How to get a job in the music industry

Finding the right avenue to get into the music industry can be one of the largest hurdles you face. Many students wonder, “How can I land a job at a certain company?” or “What are companies looking for in a resume?”

Your career certainly won’t be a straight line; neither is finding your starting point. No matter your experience and work history, you can use these tips to land a job in the music industry.

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Getting out of the applicant black hole

It’s easy to feel like you’ve just dropped your resume into a massive black hole as soon as you hit the ‘submit’ button. How do you know if a person or a computer is scanning your resume? What can you do to make yourself stand out? How do you push your resume to the top of the virtual stack? Instead of spiraling out in the ether, there are a few ways to increase your chances of moving forward in the application process.

Tailor your resume

When applying for any role, you definitely want to make sure your resume is optimized for specific keywords and qualifications. Whether an AI software or a real person is scanning the page, they likely are looking for a few key elements:

• Do you meet the minimum qualifications?

• Can they easily spot keywords that the job posting mentions?

• Are your past responsibilities aligned with this particular job?

Many systems and screening teams will automatically reject an application if the minimum qualifications aren’t met. Or if the language you use to describe your experience doesn’t match the kind of keywords the company uses, you may get skipped over for that as well.

This is why you want to compare your resume to the job description and really ensure they align. It also means that for each job you apply to, you will want to tailor your resume for that specific description rather than using the same exact resume every time. For each role, try to apply that job description to your experience and see if there’s any wiggle room to reword certain points for a better match.

Make the right connections

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” may be a cliche saying, but it certainly holds weight. Approximately 82% of U.S. employers use employee referrals to source, identify, and shortlist candidates, according to an Aptitude Research survey in 2022 [1]. While it’s helpful to know someone at the company to act as a referral for your application, it can be just as beneficial – if not more – to get connected with a recruiter at the company.

Depending on the company, finding the recruiter in charge of the job posting can be a straightforward way to gain direct feedback on your resume. Some job postings have the recruiter’s name listed in it. LinkedIn job postings may even have a direct link to the recruiter’s profile. You can also search the #hiring tag on LinkedIn along with keywords for the type of job or industry you’re looking for. One good search could be “#hiring + music.” This will populate recruiters or hiring managers who utilize that tag in their profiles and posts.

Once you connect with a recruiter (e.g., sending a simple LinkedIn message), you can start building a relationship with that person and asking them questions to prepare for the type of job you’re looking for. If they’re open to it, you can ask them to review your resume. If you don’t quite meet the minimum qualifications yet, you can ask what skills you should work on. Then, when you’ve got some more experience under your belt, you can send an updated resume and hopefully land an interview that way.

What is the music industry looking for?

While the specific qualifications or qualities needed for different roles and companies vary, there are three main aspects that are highly sought after in the music industry – mentality, passion, and skillset.

Mentality

When it comes to mentality, it’s important to ask yourself if you’re willing to do whatever it takes to excel in the position you’re applying for. Will you be the first person to show up and the last person to leave? Can you figure out problems without someone holding your hand? Are you willing to be selfless? One way to think about mentality in the music industry is focusing on “we” statements rather than “I” statements. For example, instead of “I can bring this skill to the table,” replace that with “We can accomplish this because I bring this skill to the table.”

Passion

Jobs in the music industry aren’t all of the glitz and glam they may appear to have. This is why making sure your passion is in the right place is so important. You’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you truly love what the company stands for? Or do you only like the idea of being in a role that could be fun and flashy?

• Would you do this job or a similar one for free?

• What ideas do you bring to the table before even being interviewed or hired?

Read more: 3 guaranteed ways to get your foot in the door in the music industry

Skillset

Most people don’t realize how roles or experiences outside of the music industry can have a lot of overlap with the type of role they’re trying to land. As long as you’re able to effectively communicate how your experiences transfer over, you can up your chances of getting your foot in the door.

For example, if you’re in a sales role, you likely share a lot of the same skills needed for an artist manager or a booking agent. Making cold calls, sourcing leads, and presenting pitches are all tasks that agents and managers do in their day to day as well. You’ll need to find venues for your artist, squash objections when venues don’t want to pay your fees, advocate for your artists when people don’t see their value, and ultimately secure deals that contribute to your artist’s success.

Read more: Normal jobs that could turn into careers in music

Whether you know exactly the type of role you’re looking for or you just want to get your foot in the door, you may run into obstacles when applying or interviewing in the music industry. To start, it can be a good idea to learn more about the music industry as a whole. This allows you to see where your goals and skills would fit into that world. From there, if you’re ready to hustle, show your passion, and prove your skills and ability to learn, you’ll find your way in and onto the next level in no time.