Hi there,
Just got back from a Career Day Event with NAB in Vegas Last week. Here’s letter I wrote to the people I met with there.
There may be something in it for you guys too:
See ya
-db
Hi folks. Hope you all had a productive and informative time at NAB last week.
It was great to meet and speak to so many of you. It was exciting to see and hear your new ideas, enthusiasm and willingness to try new approaches to your career.
It’s obviously been a strange time, both in the entertainment industry and the world, but I do believe there are new and lucrative work opportunities for us all.
The challenge is often about getting a clearer picture of who we are, what we’re good at, what we care about and how it relates to the current market opportunities.
GRADUATES AND MENTORS
I met some of you who are still in college and some of you who’ve been in the workforce for decades.
The broadcast and entertainment industry is different now than it was 2 years ago, let alone 20 years ago.
Your ability to thrive is in direct proportion to your ability and willingness to re-invent yourself in a way that is true to yourself and relevant to the professional world as it exists today.
It used to seem like the best way to stay gainfully employed in the old days was to find a way to mold ourselves to the shape of an existing job. Now the challenge is to figure out what we’re best at, what we care about and what organization needs our help to get where they are going.
MICRO-NICHE: WHAT ARE YOU REALLY BEST AT?
Things are changing and happening so fast that many employers know they need help but don’t know what how to ask for or what who they need.
Companies have been shedding jobs that fit their old view of their process and business model but they’re looking for help in reworking their business model for the future.
Therefore, if you can explain on your resume objective and cover letter what your skills and interests are and how it relates to the current business environment then they will be more likely to bring you in for an interview or meeting.
FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL?
If you’re fresh out of school and looking for a first professional job it’s important to show your special interests, as they relate to the job you want to do.
It’s not just that they make you stand out from the crowd of boring resumes it’s that it shows you’re a person who’s got an eye out on the world and paying attention and ready to be a contributor to the team as well as to the world.
GET SPECIFIC
A specialized resume will generally get you more interviews and more interest than a generic one. If you’re creative and want to be creative, highlight and put the focus on your creative skills.
Creatives understand creatives and generally want to have them around. So don’t hide your creative side.
If you’re an aspiring reporter (and I enjoyed meeting a bunch of you) it’s important to show what part of the world or community excites you and lights you up. Sure, your first job may not be in front of the camera, but people want to hire people who’re passionate about the material whether it’s weather, politics, cooking, technology or movies.
FOR THE SEASONED PRO’S
For those who’ve been working steadily for years and now find themselves entering a different job market the challenge is different, but the approach is similar.
The first step is to be clear and specific about what kind of job you want now and with what sort of company. Give potential job titles: this will help the HR/Recruiting person who might be reviewing resumes and also help your resume show up in the searches on Monster.com, LinkedIn, etc.
And be clear about what type of company you want to work for. You may need to do some research on this point but it’s well worth the time and can help you on your search in many ways.
Whether you realize it or not, now you’re somewhat of an expert in a
few things.
In the big picture what are you best at and what do you love to do?
What new companies or industries may need people like you? These may not have existed a few years ago.
That’s ok. But that’s why they need you now.
A STRANGE COMBINATION
Now with so many markets, niches and outlets, it’s important to be a strange combination of extremely individual and extremely flexible.
In other words, narrow your view of what you’re good at and what sort of skills are you best at, and broaden your views of how and where you’ll apply it.
Good luck on your search and please let me know what’s working for you these days.
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