Comprehensive Guide to Media and Creative Careers

This document is adapted from the Dartmouth’s Center for Career Design. See the original document.

Many U.S. based opportunities listed here may require U.S. permanent work authorization or citizenship. As always, any student requiring U.S. work authorization should check with OVIS prior to accepting employment offers.

Career Exploration

Below are additional lists of sample careers for different arts industries: 

The Key: Informational Interviews and Networking

Informational Interviews

When exploring a career area that you are curious about, informational interviews can help you find out more about the industry, role, or company you’re interested in. An Informational Interview is a conversation in which a person seeks insights on a career path, an industry, a company and/or general career advice from someone with experience and knowledge in the areas of interest. 

Networking

The vast majority of opportunities in creative careers are found through networking. Networking is integral to creating, finding, and landing opportunities. It is also key to becoming known to those who may be in a position to help or hire you. Even applications to publicly-posted positions can benefit from a networking strategy. Finding the right people at the appropriate moment can generate important information, and possibly, opportunities you could not find elsewhere. 

For ideas about what questions to ask in an informational interview, please refer to the CPD Outreach and Interview Templates.

LinkedIn and Handshake are two of many ways to begin building your network. Career coaches and faculty can help you strategize on identifying contacts, sculpting “your ask,” and building your network. Here are a few resources to get you started.

Sample Jobs and Internships

Check out samples of job and internship opportunities below.

Arts Administration in Museums
  • Smithsonian Museum Curator (Digital)
  • Curator of Education – Mulvane Art Museum, Washburn University
  • Historic Saranac Lake Museum Assistant
  • Curatorial Assistant –National September 11 Memorial & Museum
  • Assistant Director for Learning and Community Engagement – Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
  • Program Manager DEAI – Yolanda Hester
Visual Arts and Design
  • Junior Artist- Frame Store
  • Design Assistant- Jordan’s Furniture
  • Entry Level – Associate Designer (Commercial) at IBM
  • Junior Interior Designer at The Designer Group
Music
  • ESPN Music Licensing Assistant
  • Assistant/ Coordinator, A&R Administration- Warner Music Group
  • Global Marketing Coordinator- Disney Music Group
  • Apple Supervising Sound Editor
  • Spotify Product Manager, Research (Music Vertical Platform)
Communications
  • Trademark Management Group Junior Marketing and Communications Assistant
  • Avenica Communications Entry Level Associate
  • Precision Marketing Public Relations and Communications Assistant 
  • Nestegg Marketing Specialist
  • L Mae Boutique Marketing and Sales Associate
  • E-Cloth Inc Community Marketing Associate
Content Production
  • Peacock: Production Coordinator
  • Disney: Junior Generalist Artist
  • Netflix: Associate, Production Finance – Animation
  • Crunchyroll: Jr. Producer, Creative Services
  • IGN: Streaming Editor
User Interface Design/Usability
  • Behr Paint Company, Assistant Product Manager
  • Washington Post, Subscriptions Product Designer
  • The Reynolds and Reynolds Company Graphic Designer
  • KiwiCo UI/UX Designer
Gaming
  • Epic Games: 3D Motion Designer
  • Epic Games: Cinematic FX Artist
  • FIFA (EA): Producer
  • Activision: Marketing Manager, Social
  • Twitch: Product Designer
  • Discord: Junior Marketing Manager

Cross Industry Resources

Visual Arts & Design

Art Galleries, Art Centers, Museums, Auction Houses, etc.

Museums and Arts Administration

Arts Grants

Architecture/Interior Design

Fashion/Business of Fashion

French & Italian Opportunities

Theater

Entertainment

Music

Film Production, Animation, Gaming and Virtual Worlds

User Interface Design/Usability

Publishing/Literary

Writing/Screenwriting

Communications & Media

Marketing & Advertising

Career & Resume Tips

Audio Resources

Portfolio Tips

Interview Preparation

Interviews for creative industry opportunities often include specific questions related to the industry and job function. Here are a few samples from one company in Entertainment/Media: 

  • Why do you want to work in entertainment?
  • What kind of content do you want to make?
  • What role do you take on within group projects?
  • What is a skillset you’re looking to acquire with your next internship?
  • Which movies and tv shows are you watching? Which podcasts are you listening to?
  • What are your interests outside of film and tv?

Alumni in the Arts recordings and interviews