Rising living costs, unstable income, and the pressure to “build your own brand” are reshaping what it means to enter the audio world in 2026.

One of the main pathways Media graduates are likely to face is Freelancing.

Pariya Taherzadeh, award‑winning producer, and AFTRS scholarship recipient who built her own freelance career during the Pandemic, shares her experience creating her own branch on uncertain times and managing the ups and downs of the cost-of-living pressures.

Her main 3 pieces of advice are:

• Networking. Is just as important for freelancers as it is for people seeking company roles, and LinkedIn is one of the best ways to attract new clients.  Never stop reaching up to the network you create at AFTRS including lectures, colleagues and the whole AFTRS institution. Your main network always come back when things are slowing down.
• Accepting any job that comes your way and never say NO to work specially during cost-of-living. It would help you to being recognised, having a name, creating portfolio and gaining experience.
• And finally asking for upfront payments to keep the business running.

Her advice is a practical guide for AFTRS students asking: “What does a real career in audio look like today and how I build one that survives the cost‑of‑living pinch?”

Listen to the full story and interview on the Cost-of-Living episode of AFTRS FM.