One of the first places to look, especially if you're located in the United States, is the US Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook site. It contains detailed descriptions of all kinds of jobs in all kinds of fields, including those in the media industry. You'll learn about the average pay rate you can expect, how much you can expect the industry to grow over the next few years, and what you'll be expected to do in this kind of job. Don't forget to look at the typical working conditions, and remember that pay rate will vary by location and the amount of training and experience you have. This handbook makes a great guide, but it's not something you should rely too heavily on. After all, it's just an average of all the jobs surveyed.
Think about getting an internship. If you're still in school, this is a great time to look for a position with a television or radio station, animation studio, or any other type of media company. Many people don't bother to let students know that practical experience is often given an extremely high priority in hiring decisions. Sometimes, it's even prioritized over your formal education. While you can't assume this and rely on your experience instead of getting a degree and training, it's a very good idea to do some part-time or internship work in the field to figure out how things really function. You'll be surprised at the difference it makes when you go to get a job.
Take time to ask people who know the field already. Media jobs often include a lot of things that you might not be able to find out about just from browsing the Internet. Get in touch with someone who does the job you want to have and ask them about their life from day to day. They can give you the information you need to know what to expect out of this kind of job and to decide whether employment in a media career is really what you want to do. Remember, it's not all glamorous, and it can be stressful and frustrating, depending on the work you're thinking about doing. You should make sure you have a personality that's suited for working in the media field before you set out to get a job there.
Expos and conventions also make good resources for people who'd like a job of this kind. They're a great way to meet experts in your field, and getting in can be relatively inexpensive. In some cases they are free, but when fees do apply they generally don't rise above a hundred dollars. If the event is longer, it'll cost more, and corporate sponsorship can help reduce fees. Pay attention to possible conventions in your area. They can be a lot of fun, and you'll get all kinds of free items from vendors and promotional agencies. You'll also meet people in the field for whom you may be hoping to work who can tell you more about their jobs. You may be able to attend seminars and talks that will help you learn what you need to know to get employment in a media organization.
One thing that it's important to remember is that applicants for media jobs have to be on top of technology. Media careers require people in its field to be able to constantly adapt to new formats. While people in the media sector were once able to go without extensive computer knowledge, for example, today you have to be skilled at computer use. There are a lot of media formats expanding to the Internet as we speak. That means that people who want to work in the media will need to be able to keep up with current technological trends and understand them effectively. This is in addition to other requirements for media jobs, such as the ability to work with people and the ability to work under a lot of pressure.
If you're thinking about a media career, you should take the time to learn about the industries you're interested in and the jobs that are available. There's a wide range of options out there, and you might be right for one of them. Take the time to study the field and learn what you'll need to know if you're going to get a job in the media sector. That information can help you decide which schooling and what credentials are appropriate for you, and it can also help you start building experience before you submit your resume. Learning about media employment is an important part of your job search that you shouldn't allow yourself to forget about. It might take a little extra time, but in the end, that time is worth it!
