Why You Should Choose A Creative Career Over Traditional Jobs
Following your heart’s desire has some great advantages!
Published 01 Jul 2025
Have you ever been told to choose a “safe” career even though your heart yearns for something more? Or warned to keep your creative pursuits as a hobby because they won’t give you a stable income?
Here’s the truth — the creative field isn’t as risky as it’s made out to be. In fact, it’s rapidly evolving, filled with real opportunities and real money.
Don’t believe us? Here are 7 reasons why a creative career might just be the smarter move.
#1. Creative jobs offer tremendous flexibility
One of the best things about having a creative career is the flexibility that comes with it.
Unlike traditional careers with a fixed progression, creative careers let you chart your own path— you can be a full-time employee, venture out as a freelancer to take on multiple projects, or build your own creative business. A content creator, for instance, might start on social media before moving on to digital marketing, film, or even launching their own agency.
As your interests change or the industry shifts, you’ll have the freedom to pivot without starting from scratch — something that not many traditional jobs can offer.
#2. Every day is a new adventure
In the creative field, no two days are ever the same. Today, you could be working on a perfume billboard for a major international brand. Tomorrow, you might find yourself creating a TikTok campaign for a local neighbourhood cafe.
Creative jobs constantly push you to think differently, solve new problems, and adapt to different industries and audiences. It’s fast-paced and unpredictable — and that’s what makes it so exciting.
For many creatives, that variety is what keeps the passion alive and the work meaningful.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
BA (Hons) in Visual Effects
✓Dual-award degree – one from De Montfort University (UK) and one from APU
#3. You can earn in foreign currencies without leaving the country
Here’s the reality — creative skills are universal. If you know how to do graphic design in Malaysia, chances are you can do it anywhere else too. That makes landing international work much easier.
In fact, you don’t even need to leave home to earn a global income. Thanks to remote work and freelance platforms, you can work for international companies and clients right from your bedroom, earning US dollars, pounds or euros, all while living in Malaysia.
In comparison, professional careers often require specific certifications or local licenses, which makes working abroad a lot more complicated.
#4. Creative jobs are evolving, not going obsolete
Cynical about choosing a career that might not exist in 10 years? You’re not alone. Technology is changing the job market faster than ever, and many jobs are being replaced or automated.
But here’s the good news.
While new technologies are being developed every day, they cannot replace creative professionals entirely. Someone will still need to wield these tools to tell stories, design experiences, and connect with audiences on a more human level.
In fact, new creative careers are emerging all the time — think AR/VR designer, interactive spatial designer, and digital fashion designer. If anything, the future looks even brighter for creatives, as long as you’re willing to learn, adapt, and grow with the industry.
#5. Creative jobs are just as important as technical ones
Sure, engineers may be building the electric car, but someone needs to design the campaign that gets people excited to buy it.
Creative professionals aren’t just there to make things look good. They make complex ideas simple, boring products exciting, and unknown brands memorable.
Without creatives, even the best products would sit on shelves collecting dust. That iPhone in your pocket? The engineering is brilliant, but it's the design, marketing, and user experience that make millions of people choose it over everything else.
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
BA (Hons) in Visual Effects
✓Dual-award degree – one from De Montfort University (UK) and one from APU
#6. You’ll naturally build soft skills that employers love
Think it’s easy to survive in the creative field? Think again.
As a professional in the creative field, you’ll need more than just your creativity. You may find yourself having to juggle different tasks, work under pressure, deliver projects within a tight deadline, liaise with clients and people from different departments, learn new tools and technology, and more.
These are the kinds of skills that will set you apart for life, no matter what field you’re in.
#7. You’re getting paid to do something you love
Mark Twain once said, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Here’s the thing — work doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re building interactive immersive spaces, designing seamless user-friendly app experiences, or editing engaging videos that go viral, you’ll be doing work that genuinely excites you.
If you’re going to spend hours earning a living, why not spend them doing something you’re actually passionate about? Creative careers let you turn the things you love into the work you do — and yes, you can get paid for it.
Interested in working in the creative field? Check out our guide to studying design here.
Dzulfazreena Dzulkefli
Too busy complaining about lemon but I sometimes read.
