Vandy in Arts & Media
Welcome to the Vandy in Arts & Media Community
Welcome to Vandy in Arts & Media! This career community encompasses anything from entertainment to film, graphic design to theater, and public relations to music business. Access resources, events, and career advice specific to this industry interest. In this career community, you will tap into a unique network of alumni and employers, and learn how to leverage this network to find opportunities in any creative industry.
What are Vandy in Communities?
Vandy in Communities are industry-specific learning communities that provide support to students as they build their networks and find opportunities that align with their career interests. Support can consist of programming, coaching appointments, drop-ins, workshops, etc.
There is programming for each Vandy in Community throughout the academic year, but each community has a week of dedicated programming for students within their community. The schedule and programming for Vandy in Arts & Media Week 2024 will be announced at a later date.
In addition to Vandy in Arts & Media, other Vandy in Communities include:
- Vandy in Business & Consulting
- Vandy in Education
- Vandy in Exploration
- Vandy in Finance
- Vandy in Health
- Vandy in Public Sector
- Vandy in STEM & Entrepreneurship
Please note that you can “belong” to as many communities as you would like! How involved you are in each community is up to you!
Let’s get started.
“Vandy in Arts & Media provides personalized career coaching to students as well as opportunities to learn from and network with industry professionals.”
-Yasja Hemmings, Career Advisor
“Unlock tailored resources, events, and expert guidance within this vibrant industry. Connect with our diverse network of alumni and employers to open doors across the creative spectrum.”
– Bri Jimenez, Employer Relations Specialist
“As a student ambassador, I am here to act as both your peer and mentor as you prototype your interest in the arts, media, and entertainment space.”
-Bella Guzman, Vandy in Arts & Media Student Ambassador
Get ConnectEd. Stay Connected
Here are career support services and resources that you might find useful!
Drop-In Hours
Standard Drop-In Hours
During the following days/times, you can stop by the Career Center or hop on Zoom for some quick career guidance (e.g., resume critique, etc). Drop-Ins do NOT require an appointment and can last up to 15 minutes.
Drop-In Schedule for Spring 2024:
- Mondays: 11am-3:30pm in the SLC
- Tuesdays: 11am-3:30pm in the SLC
- Wednesdays: 10:30am-4:00pm in the SLC
- Thursdays: 11am-3:30pm via Zoom
Arts & Media Specific Drop-In Hours
Do you have industry-specific questions? Drop-in hours are a great place to have your application materials reviewed, understand industry recruiting timelines, and learn how to get connected to top employers in the arts and media industry!
- These drop-ins are similar to standard drop-ins except they will be reserved for students interested in arts & media related industries
- No appointment needed and these conversations can last up to 15 minutes
- Vandy in Arts & Media Drop-Ins for Spring ’24:
- Thursdays: 4-5pm (Zoom)
- Fridays: 12-1pm (Zoom)
Drop-ins are not held when classes are not in session (holiday breaks, exam days, inclement weather, etc).
Coaching Appointments
In addition to drop-ins, students can also schedule a coaching appointment with a Career Coach via Handshake. The main difference between coaching appointments and drop-ins is the scheduling piece and length of time—coaching appointments require an appointment whereas students just show up to drop-ins. Additionally coaching appointments tend to last a little longer (30 minutes) than drop-ins (15 minutes).
- To schedule an appointment with a Career Coach please do so via Handshake
Career Education Programming
The Career Center also provides various career education programming to aid in your professional and personal development. Programming includes topics like networking, employer trends, panel discussions, and so forth.
Recruiting Timeline
Arts & Media related industries tend to follow the ‘Just in Time’ staffing model where they only hire employees when they need them which results in shorter recruitment and hiring timelines. This means, it is very possible for opportunities to be posted seemingly overnight. Here are some tips when considering the recruitment process for Arts & Media:
- Look often and regularly!
- According to Princeton University, Arts & Media industries recruit approximately November to May, but please take this with a grain of salt as a company can post a position at any time of the year depending on hiring needs
Hiring Takeaways to Keep in Mind (According to LinkedIn):
- On average, the hiring process lasts three to six weeks.
- Factors determining the hiring process length include the position level, number of applications, and hiring manager’s experience level.
- Recruiters and hiring managers consider the candidate’s experiences and how those relate to the position when deciding.
- Wait a few days to a week before contacting the hiring team for an update unless they give you a specific timeline.
- Connect with recruiters during the application and interview stages to receive insider updates on the hiring process.
Resume and Cover Letter
It’s the most common question we get asked: what should these look like? Check out the resources below to see what an actual resume and cover letter can look like for this industry:
Arts & Media Opportunities
Here are some helpful resources to access when looking for arts & media opportunities!
Arts & Media related industries tend to follow the ‘Just in Time’ staffing model where they only hire employees when they need them which results in shorter recruitment and hiring timelines. Meaning, it is very possible for opportunities to be posted seemingly overnight. Look often and regularly! In addition to Handshake, these are great industry-specific resources to refer to when looking for a job or internship: https://blog.daisie.com/how-to-land-a-job-in-the-art-industry-a-comprehensive-guide/ Utilize LinkedIn as a resource, specifically following recruiters who work for companies you’re interested in working for, people who oversee/manage (relevant) early career programs, and companies of interest. Here are some ideas for who/what pages to follow on LinkedIn: Jade Walters (Shares information on internship and early career opportunities). Amplify Her Voice (Shares internship, apprenticeship, full-time opportunities within the music industry). Sydney Tran (Senior Recruiter - Create Music Group). Make sure to use keywords in the LinkedIn search bar to find relevant people to follow/connect with. E.g., “NBCUniversal Recruiter” “Pixar Early Careers”, etc. Make sure you select ‘people’ from the list of options at the top in order for it to show you relevant people.
Alumni
Looking to connect with alumni in the arts & media industry? Be sure to utilize VUConnect—a database of Vanderbilt Alum— as a resource to assist with your search!
- Use the ‘directory’ feature at the top of the page
- You can search for alums in a plethora of ways including: name, job title, company name, year graduated, etc
- You have a higher chance of hearing back from alumni specifically since you already have at least on shared connection (i.e., Vanderbilt)
- It may be a good idea to consider emailing them from your Vanderbilt email address
FAQs
There’s no one correct way to get started. Most importantly, know you don’t have to have a “traditional” creative background or set experience to excel in these fields. All majors are welcome in many of these careers. A great way to experiment in this industry is to apply for internships and use that working opportunity to discover the field. No two companies are the same, or have the same clients, so be sure to do your research and learn more about your specific company of interest. Make sure that your values and expectations align with whatever you’re interested in and don’t be afraid to reach out to people at the company to learn more!
With creative internships and jobs, applications will likely be creative, allowing you to express yourself in an authentic way. So be sure to showcase your individuality and be yourself! Finally, remember that in creative industries your brand is important. Be active on social media, establish your personal brand, create a portfolio, and connect with industry leaders.
Companies in this industry look for students who are especially great at adapting. Creative industries are extremely fast-paced, and can change at any time. Demonstrating that you are able to handle the unknown is a must! Many companies will assess candidates through behavioral interview questions. See our interviewing tips here to prepare
Networking is imperative for those interested in creative jobs. To start, try attending some Career Center events, workshops, or fairs and connect with the speakers and attendees at that event. This will help you get exposure to a well-rounded network, and you will be able to see the future trajectory in your career. Be sure to also make a point to reach out to fellow alum on LinkedIn! Alum can be a great advocate for you in the industry and provide a more in-depth look into what a company or industry looks like!
Employers in creative fields typically start their summer intern hiring process a semester early (beginning Jan/Feb), while some larger companies may hire in the late fall (usually around October). Summer internships are the most common in this field, and while fall/spring internships are not as widely offered, they may be less competitive. Full-time positions are usually posted just in-time, a few months before an anticipated start date. Some companies have talent acquisition, but actual recruiting in creative industries is rare. Therefore, networking is important! Finally, it is important to know that some internships in this field are only for post-grads (not undergraduate students), as this is a common method to fill pipelines.
Top Resources
