How to Dress for an Interview in the Music Industry

How to Dress for an Interview in the Music IndustryHow to Dress for an Interview in the Music IndustryDressing for a job interview can sometimes be a challenge- what you wear can depend on the kind of job youre applying for and the culture of the company itself. What youd wear to an interview at Facebook might be very different from what youd wear to an interview with Goldman Sachs, for example. What about a music business job interview? That can be extra tough. You dont want to come off looking too, you know, business-y, but you also dont to come off looking like a slob who isnt taking the potential job seriously. How do you strike the right balance? Basic Music Industry Interview Dress Code Tips If youre hoping for a straightforward, hard and um ein haar rule, we have bad news there arent any. The good news is that you can take the whole music factor out of the equation and plan for this interview as you would any other. Here are some good rules of thumb to keep in mind as you select your effortlessly cool, perfectly picked music biz interview get-up Consider the Position. You may be thinking that you dont want to look like youre interviewing with a law firm or an investment bank, but if youre interviewing to do legal work or financials within the music industry, that is exactly who youre interviewing with and how you should look. For instance, the legal team at a major record label is probably going to want to see you dressed as a legal professional when you show up to interview. Even if the schreibstube culture is more relaxed, go for professional business attire for these types of interviews and save the Ramones t-shirt for when you have the job. Consider Office Culture. If youve ever visited the company, you already have a feel for the general dress code, but if youve never been through HQ front doors, use the companys website and social media profiles to get a read on the casualness of the office environment. You may also be able to draw some general conclusions based on the type of music industry work the business does. If theyre a music marketing company out meeting people regularly, for example, the dress code may be turned up a notch when compared to a small indie label that has three people on staff and is based in someones home office. Dress One Step up From the Dress Code. Whatever you assume the companys usual dress code to be, dress for your interview one step up from there. If you think the company employees usually wear jeans and tees, rock what your mom might call dress slacks or skirt, for example. It should land you in the Im taking this job seriously, but Im not so overdressed that I stick out category- a good place to be.When in Doubt, Pull out All the Stops. You may feel a little uncomfortable sitting there in your polished attire the only one in the office without stains of indeterminate provenance on their clothes. But, its not nearly as uncomfortable as youd feel if youre the only one in the building dressed in what you plucked from the pile of clothes on your floor that morning. Job interview fashion is one area in which overdoing it is far better than under-doing it. Missing the Dress Code Mark What do you do if you completely misjudged your interview attire? Take it in stride and dont let it throw you off your game during the interview itself. You can outshine your clothes. Remember, theyre not looking to hire you for your fashion sense. If it feels right, you can make a little joke about your clothing misfire to break the ice. If it doesnt, just get your game face on and dazzle them with your music industry knowledge and experience. Someday, after youve landed the job, you can look back and laugh and be glad you dont have to go through the interview again.

Tips for Internship Networking

Tips for Internship NetworkingTips for Internship NetworkingOver the course of your lifetime, networking will be the single most effective strategy used in advancing your career. Learning the skills for effective networking is worth the time and energy it requires since its such an important aspect of the job search process. Students, new graduates, and experienced employees can all benefit immensely by learning effective networking techniques and practices by maintaining professional contacts that can be used as references for future internships and jobs and as a career builder for your future. Heres how to start networking. Build a List of Contacts Check with your college for alumni contacts that offer assistance with career planning development in specific career fields of interest, searching for jobs/internships, and learning more about entry, middle, and advanced jobs available in the field. Previous employers and professional contacts can also be added to the list of netw orking contacts, as well as any mentors youve had along the way. Take Action Contact individuals on the list by phone or email. Prepare a brief script or elevator speech describing yourself and your goals as well as a list of questions to ask. Be sure to let the person know how you got their name and why you are calling. Taking some time to research the contacts career field, industry, and company will enable you to ask informed questions when interviewing. Keep in Touch on a Regular Basis Your networking contacts are interested in keeping abreast of your accomplishments and career journey. Keeping the lines of communication open after your initial connection is crucial to networking and maintaining your list of contacts. Ask Permission to Use as a Reference Inform all contacts when you are beginning the job search process and update them on the outcome of your search. Ask contacts if they know of any open positions available and ask if they know of any other people in the field you can talk to. Send a Thank You Note Send out a thank you note to all the connections you make in the networking process. This little gesture will stand out with your contacts and will increase the likelihood that they will be willing to assist you in the future. Be Ready to Reciprocate Once youve been hired as an intern or employee, its an opportunity for you to help others involved in the internship or job search process. Many of the contacts youve made along the way may be helpful to other internship or job seekers and you may become a mentor to others.

10 Things I Love About Being a 40+ Employee

10 Things I Love About Being a 40+ Employee10 Things I Love About Being a 40+ EmployeeThere is a huge problem in Americas workforce today.The destructive belief that turning 40 years-old is a career death sentence.Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, I have enjoyed my career much more after turning 40, and this coming from a part who has held a job since age 13.You will see in this post exactly why I love being a 40+ employee. Additionally, you will see why people my age and older are great to have on any team.10. I am much more patientI welches a certifiable pain in the neck for many years. From ages 22 to 39, if I did notlage get my way on a business decision, I took it as a sign, The boss is holding me back I am a genius I must fight to show them Yes, it was that bad. I accused many bosses of being toxic. But I was the problem.Ultimately, even though I drove bosses crazy, there was an appreciation for me. Ironically, they loved having me on the team. My ideas drove prof it, team morale, and kept life interesting as businesses grew more customer relations-centric.I thought I was walking in the footsteps of icons who challenged the position quo. I took a stand for what I believed in.However, I was almost impossible to deal with on days when people disagreed with me. Now older, I see the error of always behaving this way. Out of regret and sympathy for former bosses, I am much more patient. It leads to better decision-making and peaceful days at work. 9. I love having my priorities in buchenIt is tough to maintain a career and family in 2018 USA. The pursuit of financial stability combined with the demand to be there for family makes life challenging.You will often read the words of famous business icons explain that they should spend more time with family. You know that is easier said than done.But now at age 44, I am confident that I have my desires and passions in check. In this specific orderLove of my wife and familyGrowing a business that gives back to people as part of its serviceAcknowledgmentStable healthStable financesMoney comes last for a good reason. I have seen it destroy the best people and give power to the worst people.8. I love that I appreciate learning new things more than ever beforeIf you are reading this and hating school because you recently graduated and need a job, here is a funny truth you will experienceThe older you get, the more you appreciate learningAt a younger age, most people I knew hated learning something new. It was viewed as a chore that got in the way of having fun.After age 40, as life settled down, I began to miss the people I spent so much time with while in my 20s and 30s. They had settled into their families and had their jobs. I felt like I had stopped learning.When I started taking business courses at age 42, something in me woke up and said, You did not respect your education the first time around. I realized this because I loved learning more than ever. I was now putting it to goo d use, too, unlike before when I believed I knew everything, yet no one was recognizing my genius.7. I love being a long-game thinkerOne of the benefits of living longer is that you get to learn the long-game of life. Businesses often focus on immediate ROI from short-term actions. I used to think if something fails immediately, it will never work.Now older, I understand many things about the long-game of business. Business travels, meeting people, failures, and successes while working in businesses from major corporations to startups taught me the value of long-term thinking.Long-game thinking is a tough sell on businesses. People in the US love instant-gratification. They love to criticize ideas and condemn people for failing.Yet, businesses outside the US taught me how moral and ethical foundation, solid commitment to integrity and honesty, and hard work are key ingredients to the longevity of a business.6. I love knowing I dont have to be a jerk to succeedMy way of thinking used to involve the shallow thought of, Be a jerk because only jerks succeed. Bad idea.Now older, I look at history and see why certain ideas come and go. I see how and why people are perceived as jerks for making tough business decisions.At the same time, I can tell the difference between a rolle who makes tough decisions and a real jerk.One cares about business and staff growth. The other cares about being in control.5. I love having a developed emotional intelligenceThe United States is a diverse and challenging place to live. If you pay attention to all forms of media, you start to see how everyone wants their specific needs and wants to be met, and their feelings to be considered.Thankfully, I had the opportunity to travel to 49 of the 50 US states, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Egypt, and Australia, all for work purposes. In these travels, I realized it is physically impossible to make everyone happy. The only answer is balance.I also discovered the meaning behind many quotes that h ave been around for centuriesThe only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. - SocratesTravel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of people and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all ones lifetime. - Mark TwainA solid understanding of such things allows a person to be kind, empathetic, and passionate without harming anyone in the pursuit of happiness.4. I love never needing to have the last wordI am not sure when and how this happened. But at some point, I became woke and realized that people change at their own pace, usually only after they have no choice to do otherwise.I used to throw down arguments like a lawyer on 12 cups of coffee. If I wanted to win an argument, you could not shut me up.Time, experience, and age showed me why this is not always the best thing for myself, my teams, or the company. I am 100 times easier to wo rk with than I was 10 years ago. And I love that peace of mind.3. I love understanding why I wronged people in the pastUnfortunately, I burned a few bridges in my career unnecessarily. Knowing why people make choices and a greater understanding of life itself has led me to have my own version of an apology tour.All I really do is explain to those who felt wrong by me, I get it now.2. I love having strong interpersonal and critical thinking skillsGeneration X and older Millennials have a unique skill that is in danger of disappearing.We remember life before the Internet. We remember asking for directions without Google Maps.Being able to decipher what our uncle and grandfather meant by, Turn left at the fork in the road once you reach the old church by the school, required interpersonal and amazing critical thinking skills.I see the value in Google. I do wonder what will become of people when they completely forget how to talk to people.How will they know what to Google if they have no idea how to talk to people?I love knowing that my interpersonal and critical thinking skills help me beyond what Google offers.1. I love having a defined meaning of successI used to have a shallow meaning of success. I believed it was defined by fame and fortune achieved.After one of my toughest career failures several years ago, I came to realize success is defined by what we give to this world.Giving to this world has led to me having successful relationships with my wife, family, and businesses I work with.I also realized the meaning of success is defined by how we recover from failure. I chose to move forward in spite of all negative feelings and doubt.Such a thing makes a person feel successful if you have the guts to let go of grief, but never forget why you failed in the first place.In closingIf you are just starting out in your career and thinking, I am a failure if I do not become a millionaire by age 30, or Live recklessly now because life is too short, please remember life is longer than you think.The older you get, the more you will appreciate life, love, learning, family, and a career.