A successful career in acting is an impressive feat, as acting is notoriously one of the most challenging industries to excel in. However, for those ready to move away from acting, there are endless possibilities for you to explore.

There are numerous reasons why you may decide to look for a new career after acting. Most people who pursue acting experience many years of ups and downs. Acting is a cut-throat industry so considering a change of direction is not uncommon. Perhaps you’re ready to settle into a more stable career with better financial prospects, or you have decided you have broader interests that you are keen to pursue. Whatever the reasons may be, the years of experience and the skills you have gained as an actor will stand to you in a range of working environments.

 

What Skills do Actors Have?

Actors build up a range of skills that are readily transferable to different career paths. The ability to work under pressure, communicate effectively and focus for long periods make people with acting experience strong candidates in more traditional workplaces. The transferable skill set you have developed may include, but is not limited to:

  • Punctuality and reliability
  • Strong analytical and interpretation skills
  • Confidence
  • Networking abilities
  • Self-discipline
  • Resilience and determination
  • Creativity
  • Pubic speaking

 

Take the time to update your CV, emphasising the array of skills you have developed through your acting career. It’s important to highlight how these skills are transferable and adaptable to more conventional working environments.

Check out our dedicated page on CV Writing Tips to guide you.

 

Retraining After Acting

Once you have decided to move away from your acting career, you will need to consider the type of occupation you are interested in entering. Many actors may have a degree in drama, theatre or a similar field which they can utilise for future roles. If you did not pursue further education earlier in life, now may be the perfect opportunity to consider returning to education to do some retraining after acting. You could do an undergraduate degree in a part-time college or university or begin an adult apprenticeship to increase your employment prospects.

Take a look at our page on Retraining for further information.

 

Alternative Careers for Ex-Actors

There are a variety of careers well-suited to individuals with experience in the acting industry. We’ve put together some alternative careers for ex-actors to give you an idea of what’s out there.

 

Teaching

People with acting experience become excellent teachers. With high-energy, great communication skills and confidence, you could help turn a boring classroom into a fun environment where children and adults would excel in their learning.

We have all the information you need in our blog for career changers on Becoming a Teacher.

 

Broadcasting Presenter

Similar to acting, a career as a broadcasting presenter will allow you to entertain and inform an audience in an accessible and exciting way. If you are interested in becoming a broadcaster, a great place to start would be by connecting with the network of contacts you have established as an actor.

 

Choreographer

A choreographer creates and plans routines for performance, usually to music. Depending on your background and the type of acting roles you played, you may be interested in furthering your skills in choreography.

 

Talent Agent

Talent agents use their excellent communication and negotiation skills to represent and source work for talented individuals in the entertainment industry. After spending years in the sector, you are likely to have gained valuable experience in how things are done. You may feel that you could confidently represent actors who are in the same position you were once in.

 

Screen Writer

Screenwriters create the dialogue, characters, and storyline that make up a movie script or screenplay. Similar to television writers, screenwriters will often specialise in a particular genre, such as comedy or science fiction. During your acting career, you will have become familiar with what makes a great script. This is a common career path for many actors who want to pursue a different career after acting but remain in the industry.

 

This list is by no means exhaustive, and mainly covers occupations suitable for creative minds. However, you should have the confidence to achieve any career that feels right for you, including those beyond the creative field. Perhaps you are interested in engineering, technology or even healthcare. Whatever your passion may be, there are means by which you can achieve your goals. Explore our pages on how to retrain if you need help getting started.

 

Finding Alternative Careers for Former Actors

There comes a point when we know it’s time to make a change. For actors, this can occur early in life. But don’t let it get you down. Actors acquire essential transferable skills that set them up as valuable assets for any industry. Therefore, it’s important to know how to emphasise these skills and play to your strengths when looking for your next career change job.

Refreshing a Career is packed with help and advice for career changers from all backgrounds. Whether you’re looking to refresh your skills in a certain area or to get some interview tips ahead of an interview, we’ve got everything you need to find a job that suits you.