Manage Your Media Career Expectations

Manage Your Expectations
This is a tough one, especially if you aren't exactly sure what kind of a job you want. Depending on your perspective, it can be difficult to separate what you want from what you can reasonably expect. This is when it pays to keep your long-term goal, working in the media & entertainment industries doing a job you really love, in mind.

Consider what you really want to get out of the job you are looking for, and manage your expectations accordingly. For example, is the job itself very important to you (as in, I'd like to get a job as an editorial assistant at any magazine)? Or is the environment and the product more important to you (I'll do anything to get in the door at MTV)? Finally, is it a person that you would like to work for that is the most important element (I want to work for a specific producer because I know she would be an amazing teacher)?

While the ideal scenario is to find a situation that gives you all of these elements, often it is necessary to choose which one you really want to go after. Working for some large companies can be definite resume-builders, no matter what you do for them. If your resume doesn't need any more building, you might be interested in working for a smaller company whose founder and/or CEO is particularly inspirational to you. There is a lot to be said for finding a great boss - and this can be as easy as asking all of the people you know how they found a great boss. Many times the same names will keep surfacing, and then you know that there is probably some truth to what you are hearing.

Remember, after you get this job and are learning from your position, company and/or boss, your wants and needs will probably change. The trick is to really listen to yourself and know which element is the most important to you at any given point in time. You might find that your next job search becomes just a little easier.