Greetings Everyone, 

My name is Oswaldo Navarro, Career Development Manager with Music Forward Foundation. One of my favorite aspects of my role is working directly with students as they jumpstart their career in the music industry. In the competitive world of job hunting, a well-crafted resume can make all the difference for college students and young professionals.

A resume can be considered as a ticket to unlock various opportunities, serving as a dynamic document that not only showcases your educational journey but also highlights your skills, experiences, and potential to be an asset to the employer. 

In this blog, I want to explore the importance of a resume for entry-level candidates and how it can pave the way for a successful future.

1. First Impressions Matter

Imagine you’re applying for an internship, a part-time job, or even a scholarship. In most cases, your resume is the first point of contact between you and the decision-maker.  Your resume is your opportunity to make a positive first impression. A well-structured, error-free resume can demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail, setting you apart from the competition right from the start.

2. Reflecting Your Growth

A resume is not just a list of your academic achievements and work experiences, it’s a reflection of your personal and professional growth. It showcases how you’ve evolved over the years from a student to a young professional. Highlighting your coursework, projects, leadership, certifications, and extracurricular activities paints a picture of your development and commitment to learning.

3. Tailored to Your Goals

One of the most significant advantages of having a resume is its adaptability. You can tailor your resume to match your specific goals and aspirations. Whether you’re seeking an internship, a research position, or an entry-level job, you can modify your resume to emphasize the skills and experiences most relevant to your target role. This customization helps you stand out and demonstrate your suitability for the position. You can highlight this in your cover letter and share your passions, goals, and foremost your interest in the role and company. 

4. Showcasing Transferable Skills

This is the MOST IMPORTANT step. College life isn’t just about attending classes and earning degrees. It’s also about acquiring valuable skills that can be applied in various settings. A well-constructed resume allows you to highlight these transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership. 

5. Networking and Opportunities

Networking is a crucial aspect of personal and professional growth. A resume serves as a tool that you can readily share with professors, career advisors, and potential employers during networking events, job fairs, or informational interviews. It facilitates meaningful conversations and opens doors to exciting opportunities that you might not have considered otherwise.

In a world where opportunities are competitive and first impressions matter, a well-crafted resume is indispensable for college students and young professionals. It’s a versatile tool that reflects your growth, showcases your skills, and opens doors to a world of possibilities. By investing time and effort in creating and maintaining a strong resume, you’re not just preparing for your future; you’re actively shaping it. 

So, future leaders, take notes – your resume is a powerful tool that can help you unlock the doors to success. Start building it today!

Lastly, make sure to save your resume to a cloud to avoid losing it and to easily update on the spot 

-Oswaldo 

2. Be comfortable piecing multiple jobs together. Once you grab one part-time job, investigate other creative ways to add to that income like babysitting, catering, or even seasonal gigs. 

3. Look for hybrid. It may seem different than what you are used to but a lot of workplaces are going into an office a few days a week while the rest of the week you would work from home, so get that home desk set up looking cute. 

4. Be open to joining the growing Marketing field. A job in marketing could mean a lot of things, don’t let a job title discourage you, keep reading the whole job description and see what skills you can develop in a role. 

5. Don’t worry about your major. Just because you majored in philosophy or politics doesn’t mean your skills can’t transfer to a career in live entertainment. Spend time thinking about your skills and where you want to be. It’s okay to pivot as your knowledge and interests expand.  

6. Stay in the coordinator/assistant job searches. When entering the workforce, a great place to start is searching for job titles like “coordinator” and “assistant”. They might seem a little out of the action, but they are a great place to start. We all had to start somewhere on our journey to our dream job. 

7. One of the fastest growing job categories in America are “Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers”* and those roles are awesome ways to get started in the live music space. You get to see a lot of great shows, make friends, start building your professional reputation, and have consistent work hours.   

8. Bulk up your LinkedIn (bonus points for a website) to showcase your work. Don’t stop at simply adding a photo and a job to your LinkedIn. Try writing a blog post, commenting on articles, joining professional groups, and sharing other cool events. If you have a little extra time, try building a quick landing page or website to showcase more of your own story and personality. Make sure you add the weblink to your LinkedIn when it’s ready.   

9. Don’t be afraid to show your personality. In the age of AI and Chat GPT, it’s more important than ever to personalize your cover letters and emails. Use opening sentences to let people get to know you and your passion for the industry. When sliding into recruiters’ DMs, be specific and personal. 

10. Join a club, social group, or membership organization. Below are a few suggestions but also encourage people to go as local as possible when building a network. It’s cool to be part of a national organization but it’s even more meaningful to meet other like-minded people in your own community. Don’t be shy,  you will be surprised to find there are more people out there like you.
    • Women in Music
    • She is the Music
    • Guild of Music Supervisors
    • Music Biz
    • A2IM

*(Fastest Growing Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) 

Top 10 Job Boards for Music Careers

Music Industry Jobs – Music Business Worldwide 

The Latest Music Industry Jobs | Digital Music News 

Work at LN – Live Nation Entertainment 

She Is The Music Discussions Archive – She Is The Music 

Internships | Amplify Her Voice 

Find the Best Music Industry Jobs – MusicCareers 

Job Portal — shesaid.so 

Music Industry Job Board – American Association of Independent Music (a2im.org) 

Online Job Listings | Berklee 

Jobs | Music Week 

Musicians

Music Mixing, Mastering & Production Jobs | SoundBetter 

Jammcard | Hire The Best Music Professionals 

Orchestra Jobs | Orchestra Auditions | Classical Music Jobs (musicalchairs.info) 

Musical America Worldwide Career Center Jobs 

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