Job Search Basics Career Services Before you start, put together your materials​: Résumé
Make sure that you have an up­to­date résumé with accurate contact information. Use a format that allows you to go into detail about previous jobs, including as much information on projects and responsibilities as you can remember. If it starts running over a page that is fine, you can eliminate certain details depending on the positions you apply for. How you organize your résumé is important, make sure it is easy to find information! Cover Letter
Write up a basic cover letter that you can use as a foundation when applying for positions. Introduce yourself through some basic biographical information (education, home) and include some anecdotal information about your past experiences. This is your chance to fill in the “gaps” that your résumé leaves. Be concrete and do not just repeat information from you resume in a narrative form! Social Media
Make sure that you have cleaned up ​all ​of your social media accounts. One of the first thing that employers do when screening applicants is google their names and look them up on facebook. Review your privacy settings carefully. Inappropriate photos, comments, and content that you would not share with potential employers should be deleted from your accounts. References
Gather the contact information of three to four people that you can supply as references to a potential employer. They should be people that know you pretty well and can speak about your personality and skills. Former employers, teachers, and mentors are most appropriate; family and friends should only be used if you are asked for “character” references or for people that have known you for an extended period of time. Being a reference takes away from a person’s free time. You should be on good terms with whoever you use, and make sure that they are willing to be your reference! Notify them ahead of time that they may be contacted, and thank them afterwards if they were indeed contacted. Depending on the type of job you are applying for you may need to have additional materials handy such as a ​Curriculum Vitae​ (​CV​), ​portfolio​, and possibly contact information for up to your last ​7 years of​ ​employers​. Where to Look: MontserratWorks​­ ​www.montserrat.edu/jobs Montserrat’s job/internship site Hire Culture Creative Circle www.hireculture.org www.creativecircle.com Hire Culture​ ​is a database of culture­friendly employers offering general and art­related opportunities in Massachusetts. Creative Circle is an advertising and creative staffing agency for major US metropolitan areas including Boston. Elance www.elance.com A web based service for paid freelance projects in art and design. Art Staffing www.artstaffing.com Staffing agency specializing in art handling, preparator, and other museum or gallery work. Art Bistro www.artbistro.com Monster’s (www.monster.com) creative industry specific pages. NYFA Classifieds www.nyfa.org/level2.asp?id=54
&fid=1 National listing for jobs in the Arts.
New England Film http://newenglandfilm.com/jobs.
htm​Resource for positions in film/video production and post­production. Idealist ​www.idealist.org Resource for careers and internships in the non­profit sector. Adweek http://jobs.adweek.com Jobs in advertising and media. Creative Hotlist www.creativehotlist.com Communication Arts’ job listing site. College Art Association http://careercenter.collegeart.o
rg/ Listings of positions for terminal degree level teaching and some museum positions. Behance http://portfolios.montserrat.edu/
search Click LOGIN to sign up or if you already have an account, sync up with Montserrat’s page to leverage traffic. Animation Magazine www.animationmagazine.net/job
­board/ Animation position postings hosted by Greenlight Jobs (​www.greenlightjobs.com/​). The Creative Group www.creativegroup.com Online staffing and freelancing service for creative professionals Career Bliss www.careerbliss.com