative careers? Would you still want to do a job where the exciting bit is a small fraction of the work?
  • Mark juggles four or five freelance jobs in a single day - radio, production, pub quizzes, theatre events. What skills do you think someone needs to manage that kind of working life? How is it different from having one job with set hours?
  • Mark says that even after finishing his actual work, he still has to stay active on social media to grow his profile for employers and agents. Do you think it's fair that some careers now require you to promote yourself online? What are the upsides and downsides?