For many North Central seniors heading into the home stretch of their time as a Cardinal, finding a job for after graduation might be on the top of the priority list right now. However, this might not always be the easiest thing to do, especially for art students entering into a competitive field.
Here are some helpful tips and advice to assist art students in landing their dream jobs.
Internships– Getting an internship can be very helpful to many students. Internships allow students to practice work in their field and gain more experience, while also testing the waters and seeing if this is actually a career that the student wants to pursue.
North Central senior Drew French, who is a studio art major focusing on painting and sculpture, has had two internships recently: one at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and currently at the Elmhurst Art Museum. “Both of those experiences have really propelled me… and really built my resume up,” says French. “I made great connections.”
It is important for every student, but particularly students in the arts to practice their skills as much as possible and never stop working to improve their craft. Working outside of school in a more professional setting while also getting paid is a good way to do so.
Volunteering– Similarly, volunteering is another great way for students to get their feet in the door within their field.
“If you know of a place that you really want to work, ask if you can volunteer there first,” French explains. “It’s a good way to get to know people in there, and then once it comes time for applying for a job, you have references within that organization (who) can vouch for you.”
While volunteering will not fill up the bank account, it’s another important step in the right direction that will show students what exactly they are in for, while also helping them get their name out there and showing that they are interested in the field, rather than just making money.
Using your school– Jesek West, a senior musical theater major, suggests that using all of the resources available at North Central, from the classes to the faculty, is one way to ensure that students are making the most of their college experience and working towards a job in their field.
“The amazing thing about North Central is the liberal arts aspect,” says West. “North Central realizes that we really need to know all aspects of the industry… It makes us a lot more hirable.”
West says that North Central allows its students to become “a jack of as many trades as possible,” which helps them to become more knowledgeable and marketable when looking for jobs.
Additionally, West says that the career development office at North Central serves as a great help for students in any field to find internships and job opportunities.
Making Connections– This is perhaps one of the most important elements of finding a job after graduation. Having internships, volunteering, communicating with school faculty and just getting out there will give students the advantage of putting their faces and names in the minds of potential employers if they have had previous communication with them.
“It’s all about who you know,” says French.
Making connections and talking to anyone involved in the field will give students an advantage and show that they know how to reach out to others and communicate well. Specifically in regards to the arts, it is especially helpful for students to be able to get not only their names out there, but to also be able to show off their work, talents and abilities to people in the field before they have even been hired.
Keep an open mind– Many students in the arts who are getting ready to finish college and who are looking for a job in their field tend to know exactly what they are looking for and apply only for positions in that specific field. Of course it is always good, and strongly encouraged, for college students to have a solid idea of what they want to do with their career after school. However, West suggests that applying for something in a different field, or out of the ordinary is not always a bad thing, and that it can be beneficial to students.
“It’s a matter of just submitting yourself for anything and everything,” says West.
West explains that if a student aims for something in a slightly different field, or applies for a different job than they had originally intended, that this can help them learn new things and gain new experiences that they might not have otherwise had. When graduates go for something a little different, then they might realize new interests and strengths that they didn’t previously know about.
Rocking the interview– Interviews are often the hardest and scariest part of getting a job, and many people fall flat at this part. Working on interview skills and becoming confident in their abilities will help students to ace the interview and thus hopefully land the job.
To accompany this, French explains that students should also work on writing a good cover letter and getting good letters of recommendation to present at the interview to show their experiences and the things that they are capable of doing.
Students in the arts can also work on gathering the best of their work into a portfolio to easily showcase at any point to any interested employers who wish to see .
Perseverance– Last but not least, do not become discouraged and accept an application as declined simply because the employer does not respond right away. If a student really wants a certain job, West says that it is perfectly fine to send in the application a few times or to call and check up on the status of the application.
When applying for a job, it never hurts to call and at least give the employer a name; when they are going through applications, a name that they have heard before will stick out to them more than one they have never seen.
