| Many students enter college every year and select a | | | | those employers that don't fit your needs. |
| major that may not lead directly to a job that is in | | | | At the same time, you should determine exactly what |
| demand and pays a decent starting salary. Since | | | | those employers need, want and expect of the |
| students usually want to leave home after graduation, | | | | students they hire. You'll need to know, in order to get |
| live on their own, have some fun, buy a new car and | | | | prepared. |
| begin to pay back their college loans, that should be a | | | | 3. Use Your Network To Identify Information And |
| concern to both students and parents alike. Spending | | | | Contacts / People In The Music Business |
| all of that time in college and paying all of that money | | | | Your network can help you identify the people and |
| only makes sense when students graduate with a job | | | | information you are seeking. Make a list of everyone |
| that has career potential. | | | | you know and ask them about the people they know |
| Although there will always be a few students in any | | | | who are in any way connected with music or the |
| major who do end up with good jobs, they may not | | | | music business. There are people in your network who |
| use or need their coursework in the job they accept. | | | | have the information and contacts that you need. |
| Unfortunately, there are some majors where the odds | | | | 4. List Your Personal or Professional Experience In |
| for graduating with a good job with career potential | | | | The Music Business |
| can be tough. When students major in an area such | | | | What experience and exposure have you had within |
| as: Philosophy, Psychology, Music, Art History, | | | | the music business? Have you held a music-related |
| Communications, Humanities, Sociology, Theater, | | | | job? Do you play an instrument? Do you write music? |
| Dance, Latin, Literature and Language Arts, etc., good | | | | Do you give guitar lessons? Do you have a band? |
| jobs can be hard to find. Therefore, these graduates | | | | Have you recorded a song? Have you sung in public? |
| may end up in a job such as a Bank Teller, Car Rental | | | | Have you worked at a radio station? Any |
| Clerk, Book Store Clerk, Waiter/Waitress, Retail Sales | | | | music-related work experience is helpful. |
| Trainee, Fast Food Management Trainee, Peace | | | | 5. With Regard To Music, What Do You Do Best? / |
| Corps Volunteer, Telephone Solicitor, Hotel Desk Clerk, | | | | Like The Most? |
| Insurance Claims Processor, Youth Counselor, Home | | | | It's important for you to understand yourself and your |
| Care Case Worker or something similar. If these are | | | | capabilities in the field of music. It is more likely that you |
| not the jobs that you were hoping to land after | | | | will be successful when you are involved with things |
| graduation, you should answer the following questions: | | | | you do well and enjoy. Therefore, you should take a |
| - How many recruiters came to your campus last | | | | few minutes to determine what you do best and like |
| year looking for students with your major? | | | | most. Then, you should pursue jobs that enable you to |
| - Where did last year's graduates (with your major) | | | | take advantage of your strengths. |
| end up? | | | | 6. List Any Music Industry Skills, Abilities and |
| - Does your major almost require you to go on to | | | | Accomplishments |
| Graduate School? | | | | Take your own inventory. Make a list of your skills, |
| - Should you change your major? | | | | abilities and accomplishments related to the field of |
| - What minor would increase your chances for job | | | | music. This will help you recognize where you are |
| hunting success? | | | | today and also tell you what you should be working on |
| - Should you consider a double major? | | | | to improve or expand your capabilities. |
| - What can you do to increase employer interest? | | | | 7. Can You Start Your Own Business? |
| I've used the "music" major in the exercise below. | | | | Are your capabilities and experience such that you |
| However, students in every major should gather this | | | | can start a business related to the music that you |
| information for their own field of interest. | | | | love? Not everyone works for somebody else. Many |
| 1. Identify A Wide Variety Of Job Titles Closely | | | | people are in business for themselves. |
| Associated With The Music Business | | | | If you truly love the field that you have chosen and |
| To identify job titles, talk with Career Services, | | | | can't picture yourself doing anything else, you will have |
| Professors, Other Students, Alumni, Interns, Musicians, | | | | to face those odds head-on and get prepared to fight |
| Entertainers, Music Business Executives, Promoters, | | | | for success. Since it is unlikely that employers will be |
| Agents, use the Library or do some Research On-line. | | | | falling all over themselves to hire music majors, there |
| Once you have a long list of typical jobs in the music | | | | are actions to be taken and decisions to be made. |
| business, you can narrow or select a direction that | | | | This may mean that you become a business major in |
| makes the most sense for you. | | | | order to work in the music business as a promoter, an |
| 2. Identify and Evaluate Employers Within All Areas Of | | | | accountant, in sales, advertising, marketing or public |
| The Music Business | | | | relations. It may mean that you pursue an internship at |
| More research and networking is required to identify | | | | a Radio Station, TV Station or Recording Studio. Or, it |
| employers in your narrow area of interest. Once you | | | | may mean that you finally start that jazz band that |
| have a long list of potential employers, those that hire | | | | you've been dreaming about. Whatever you decide, |
| students like you, you can evaluate them and eliminate | | | | the earlier you get started the better. |