by Gary Schwind

Created on: June 28, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2011

The entertainment business is a tough nut to crack. If you want to get into the entertainment business, you should count on spending a lot of time before you get the position you really want. An internship is a good way to start. While it is tough to get into the business, you don't have to take the first internship that comes along. Here are some things to consider if you are looking to get started working in some field of entertainment.

Look for a position that will allow you will learn some skills you can take to your next job.

There are a lot of positions in the entertainment business, if you are willing to: get coffee, shred documents, and perform other mindless tasks. If you end up at a job where you have no real responsibilities, you will dread going to work, even if it is only for a few hours a day. You will also end up with only a company name on your resume and no real skills to go with it. If you can, talk to other people who have interned with the company and ask how they spent their days. Find out if they were actively involved in the business of the company or if they were doing busy work to occupy their time. Also, ask the prospective employer what your duties will be. If you get the sense that your duties will be a lot of time-fillers, no matter how big the company name, you might want to look elsewhere.

Go after a position you can grow into.

Research and target the companies on your short list that you think have the most potential for growth. Granted, start-up companies are easier to get into, but you need to look at more than just the accessibility of getting in the front door. You might easily be able to get a position at a record label that is just getting started, but what happens if you intern for a start-up and it goes out of business after you've only been there a few months? Then you are not only looking for a new job, you are probably starting from scratch again. Whether it's a start-up, or an established company, do what you can to find out the long-term plans for the company, and whether there is any room for you to move up from an internship.

Research the employees.

No, you shouldn't stalk the employees of the company you want to work for, but you should scout. This works better for a small company, but could be applied to larger companies as well. Go to the company website. See who is listed on the contacts page. Then go to your favorite search engine and find out what success that person has had in the past. What kind of people might you meet through this company? Will the people at this company be able to help you move on when your internship is over? Remember, this is an internship and nobody expects you to swear your allegiance forever. It's OK to think about how this position might improve your prospects in the future.

Know that you are not going to start at the top.

No matter how qualified you are, or how good your grades were, no employer is going to offer you (a beginner) a six-figure salary and a window office. Know that you will probably have to do some tasks simply because no one else in the company will do them. Just like my parents told me, "complaining about it will not do any good." No matter how low the task, do it without complaining. If your employer knows you will put in an honest day's work, it may help you move up within that company, or it might help you get a referral to another company.

The entertainment business is a tough one, and it will take some time to "get your foot in the door" but that does not mean you can't be a little selective. Take some time and find the right position for you.

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