• Common Entry Level Jobs include: Production Assistant or Mailroom Assistant at a Talent Agency. For more examples of titles, duties, salary, education levels and more, visit the “Vault Guide to Media and Entertainment Jobs.”
• It is critical to gain experience through volunteering or internships.  Check out local media and production companies and work part-time during the school year and/or during your first summer. Be willing to start out as a volunteer at a smaller company and work your way up the ladder.
• On-the-job networking is key in the media & entertainment industry:  Job-hunting is an ongoing activity for media and entertainment professionals throughout their careers. When you are first starting out, it is important to put your best foot forward. Work hard, do more than the minimum and earn a reputation of going above and beyond. Advocate for yourself and make strategic connections that will help you in your next job search. For more information on networking in this industry, check out the “Making Connections” section in the Vault Career Guide to Media and Entertainment.
• Internships: Applications typically open in the fall for the spring, and in the spring for summer. Please note, however, that some internship programs at larger organizations (e.g. Disney, NBC Universal) open 6-9 months before the program’s start date. It is important to continually check the organization’s website for updates.  Some winter break internships are also available, applications available in the fall.
• Full-time positions: Applications typically open on an as-needed basis and there is usually a quick turnaround, where you would be needed to start immediately without much time to relocate or travel from another city. It is important to keep an eye on company websites and job boards in advance of when you are available to start, but it is generally recommended to apply for positions 2-4 weeks before your available start date. Start to network in advance of graduation so when the time comes to apply, you are well connected and aware of upcoming openings.
• Search for jobs and internships on Handshake, CareerShift company websites, social media, industry and job association sites, professional associations, through university recruiting programs and recruiters. Since Villanova is a target school for many companies, it is recommended that you search first on Handshake.

Portfolio Materials:

• Be sure to have examples of your work and bring them to the interview. You can also have your work online (e.g. Wix, Squarespace). In addition, come prepared to talk about your favorite media content and entertainment platforms. There are various online resources to help you stay up to date with trends and news items including:
  • Hollywood Reporter
  • IndieWire
  • Inside Radio
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • Publishers Weekly
  • Variety

Fit and Experiential Interviews:

• You should be prepared to answer Behavioral Interview Questions—a set of questions to assess whether you have the soft skills and motivation to succeed within an organization. These often include general questions about your background and why you want to work for the organization, combined with behavioral-based questions asking you to give examples of past experiences. Use the S.T.A.R. approach to structure your examples; Situation/Task that you were facing, Approach and actions you took to address the issue, Result of the actions you took. Learn more about “Developing Your Interview Stories” in Module 5 of Big Interview’s Written Curriculum.
• Practice your interviewing skills with through the Big Interview platform–a free resource offered through the Career Center.

• Connect with alumni in your industry of interest on Nova Network and request a mock interview.
• Research the company culture to determine how to dress appropriately for the interview.  Dress codes can vary greatly in the media & entertainment industry, although it is recommended to dress in business professional attire for all interviews, especially the first interview unless otherwise noted.
• The Career Center offers one-hour mock interview appointments that can be scheduled via Handshake to further develop interview skills and receive feedback. As a Student, you can also reserve interview rooms within the Employer Engagement Suite. For more information on interviewing, please visit the Career Center’s Interviewing webpage.