Many times in life, it’s all about who you know, not necessarily what you know. Now, I don’t want to get all cliché on you but there is no place where this is truer than within what’s known as the “glamour” industries. The glamour industries can be defined as most media industries, including print media, film and television, public relations, and advertising.
Graduates fresh out of college are finding getting their dream job to be much more difficult than expected. Companies within the glamour industries have the luxury of choosing from literally thousands of qualified applicants; thus, the aforementioned graduates are settling for less than “glamorous” jobs and putting their career dreams on hold until something better comes along.
One of the best ways to ensure you get the career you want and more importantly establish contacts is to complete an internship. Whether through a university internship department or an actual mentorship program, broadcasting, sound engineering, and acting internships are just a few of the countless positions available to students of all ages wanting to break into a glamour industry.
Not only will an internship give you relevant work experience (making you more valuable and enticing for a prospective employer), it will allow you to begin networking, or establishing professional contacts. Having influential and prominent contacts who are familiar with you and your capabilities can be priceless when you want to get a job within that field.
If you are currently a college student, visit your university internship department or career center to find out what relevant internships are available. Other options include mentorship programs that specialize in student one-on-one training within a given field. Typically, students can be any age and they train with working professionals within a field of their choosing. The training is done to accommodate the schedule of the student and takes place locally.
Whether your dream is to become an actor, writer, or director, it is imperative that you explore all the opportunities that may be available to you. Too often, young college grads pack up and move to Hollywood, so convinced they will make it big within a couple months. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with doing so, but it certainly does not work for every individual. Explore all options that come your way and be open to different opportunities that present themselves. Only then (and coupled with hard work and perseverance) will you make your dreams come true.
