Get as much work experience as you can – including internships and unpaid work if you can’t get paid work. Get you foot in the door in some way – this will show that you really want to work in the industry and are prepared to work hard for it.
What industry do you work in?
Music, media and arts – the broad area is music but I’m also involved in training and delivering educational programmes.
What’s your job title and what does that involve?
I’m the Chief Executive Officer of Point Blank Music College – which means that the buck stops with me! I get involved in everything but my primary role is to bring in the right people for specific jobs at Point Blank, attracting new business and looking at where the college is going in the future.
How did you get to where you are now?
I started out as a bass guitarist in a band and had contracts with Sony and CBS. Later I was a studio engineer and then a producer with my own studio – this led to demonstrating how the studio worked and training other people and finally developed into my current role.
I saw a niche in the music industry that was something I liked and was good at, and this developed and grew over the years – there was no specific business plan from the outset, it was more of an organic process.
Does your company offer work experience to students? How do you select work experience students? What do you expect from students when they are on work experience with you?
We offer internships and work experience, both in the office and in the studio, and we’re involved in various youth projects across London. We advertise any openings at Point Blank and applicants have to apply with their CV and a covering statement of why they want the position and what they can offer. We then decide who to call in for interview and make a selection.
We expect all internees/work experience students to show willingness and determination –basically the same standards as we would from paid employees. This includes punctuality, commitment to the job and responsible behaviour – we’re not expecting applicants to have all the relevant experience at this stage but we do expect them to show they have the potential to fulfil the role.
What sort of study/course subjects would you consider a good preparation for someone thinking of working in your industry?
I would expect prospective employees to have a general understanding of the world of work. Degrees are useful but I would want to see that someone knew about appropriate behaviour in the workplace – looking presentable and appropriate for their role in the organisation. Anyone thinking of working in this industry needs to be aware that it’s a business and the same standards are expected as with any job - the same rules apply as in all businesses.
At Point Blank, we offer a Music Production HNC that combines practical working experience with us alongside a BA(Hons) degree in music, in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. Click here to find out more.
When you are recruiting new staff, what are the most important things you look for in applicants?
Mainly the ability to do the job! They will have to demonstrate that they have the skills that will be required. They will also need to show that they really want the job and have researched the company, so they can ask relevant questions about how the place operates and how their role fits in. Punctuality and presentation are crucial too.
I’ll be looking at whether I like the person– will we be able to work together?
I also like to see a well-written, presentable, printed CV and covering letter which explains what the applicant can offer and why they want a particular job – blanket letters are just lazy and don’t tell me what the person has to offer in this specific role.
What advice would you give for those thinking about working in your industry?
Get as much work experience as you can – including internships and unpaid work if you can’t get paid work. Get you foot in the door in some way – this will show that you really want to work in the industry and are prepared to work hard for it. So if music is your thing, make tracks and promote yourself to show what you can do - use whatever is there to help you such as My Space. Make and maintain as many contacts as you can along the way.
If you really know what you want to do, then stick to your dream and focus on it. Otherwise keep an open mind and make the most of all the opportunities and experiences that come your way.
What’s the best thing about working in your industry? And the worst? I like making things happen! The best thing is seeing projects through to completion, from initial, exciting ideas up to the point where they become of real benefit to people. I like impacting directly on people’s lives and getting positive feedback from students, parents and other organisations that I work with.
I hate all the wasted time that’s inevitable when organisations get to a certain size – the day-to-day tasks that I shouldn’t need to get involved in but, as CEO, invariably do. They are distractions from the bigger, more interesting projects, even when they are things worth spending time on.
What do you know now about working life that you wished you’d known at the start?
Everything! All the practical things about running a business that you pick up through experience – surround yourself with the right team and make sure they have all the facilities they need to get on with the job.
As CEO you create the environment – it will be modelled on you, so it’s important to create a happy workplace where people want to work. Knowing how to manage people – it’s a skill you learn through practice.
Keeping calm and avoiding making hasty decisions – you can achieve a lot more through being firm and assertive rather than just blowing up!
It’s also really important to learn how to switch off from work – have a separate space or activity so you can take a break.
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509.