What to Look for When Selecting an Internship in the Media and Entertainment Industry

Internship experience is essential for anyone hoping to work in the media and entertainment industry. In an industry where who you know is just as important as what you know there are several things to keep in mind when selecting an internship.

1. What experience will you gain from the internship: Even an internship at the most prestigious company is not worth it if your duties are limited to getting coffee and filing. Before signing onto an internship get a detailed description of what your responsibilities and activities will be. Remember that the skills you learn on the internship will be included on your resume when you search for a full time job.

2. Will you be exposed to a particular industry, job title, and/or market that you are interested in working for: If you have your heart set on working in public relations then it makes little sense to except a position in sales unless it is a company you are interested in working for in the future.

If you plan on working in California then it makes sense to intern there for a summer. An internship in the entertainment business in Lincoln, NE is fine but it is unlikely you will make many California contacts. Websites such as getthatgig.com post internships from major companies all over the world. If you are currently a college student, seek help from your campus's career services office.

3. Will the internship honor other obligations in your life: The majority of internships are unpaid. Most people who intern are either in school and/or working. Make sure that the hours your internship site expects from you are reasonable on top of your other responsibilities. No internship is worth you failing a course or loosing a paying job. Remember that your internship supervisor will be a reference for you one day. You don't want to overwork yourself to the point where you are doing poorly at your internship. It will come back to haunt you in the future.

4. Does the company hire on a regular basis: There is nothing wrong with working for a small entertainment or media firm. Any experience you will gain is valuable. But working for a larger company that anticipates entry level job openings in the near future may be more beneficial. If a company enjoys you as an intern then they will want to hire you if they have a position open.

5. How well known is the company you are interning

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