Know Before You Go
As we are at the beginning of our way through Interactive Media program, it’s important to have a plan on where we are heading and start think ahead about employment opportunities. Since most of the industry consists of small organizations (including many entrepreneurs and freelancers), our employment opportunities are mostly divided between two types: work within organizations and being self-employed (freelancer or business owner).
Being an employee is probably the easiest way (at least at the beginning), because there is a lot of certainty and predictability. Basically you have more hierarchy and less freedom of ideas, but you also have opportunities to build specific skills and learn from others within the larger organization.
Freelancer is somewhat in the middle. You have your independence but it is hard to plan your life ahead, because you’re never sure where your next meal is coming from.
Being a business owner is the hardest path: you are responsible for a multiplicity of things (business registration, employees’ payroll, tax deductions, vacations and etc.), but if your business achieves results you feel true satisfaction and you have the potential of strong financial upside (along with significant financial risk!).
Internships are good way to gain valuable experience and get your foot in the door. Whether an internship is paid or unpaid there are many things that need to be considered in order to decide if an internship is worthwhile. The experience you gain can be a key to career success, so it’s very important that you are gaining relevant knowledge and skills, while establishing important connections in the field.
Dress-code plays a big role. The nature of professional dress is somewhat tied to the industry. The way you dress carries certain messages to those who meet you. The interactive industry is different from most businesses, so the way we dress is somewhat different from bank-style power suits. Here are some tips how to dress properly for the industry.
Business casual is the best choose; try to look funky and creative (but not sloppy); avoid very tight or see-through clothes. For example, men could wear dress-up jeans, a long sleeved collared shirt and clean new-style sneakers; women could wear a casual dress with a blazer.
Know where you go and daily review your goals in order to stay focus on them.
"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan."