Arts & Entertainment
Scroll through the blog posts and stories below to learn more about Hamilton student and alumni experiences in this industry. Finally, meet with your career advisor and explore the Career Center curriculum to learn how to network with alumni to discuss your interests and learn more about their work.
Arts & Entertainment Blog
Go Into the Office...Really.
By Jay Marsac '92
February 10, 2023
Tags Arts & Entertainment
Despite the shift to a more remote workplace, the media and entertainment industry is a relationship-based business by nature. Certainly, there are specific qualifications and expertise in specific areas that are critical, but in my experience, it is the ability to connect with others that will help you stand out in the midst of a crowded, competitive industry.
Generally speaking, people look to hire people they feel a connection with. This is clearly not the only consideration, but for an entry level job (where no one has much experience), “connection” becomes an even more significant factor. Managers want to hire people who will help create a positive, productive environment and team.
Most of us spend a great deal of our lifetime at “work,” so we want to be around people we can connect with and who will help create a culture we feel good about. As I look back over almost 30 years within the media business, some of my closest friends to this day are from my very first job.
As you make your foray into the workplace, you share a unique experience and comradery with your first group of co-workers. These are the relationships that will help you throughout your career and become the start of your network within the industry.
These types of connections don’t happen over Zoom.
Your first job is also an opportunity to learn about a specific industry and company. It is difficult to feel part of a bigger organization and learn how it operates when your experience is confined to a screen.
That said, having the flexibility and ability to periodically work remotely is obviously convenient, and I think a positive and welcome shift in terms of creating better work/life balance. But making connections takes a lot more work in a remote environment.
A fulfilling job is most often a function of the people you work with, not necessarily how big and/or successful the company might be. Be present. Work to create connections with your colleagues. Don’t become just a face on a screen.
While this all may sound a bit trite, in my experience the connections you cultivate and the type of company you choose will be your inspiration as you begin to develop your career.
