Or, even worse, they’re asking you to upload a… what? Resume? A one-page showcase of your experiences? Uh, that’s never come up before! 

Don’t worry – I thought the exact same thing not even two years ago. I had never been asked to describe my accomplishments in such a capacity. 

But what made it more difficult is that I had no record of said accomplishments. Sure, teachers advised us to keep track of our community service activities and other work, but how was I supposed to do that when I had so much else going on? 

Let me tell you that it is in fact possible to prepare for the future while you work on the present. And I’m here to share a few tips for doing that – things I wish I would have done before college! 

1. Write it down while it’s fresh – Set aside time after you’re done working on something to reflect. What were the key outcomes? Did you use a specific set of skills? What did you learn? 

2. Stay organized – Have a centralized place where you keep record of your relevant experiences. For example, maybe dedicate a notebook to a specific job or have a running Google Doc. Either way, you should know where to locate these items when you need them. 

3. Use your resources, even if you don’t have access to them yet – Get in touch with your college or university’s career services office and find out what they offer. Determine whether you’ll need an internship for your program and start browsing.  

4. Gather a list of references before you’re asked for them – When you’re in the early stages of your career, most of your references may be high school teachers or advisors. Start asking them early if they’re okay with being listed as a reference for applications. Keep in mind, though, that these references may become less relevant later in your career, so continue to make connections as you go along! 

5. Look ahead – Figure out what it is you want post-grad and then start shooting for that. Examine job descriptions and find transferable skills. How can you show that you’re already building the skills your dream company needs? 

Again, I know that focusing on a million things at once is hard but trust me when I say that you will not regret being prepared.  

Written by Carly Webster, Career and Learning Fall 2023 Music Forward Intern 

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 

In the back of the house, a group of eight also cheered—not just for the music they were about to hear, but for the pride they felt as the orchestrators of a successful event. 

They weren’t seasoned event producers, however; this was a group of 18- to 20-year-old students putting on their very first show—a culmination of seven weeks of in-venue job shadowing, panels with industry professionals, and career development workshops, all part of Music Forward’s live music internships. Launching first in Boston in 2022, in collaboration with Citizens, and in New York in 2023, in collaboration with Northwell, the intensive summer internships are designed to inspire and empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to explore and pursue careers in the music industry. 

Participating interns have a unique opportunity to try out a bit of everything that goes into live entertainment, from shadowing box office and security to guest services and food/beverage at iconic venues across the Northeast. Additionally, interns partake in workshops designed to enhance their professional development, with topics including resume writing, networking, and even mental health. 

“I felt like I was always doing something towards expanding my skills and ways of learning,” says New York intern Iliana.

But the most exciting component may well be the final showcase: interns apply all they learn throughout the program to curate, market, and present a concert of their own. Three nights after the Boston interns celebrated at Brighton Music Hall, the 12 New York interns shared a similar sense of accomplishment as they oversaw a sold-out show at Jones Beach Theater. 

“Getting a group of people I never met before together to make something amazing was the best,” reminisces intern Angel. “I would never give up the knowledge, experience and people I met through it…and I made friends forever.” 

Beyond exploring different career paths and forming lifelong friendships, summer internships allow young people to grow in ways they never imagined. 

“My biggest takeaway was actually something personal,” reflects intern Victor. “I grew as a person and team player.”

“I’ve grown as a person,” adds intern Daniel J. “I’m confident in entering the workforce because of this opportunity!” 

Thank you to our partners at Citizens & Northwell and all of the fabulous venues that opened their doors to our interns in Boston and Jones Beach that made these programs possible.

Both programs will return 2024. Learn more here.

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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