When an opportunity presents itself, being ready and having your materials ready is key to success. Whether you have the perfect job in mind or you're not sure where to start, getting your materials together is the first step:
You should also practice getting yourself out there - not just on paper or on the screen - whether through networking or during an interview.
Career Planning Timeline
Use these tasks to guide you toward achieving your personal and professional goals.
- Log in to the Berklee Career Manager, and set up your profile.
- View Career Center events, request appointments, and locate resources.
- Search the Career Center website to familiarize yourself with our resources. Come by for a walk-in to explore what you have learned.
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss majors and your four-year plan.
- Identify your personal and professional networks by getting to know classmates, your student academic mentor, resident assistants, resident directors, and Berklee faculty and staff.
- Explore student clubs and organizations.
- Keep a list of your activities to guide the creation of your resumé and future scholarship applications.
- Attend the Majors and Minors Fair, Internship Expo, and Career Jam to continue to discover and explore your opportunities.
- Familiarize yourself with industry resources such as professional organizations, festivals, and conferences, and read about industry trades in the Career Center section of the Stan Getz library.
- Participate in student clubs, volunteer work, workshops, industry events, and networking opportunities.
- Consider working on campus through student employment to build your administrative and professional skills.
- Network with professionals and alumni by attending events and conferences.
- Search and apply for internships or part-time industry jobs throughout the year to gain valuable experience.
- Update your resumé with your latest experiences.
- Connect with a Career Center advisor to discover additional career paths.
- Apply for a leadership role on campus, such as resident assistant, orientation leader, or student academic mentor.
- Research graduate school and advanced degree options, and prepare to take entrance exams.
- Participate in Berklee-sponsored industry trips to Nashville, Silicon Valley, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and more.
- Schedule a regular meeting with a Career Center advisor to define your career goals for the remainder of your time at Berklee and after graduation.
- Request informational interviews with alumni to explore careers and life after Berklee.
- Make sure your resumé is up to date.
- Apply for internships by finding listings on the Berklee Career Manager, utilizing Career Center website resources, and checking with your department for recommendations.
- Cultivate your professional network, including former supervisors, past professors, and classmates.
- Research and apply to graduate school.
- Meet with a career advisor to refine your resumé and cover letter to ensure that your professional materials are ready for applications.
- Write an elevator pitch about yourself and your goals as an artist, and practice pitching it to a Career Center advisor.
- Join professional organizations and associations in your field.
- Project your financial needs, and plan a realistic budget for post-graduation living.
- Fine-tune your networking, interviewing, and other professional skills.
- Seek informational interviews with your personal, professional, and alumni networks to get advice on your career plans and post-graduation life.
- Polish your online presence, including your website and LinkedIn profile.
- Connect with Alumni Affairs, and attend the Career Center's Network Before You Move series to gain insight into relocating to a new city.
- Begin your job search.
Whether you need help getting started or are looking for specific guidance, our staff is always here to help. Schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor.
