Need advice.. finding it hard to get a job after degree :(

Torby

Have to say, my experience (ok a bit limited) over 35 yrs in the music /entertainment industry, playing, recording, live sound & lighting and now music video and multimedia...the best way to get work in a recording studio

1: get a qualification in the subject ...really make sure you know what you're doing...find a niche market perhaps...and start your own studio
or
2: get any job in the studio...make tea...sweep floors...watch and ask questions...learn doing the practical...demonstrate your ability....use studio down time to record etc....work your way up...

In all the studios I've been in ... nobody had a "formal" education in music technology...in this business...you're judged by what you can do....not what a piece of paper says you can do....you need to get out there and demonstrate your ability...and...if it means starting to sweep floors...so be it...

I have a friend whos into the multimedia side of things...lighting, staging rigging etc...no qualifications but nearly a quarter of a milliion in debt...and a business that works non stop...I also have other friends who work in radio....no qualifications...other than people "hear" what they can do....

I reallly think the best option is..."go it alone" and build your own business...be your own boss...three of the most popular (and busy) studios in my area are owned and run by people that dont have any qualifications at all...bit like music (playing/gigging), its not the people with grade 8 in piano that get the gigs...its what they play and how they play it....

good luck in the search

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Sound comments Torby. My OH already knows what he needs to do if he wants to work in the music business. However, we live in the north east which isn't a buzzing music business area. Those who have started their own business struggle to keep above water, so would be pointless starting anything whilst we live here. It's gonna be a move out of the area I think.

Stubert

lady_fuschia wrote: »

He could also try a bit of voluntary work - it's a good way to show that you're a "real world" person and not just a student (some people are apparently under the impression that university is on Mars or something where the social system is totally different and we all learn to write essays but are otherwise complete morons!) and he might meet some useful contacts too. I know I did.

This might sound stupid but I spoke to somebody who was a recruiter (they were an !!! but anyway) they said that sometimes people question why you did voluntarily work. As in (they said) it implies you weren't good enough to do paid work...not saying I agree with that at all.

But as many people have pointed out gotta take other stuff before you get where you want to be. My friend did a similar degree and ended up working at Vodafone for a year before he got what he wanted to do. It turned out to be lower paid (I think) but he loves the job. Swings and Roundabouts I guess.

seaweasel

This is a very tough industry to get a job in, so be prepared to keep plugging away. I have similar qualifications to your partner (sound engineering diploma and music business degree) and while I'v got quite a bit of experience now, I still don't have a job that pays a decent salary (I'm also applying for a lot of design stuff as that's my previous working background). Even my friend who's an engineer at Abbey Road is chucking it in to become an architect because it's only really in the past year or so that they're finally paying him decent money and in the meantime he's got a bit fed up with the whole thing.

That's not to say that he shouldn't give it a go! Obviously he's got a good degree and some experience but the only thing to do is to try and make as many contacts as possible and try and get some freelance work. I doubt a post-grad will do much for his job prospects unless he wants to go into teaching/training or academia. This industry is all about the people you know, and there's a lot of scope for freelance work which will help him build up experience or even provide an alternative career path.

Good luck!

Toonie

The only advice I can offer is keep trying. I graduated 2 years ago with a 2:1 in Film and Broadcast Production and for the last two years I've been working as a nanny as I've had no luck getting a job as I didn't have the experience or the right extras (driving licence etc). I started applying for jobs around the December of my final year to try and get ahead, but not even that helped. I've now decided to go back and study to become a teacher and I can follow my film/photography passion in my spare time and/or later on.

Your partner may want to consider similar roles, perhaps even within film on the music/sound side. Quite often people have to start on different routes to get where they want to be. Two websites I use for finding jobs are https://www.mandy.com and https://www.talentcircle.co.uk both of which have production jobs and your partner may be able to find some things on there. Good luck