When it comes to entertainment and media jobs, it is often said that who you know can make or break you. When you don't know anyone, therefore, the task can seem daunting. With the right set of tools, however, you can build your own network to provide that first step down the path toward achieving your dream of landing a job in the entertainment business.

Thanks to the Internet, creating a network of people to contact who can help you find media and entertainment jobs is easier than it used to be. The following three steps can help you create that essential network to find jobs in media and in the entertainment industry.

1. Search classifieds on sites that specialize in entertainment and media jobs.

2. Locate contact information for those who already have successfully navigated entertainment industry careers.

3. Find a talent agent with a successful track record placing people in entertainment jobs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search classifieds that specialize in entertainment and media jobs listings

Like most other industries, the Internet has helped those in the entertainment industry to network on a much larger scale. Whether you are interested in pursuing entertainment careers in Chicago, entertainment jobs in California, or just want to find out which entertainment companies New York City has on its rosters, be sure to check out entertainment and media networking websites.

I recommend: Sign up at EntertainmentCareers and you can search for jobs in the media and entertainment business by region and job type. The Biz, published by entertainment giant Variety, allows those in the entertainment business to network and allows you to search by location for a variety of entertainment jobs.

Locate contact information for those who already have jobs in the entertainment business

Making it in Hollywood, New York, or anywhere else in the media and entertainment business, can feel overwhelming without contacts. If you don't know anyone who knows anyone in 'the biz,' there are sources available online to help you get started.

I recommend: Nielsen publishes the Hollywood Creative Directory, which can be purchased online or in hard copy. Their website advertises itself as the "best directory for navigating the complicated maze called Hollywood and getting your foot in the door." If you are interested in pursuing a behind-the-scenes career, consider Creative Handbook, which claims it is the "Premier Los Angeles Production Resource Guide for the Southern California Entertainment Industry."

Find a talent agent with a successful track record placing people in entertainment jobs

When you don't know anyone who can help you get in touch with people in the know, you may want to consider hiring someone who does to represent you. A good talent agent will be able to help direct you to the proper auditions and interviews. With so many vying for so few positions, a talent agent can serve as a first step in the weeding-out process to help your profile catch the right person's attention.

I recommend: Locate talent agents in your area by searching the Association of Talent Agents directory. Talent Agency Match specializes in helping you locate various types of talent agencies and provides background information about various agencies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure you've done your homework before reaching out to professionals with successful jobs in the entertainment business. Ensuring you are familiar with their body of work and being prepared with educated questions will go a long way toward making a great first impression.

To maximize your knowledge of media and entertainment jobs basics, you need to know where to start and how to go about business in the industry. Once you know the basics, you can get media and entertainment talents recognized in the business world.

Locate entertainment business jobs that challenge you as an artist and nudge you up the ladder of success. To begin entertainment business careers, you might want to:

1. Start getting entertainment and media jobs by working with a temporary employment agency.

2. Learn media and entertainment jobs basics by becoming an intern in the industry of your choice.

3. Use an agent to obtain jobs in the entertainment business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a temporary agency to get your foot in the door when searching for jobs in media

Working with a temporary agency gives you a chance to try out jobs in the entertainment business before you dedicate yourself to a long-term commitment. It also gives employers the opportunity to get to know you and see how your talents enhance their businesses, so they will want to hire you when permanent job positions open.

I recommend: RushmoreDrive offers customers a wide selection of temporary media jobs. It compiles information from job directories across the Internet and merges them into an easy-to-read format. Rony'sfriend Temporary Production Assistance is a unique temporary agency that specializes in providing support staffing for multimedia production. It offers career training as well as job compatibility and personality assessments.

Learn from experts in the business by becoming an intern in entertainment business jobs

Becoming an intern often allows you to experience entertainment industry careers at a deeper level, because it offers you hands-on work experience. It also gives the experts you work with insights into your abilities and often puts you at the top of the list for hiring.

I recommend: EntertainmentCareers.Net matches interns with the perfect jobs in studios, production companies, broadcasting, networks, VFX record companies and in television and radio stations. Hollywood Entertainment Job claims to be the entertainment market's premiere board for jobs. It finds that internships help break people into the entertainment industry and offers school credit internship, paid internship and summer internship opportunities.

Find an agent who can open the door to various entertainment and media jobs

Agents often have the connections to help an entertainer or talent find employment in media. A good agent not only makes connections, matching talent with unique jobs, but also assists in educating clients on interviewing techniques.

I recommend: The Premier Talent Group believes in pro-activity when it comes to finding jobs in the entertainment industry. It follows industry trends in order to match clients with the perfect job opportunities based on their talents. Red Entertainment Agency offers a diverse list of talented musicians to the entertainment industry. It merges television, music and film job offerings for its clients.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check out a list of licensed agents and promoters before you sign on with an agency since jobs in media often attract scammers.

Media and entertainment jobs education and training is an important consideration for anyone seeking jobs in the entertainment business or the media, but it is important to keep in mind that most training in the field is non-traditional. That is, most jobs in media and entertainment do not require specific degrees or certification, so training in this industry is really about gathering the skills and the contacts needed to succeed in your chosen career.

When determining what sort of media and entertainment jobs education and training you need, consider first building the technical skills you will need for your craft. Next, work on developing some formal training that will show employers you have been disciplined in honing your skills. Finally, look for practical hands-on training in the industry and network to get references. Consider:

1. Seek out a degree to hone your technical skills.
2. Pursue an internship to secure entertainment jobs in Los Angeles or other major cities.
   
3. Find vocational training that builds specific skills.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pursue a degree in media studies to get technical training for entertainment and media jobs

While formal degrees are not needed for most media and entertainment jobs, they do show employers that you are disciplined and serious about getting the specific technical skills you need to be successful. Degrees also let you work with professional faculty, who typically are part of the media or entertainment industries. If you can, it is often a good idea to seek a degree in California or New York, since this will place you near the hubs for the entertainment and media industries.

I recommend: Rutgers University Center for Media Studies offers degrees in Journalism and Media Studies as well as other fields in the media industry. University of California at Berkeley has a prestigious media studies program and its website offers many education resources as well.

Secure internships to build contacts in the industry that lead to jobs in media

For jobs in entertainment business and media sectors, internships are very important since these industries rely heavily on word-of-mouth when making hiring decisions. Internships allow you to work for entertainment companies in New York or media firms in LA, which is important if you are from a smaller town and need to make contacts where many entry-level media and entertainment jobs are located. Internships build your skills and help you develop contacts that can lead to strong references and jobs.

I recommend: The Television Academy Foundation offers a number of educational programs, including a highly-esteemed internship program. The T. Howard Foundation helps place minorities and women in entertainment and media internships. EntertainmentCareers.net offers a searchable list of media and entertainment internships.

Hone in on specific skills with vocational training to secure employment in media and entertainment

Workshops, seminars and vocational training that are not degree-based are often a good way to build up specific skills you need, but have not had a chance to master. This sort of training is also good for networking and shows that you are serious about developing your skill set.

I recommend: The Institute for Media and Entertainment has a number of courses aimed at media and entertainment professionals. Students can brush up on business or branding skills, to name just two examples, that are needed in entertainment jobs and media jobs. Full Sail University has a number of programs for professionals interested in entering and furthering entertainment industry careers and media careers. Their useful web page clearly explains the various training options available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that for most entertainment business careers and media careers, the strength of your work is very important. Try to build a portfolio or samples of your work to show when job-hunting. If you are interested in broadcasting or television production, for example, prepare reels of your work.

There are many media and entertainment jobs for beginners, so it's important to explore all your options before you determine which one best suits your particular talents and needs. Look at training options and job offerings for your field of interest.

Any beginner looking into entertainment and media jobs might want to consider location, as well as work hours and specialties in niche markets. Some points you might want to consider when you look into media and entertainment jobs for beginners include the following options:

1. Analyze the different jobs in the entertainment business to see which best suit your criteria.

2. Look into educational opportunities for media and entertainment jobs for beginners.

3. Determine the best location for jobs in media that meet your standards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find entertainment jobs that meet your particular area of interest

Since jobs in the entertainment business cover a wide range of interests from writing to acting, look at all your options to determine which jobs suit your own talents and your own interests.

I recommend: Go to 4 Entertainment Jobs for a listing of job options. This site knows that many people looking for jobs are beginners, so it even covers jobs offered as internships. Vault.com offers a variety of potential careers for those interested in working in the entertainment business. It offers a wide selection of articles dedicated to the different jobs, detailing how a beginner might want to get started in the business.

Determine education requirements for specific entertainment business jobs

When looking for employment in media, it's important to consider education. This could add years to preparation for a beginner. A beginner might want to look into internships or mentoring situations in addition to looking for formal educational institutional offerings.

I recommend: Variety defines its mentoring programs and discusses why it might be beneficial for an individual looking into starting out in the entertainment business.

Beginners might want to consider looking into entertainment business careers in a specific locale

Sometimes entertainment industry careers are not readily available in a specific locale. Beginners should determine where they are willing to work before attempting to find jobs in the entertainment industry.

I recommend: Go to Crew Net to find out where one might find an entertainment job in a specific location. The site lets you choose jobs by specialty, country, state or by keyword. Learn4Good posts jobs for beginners interested in internships or regular jobs in the United States. The site lets you look for jobs around the world or by specific job locations within the United States.