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So You Have a Music Degree, Now What?

May 26, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Rock star isn’t the only career in the music industry. Yes, it’s probably one of the coolest, but there are so many other exciting careers in music, you’ll lose count! Believe it or not, not everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Fortunately there are dozens of behind-the-scenes careers that are not only exciting, but they can be just as lucrative as being in front of the camera. Many of these careers are technical in nature, so they require training. A music degree can give you the skills you need to break into:

-Sound editing
-Engineering
-Instrument design
-Music software programming
-Music publishing
-Recording (technician)

Other behind-the-scenes careers in music are not necessarily technical in nature, but many require a degree in music with a special concentration. Depending on the concentration, a degree in music can lead to a career in:

-Music therapy
-Education
-Tour management
-Voice Coaching
-Music journalism
-Music critic
-Special events
-Directing (film music)
-Concert promoter
-Band leader
-Copyright specialist
-Artist & repertoire (A & R) person

Composer, art director, advertising specialist, music attorney, lobbyist, and copy writer are other career opportunities for music majors.

Types of Music Degrees

The main types of music degrees are a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in music and a Bachelor of Music. Advanced degrees include Master of Music (M.M), Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Music Education (M.M.E.). If you’re interested in becoming a music professor, a PhD or Doctoral of Musical Arts (D.M.A) is usually required.

Music Employers

So, now you know the types of majors for aspiring music professionals as well as the types of careers open to graduates. So where are the jobs? Depending on the degree and specialty area, individuals with a degree in music may find employment at recording studios, production companies, and even government agencies such as the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Commission of Fine Arts, and Voice of America. Other types of employers are:

-Private and nonprofit organizations
-Media firms
-Music and film studios
-Performing art centers
-Production companies
-Orchestras and bands
-Entertainment companies
-Colleges and universities
-Booking and talent agencies
-Media firms
-Elementary and secondary schools

Colleges that offer Music Degrees

There are literally hundreds of colleges that offer music degrees. Traditional universities, schools of art and technical schools offer music programs of all kinds. Some of the top schools are:

-University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music) (NY)
-Juilliard School (NY)
-Curtis Institute of Music (PA)
-New England Conservatory of Music (MA)
-Oberlin College Conservatory (OH)
-Manhattan School of Music (NY)
-Cleveland Institute of Music
-Mannes College of Music (NY)
-San Francisco Conservatory of Music
-Westminster Choir College (NJ)
-Boston Conservatory
-University of the Arts (PA)

The Future of Music Careers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for musicians, singers, and related workers is expected to grow as fast as average. While this is good news, it’s important to remember that competition for positions in the music industry is intense. The more experience, education, and dedication you have the better. If you land a full-time job in the music industry, you can you expect to earn up to earn anywhere from $40,000 on the low end up to six figures on the high end. Self-employed musicians, singers, and others may earn more based on the number of performances, weeks of contract work, reputation, and recordings.

To learn more about music careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

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How to Choose a Resume Writing Service

May 23, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Resume writing services are more popular than ever. Thanks to a tough and competitive job market, job seekers are doing whatever it takes to stand out from the crowd. Hiring a resume writing service is only one way they accomplish this. A resume writing services firm can create a professional resume from beginning to end or tweak your current resume.

By using a professional resume writing service, you can ensure that your resume will have a professional and polished look, and the format will be appropriate for your experience level and career goals. In addition, an experienced resume writing service will have the ability to highlight strengths that employers look for and create a resume that details experience relevant to the job and the industry you’re hoping to become a part of.

Many resume writing services also offer career tips and advice. They’ll give you information about the best job sites, recruiters, and interviewing tips. They can also help you customize your cover letter and resume to fit each potential job.

To find the best resume writing service, it’s best to obtain a referral. Ask co-workers, friends, and family members if they’ve ever used a resume writing service and if they were pleased with the results. If so, schedule a consultation. In some cases you can do this in person, and in others you can do it over the phone or even via email. If you can’t find a referral, the next best thing is to shop around.

Use your favorite search engine to find at least 10 resume writing services. It’s never a good idea to settle on the first service on the list, so you’ll have to do your homework. Review each website carefully to find information about how long the service has been in business and contact information—including a mailing address. Communication is very important, so find out if you will have direct contact with writers and/or customer service. Direct contact with writers is always more helpful, of course.

After reviewing the information discussed above, review samples of their work. Some resume writing services will have samples online, while others will be more than happy to email samples. Outside of researching the resume writing services’ website, check the Better Business Bureau to find out how the service rates. Look online for complaints, reviews or any other information you may be able to dig up. The more information you have about the services on your list, the easier it will be to trim the list to two or three services.

Once you have a short list, you can start making phone calls. This might help you shorten the list even more. The way any given service responds to phone calls is very important. If they are difficult to reach, this probably isn’t a good sign.

After choosing a resume service, you can expect to pay as little as $100 on the low end to have your resume prepared and up to $400 on the high end. The price may also include customer service help, interview tips, job site listings, contact information for recruiters in your area, and job search tips.

To browse through reviews for some of the most popular resume writing services on the web, visit No1Reviews.com.

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5 Services Your Business Shouldn’t Live Without

May 22, 2011 / admin

You will make or break your business on your ability to find ways to run it more efficiently and cost effectively. Any program, service or application you use that will allow you to save time, headaches or money will be well worth it. Many companies they are constantly on the search for these services. Well, for you some of the guess work will be taken out as these are five services your business cannot live without.

Echosign

This is one of the lesser known, but more vital, aspects of your business. Echosign is a service that allows documents to be signed electronically. This saves you time from having to courier papers over to a company to be signed, and then having to wait for them to arrive back to your office before processing. Echosign allows you to manage this process via email – it’s a great service and one that is a cost saver as well.

Skype

Skype is one of the hotter ideas in the business world. This invention allows users to communicate through video chat. There isn’t a better service on the market than Skype for communications. For business this cuts down on the need to travel for face to face meetings as you can do it through a computer from anywhere that has Internet access. This will reduce travel bills and make necessary face to face meetings easier to arrange.

Dropbox

Here’s a great idea where files can be stored in an online document center. This way you can always access company files from the same place. You can read and review files in the Dropbox, make the necessary changes or amendments and place them back in the Dropbox. No matter where you are this works like a charm.

Yammer

Yammer is like a Facebook for businesses. This is a great tool to keep a constant stream of communication over multiple users in different locations. Just signing into Yammer will allow you to connect and post updates with your co workers. It’s great for collaborative efforts as well as for brainstorming sessions. For those who want to work as part of a team from miles away, this makes the most sense.

Google Calendar

This might be the best invention of them all. This is a totally integrated calendar that is easily accessible online as well as on most smartphones. This will allow you to keep track of appointments as well as view the calendars of all relevant company employees. The calendar is color coded so that you don’t have to worry about mixing up your own appointments with someone else’s.

These applications are the reason that business is booming for so many companies. They are keeping organization and productivity at a high priority and it is all coming in at a fraction of the non-digital cost. Companies are continuing to find ways to strive in the Internet age – which digital services will you use first?

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Why Going to College is a Good Idea

May 19, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Whether or not it’s a good idea to go to college has been in the news a lot lately. Many Americans are questioning how valuable a college degree is thanks to a shaky economy and an unemployment rate that’s at an all-time high. Well, the economy will bounce back eventually, and when it does, having a college degree will help you get a better job than having a high school diploma alone. This is especially true for the average American. We say “average American,” because naysayers love nothing more than to throw around the old “Bill Gates is a college dropout and he’s a billionaire!” The problem is, Bill Gates is not your average American. He, and a handful of others like him, are the exception—not the rule.

If you’re the average American, yes, you need a college degree to get a job in any given professional field. Doctors, lawyers, politicians, engineers, computer scientists, educators, ad executives, journalists, and many others would not be where they are today if they did not have a degree. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for many professions, while others require an advanced degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

When it comes to paychecks and prospects, conventional wisdom is right. On average, college graduates earn more money, experience less unemployment, and have a wider variety of career options than other workers do. A college degree also makes it easier to enter many of the fastest growing, highest paying occupations. In some occupations, in fact, having a degree is the only way to get your start.

Many blue-collar jobs require some form of education as well. You may have to enroll in a training program at a trade school or other institution in order to earn an certificate, associate degree or other credential to become an electrician, construction worker, fireman, police officer, mechanic, or other blue-collar job. Sure, you may not have to obtain a bachelor’s degree for these positions, but you will still have to enroll in a specific program, pay tuition, and study in order to pass a number of challenging courses.

It is important to note bachelor’s degrees are increasingly becoming the norm for many blue-collar jobs. For example, a degree in fire science is attractive to most large fire departments and most police departments prefer recruits with college training. All Federal police agencies require a college degree.

There really are no short-cuts when it comes to obtaining even a decent job, with decent pay, and decent benefits. So, instead of focusing on the short-term, focus on your future. So far, it doesn’t look bright if you don’t have a college degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that individuals with less than a high school diploma have the highest rates of unemployment in the nation (around 14.6%), followed by individuals with a high school diploma (9.7%). Individuals with a professional degree, doctoral degree or a master’s degree have the lowest rates of unemployment at 1.7%, 2.1%, and 2.9%, respectively. The rate of unemployment for bachelor’s degree holder’s is around 3.3%.

A college degree has many more benefits besides better job opportunities and higher earnings than non-degree holders. A college degree builds self confidence, you become more independent, you’ll make new friends, you’ll learn more about multiple subject areas, and you’ll be exposed to different cultures, which is an asset in society and the workplace). You’ll also increase your network, which can be utilized for years and years to come.

For more information and statistics about college degrees in America, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education, Your Network

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6 Ways To Protect Yourself While On Business Trips

May 18, 2011 / admin

Small businesses are especially vulnerable to fraud and identity theft. Many lack the resources to hire an internal auditor who can keep an eye on vital financial accounts and organizational information. Therefore, the responsibility falls on the owner and the employees to be extra careful with company information when traveling. Here are 6 ways to protect yourself while on business trips.

1. Only use one credit card when traveling. Leave every other card at home, in a safe place. If you do find yourself the victim of credit card theft, you’ll be able to limit the loss if only one card is stolen.
2. Check all accounts daily. Make sure you log on and check all of your financial accounts daily while on a business trip. If a dishonest cashier or waiter has managed to steal your identity or credit card information, you’ll see the illegal activity as soon as it posts to your account. Then you can call your bank and report the theft. They’ll cancel the account immediately.
3. Add identity theft restoration to your travel insurance. Identity theft restoration could be the single most important service your insurance company can provide. If you find that your credit card or identity has been stolen, you’ll have immediate access to the right kind of support. That quick call could save you thousands of dollars in financial losses to your company.
4. Use pre-paid credit cards when traveling for business. A pre-paid credit card allows you to load it up with a limited amount of cash. Once that limit is reached, the card will be declined. Even the fastest thief will run out of juice before he does any serious damage to your company’s bank accounts. If you reach the limit before you’re ready to go home, you’ll have the authority to reload the card. It may be a little inconvenient, but it sure beats the alternative.
5. Keep your laptop locked in the hotel safe. Most hotels have safes in the rooms. Keep your laptop and any other information that would identify you or your company locked in that safe. Identity theft happens in many ways, and a savvy thief, who works as a housekeeper, can rob you blind with just a few key strokes.
6. Turn on the pass code on your smartphone. Smartphones carry as much personal information as our laptops, so make sure you turn on the pass code while on a business trip. In the event you leave it on a restaurant table, no one will be able to access vital financial and personal information. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get back to the place you left it before anyone can crack the code.

Always use some kind of identity theft restoration when traveling for business. You’ll be using strange ATM locations and shopping in strange stores. It’s much more difficult to spot suspicious activity in places that aren’t familiar. If you aren’t properly protected and insured, ask yourself if your business can afford a theft. How will you protect yourself?

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