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Chapter 8 Analyzing Job Descriptions There is no way to better gauge your readiness for a particular job than to look over a detailed job description or job profile. Reviewing a comprehensive job description of a role you aspire to will help you to understand typical responsibilities, minimum qualifications, and desired attributes of those in a particular position, and will allow you to take stock of your own experience and skills and how they stack up. Do you have what it takes to not only qualify for the role, but to compete for the role?

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Are there gaps in your skills and experience that you could be addressing now to make you more competitive for such a role in the future?As we learned to analyze career ladders in chapter 5, well now dissect two job descriptions so that you are familiar with the process. Lets start with a job profile for an online media intern, from a San Francisco-based music venue.

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Job Offering: Online Media Intern, Live Music Venue Job Profile Duties : Performing tasks in various areas of venue management, including promotions, marketing, ticket sales, and administrative duties under the direction of management Key Responsibilities: Marketing and promotion development, social media management, website administration, user engagement and interaction, market research, and ticket sales Compensation: $12/hr; 24 hour per week schedule; rotate between A.M. and P.M. shifts

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Prerequisites: Education or Training: Preference given to applicants with college degree in progress or completed in music industry, communication, and marketing Experience: Working knowledge of social media tools, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver Special Skills and Personality Traits: Strong evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to work independently, self- motivated and driven, organizational and time management skills, eagerness to learn, brightness, aggressiveness, knowledge of music and/or live music business Preferred: Own your own smart phone and laptop, extensive knowledge of social media marketing (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, etc.), experience in similar work

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Position Analysis Intern will perform a number of audience related tasks as outlined above. Depending on size of venue: intern may report to house manager, marketing manager, box office manager, or other staff Will be exposed to all facets of operating live music business Since most ticket sales will be online, skill and experience gained will likely be valuable to other employers in related fields including sports, theater, etc.

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Some tedious work (mailing list maintenance, data entry, etc Although this internship is paid, most in industry are not Paid or not, intern is expected to function as paid employee Always punctual Dress appropriately (observe fellow workers some labels are more informal than others) Learn as much as possible about all aspects of business Ask questions, volunteer for as much hands-on as possible Internship could be audition for job if you do all of the above If internship is part of college requirement, a paper on work experience is usually expected (@ UIW it is in the form of a journal)

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Experience/Skills/Personality For this paid internship, strong interpersonal, communication, and self-management skills are a must. Since the live music industry is a people business, the best candidates will clearly demonstrate a fit with the employers own sense of purpose, place, and values. Being outgoing will advance ones prospects for this position

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If youre serious about a career in the music industry, you must take apart job listings to really understand the details, specific requirements and salary information. If you havent done the research and you just blunder along, how do you know youre going to get where you want? How will you know the job has the potential to earn what you want to earn?

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Burgundy Woods Rodriguez Class of 2005 Best example of a good intern that was immediately offered a job upon completing internship. UIW Music Industry Studies Graduate. Unpaid internship 1 st to arrive, 1 st to volunteer, last to leave, Interviewed all executives at Virgin and interscope

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Job Descriptions Next is a job description for a position creating music and sound effects for a computer-game developer. Observing this helps you lay out a career roadmap, which is the specific skills, talents, and experience needed to obtain that position and prosper in a particular area of the industry. By developing a career roadmap, you will be able to know where youre headed and if you have arrived, so dont embark on your career without one.

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With a job description in hand, take an inventory of the skills and knowledge required to fill the position successfully, and determine the areas in which you may be lacking in knowledge

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Job Title: Game and sound designer; full-time salaried position Position Summary: This person will work with software designers and senior sound staff to create music and sounds for the companys latest products. In addition to maintaining the highest possible audio-production values, the sound designer will be responsible for adhering to the stylistic approach determined for the specific product. Ability to complete work within an established timeline is required.

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Job Responsibilities: Edit sound effects and synchronize with animation and other interactive elements of the product Edit dialog Compose music segments, songs, and cues to enhance the product Arrange music for the types of synthesizers utilized in PC and Mac computers as well as general MIDI synthesizers Review sounds and music to be developed with product- development team and software engineers to ensure playability

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Stay current on various developments in MIDI playback systems for computer applications Qualifications: Ability to compose music in a wide range of musical styles Four-year degree in music or equivalent practical musical knowledge that can be demonstrated through composition and arranging examples Extensive experience arranging music for various types of synthesizers including those commonly used in the general MIDI specification, Throrough knowledge of synthesis techniques, patch editing, and sequencing software.

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Familiarity with digital sound editing tools such as Digital Performer, Pro Tools, and Sound Forge. Strong under- standing of the principles of digital audio and the physical properties of sound. Must know the basic sound properties of the various families of music instruments (strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, etc.). Experience with Macintosh, Windows, and MS-DOS computers required. Basic knowledge of computer language such as C++ helpful but not mandatory. Practical experience in a recording studio environment is a plus.

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Position Analysis Job description clearly written lots of specific info on required skills and experience Although not spelled out, candidate should have experience playing video games Game scoring similar to film scoring, music enhances action Candidate will have experience as composer, sound designer, & arranger and be well versed in all things MIDI Note: although composing is usually a solitary pursuit, this position requires frequent interaction with other members of team

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Working collaboratively and adhering to deadlines may be as important as innate compositional abilities Videogame creation requires dozens of individuals working as a team towards completion of final product Candidate should also be proficient at editing dialog and working in a recording studio setting

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Conclusion This job description makes it easy to create a checklist of the skills that are required and for a candidate to then compare his or her skill set to see if this person is in fact a viable candidate for the position.