How to find internships in the music industry

Trying to find an internship in the music industry can seem daunting but there are many things you can do to improve your chances of success. 

Here are Careers & Employability Manager Oliver Tatler’s top tips for securing your next role... 

Cast your net wide

You may have an ideal role or company in mind and while having a long-term aim is great, internships are often a stepping stone towards a perfect job. Remember that larger, well-known companies in any sector are often highly competitive and may require previous experience from applicants. 

If you are making your first steps into the industry, make sure to also look at opportunities with smaller-medium sized organisations. These can be less competitive and may not require previous professional experience."  

These companies may also need interns who can work across a range of different tasks or departments, which means you can gain a wider range of skills during your internship - great for building your CV!

Rather than focusing on one type of company or department, look across your skills, interests and goals to identify as many different types of job you can match with. You may be surprised at the different areas in which you could potentially look for internships and increase your chances of finding employment!

Use and build your network

Not all opportunities at companies are advertised publicly so make sure you are using your personal network of friends, family and peers and make them aware of what types of internship you are looking for - you may be surprised at the connections those around you have already built! 

You can also apply speculatively for jobs which aren’t advertised by identifying the kinds of companies you are interested in working for and contacting them directly."

Industry networking events as well as the kinds of events organised by The Hub can be a great way to meet professionals and help build your network. Seek advice from as many professionals as possible working in your chosen area - rather than asking directly for opportunities, building relationships with industry contacts as ‘friends’ rather than just potential sources of employment can help plan the seeds for beneficial future relationships. The music industry is a people-focused sector so make sure to raise your profile by building relationships with as wide a range of people as possible. 

Tailor your applications

Make sure that you adapt your CV and cover letter for each role you apply for. Your application materials are not just a collection of information - they are a promotional tool and your chance to show potential employers how you match with the criteria they list in the advert and job description. You should ensure that both your CV and cover letter provide evidence of how your skills and experience are transferable to the position you are interested in. Your academic experience, interests and hobbies and professional experience can all provide employers with insight into how suitable an applicant you are so make sure you analyse what exactly an employer is looking for and tailor your applications to make it easy for them to identify why you are a suitable candidate!

Make sure your online profile is professional

Employers research candidates on social media more often than you would think, so make sure that your online profile is a professional representation of you. 

Ensure that privacy settings are enabled across your social channels and be aware of the information a search engine provides about you."

If you haven’t already, consider whether you want to build a LinkedIn profile using the information from your CV to present a professional face to potential employers. 

Be patient and resilient

You may not be successful in finding internships immediately so try not to lose confidence during your search - remember that there will be lots of similar candidates applying for roles at the same time.  Reflect on why you might not have been successful and how you could improve your next application and if you are able to, ask for feedback. Make a log of all the companies you have applied for so you can follow up with them in the future. Turn rejections into a positive by taking the chance to review the kinds of roles and companies you are applying for and consider whether you can apply your skills and interests wider to improve your chances of success.

Use The Hub to help!

If you are a student at ICMP, then the Hub has made it easier for you to find potential opportunities via our regularly updated Jobs Directory on our pages on my.icmp.ac.uk. 

There are also additional resources and links to useful websites available in the Building Your Career section of the site.  And whether you want help with your CV and cover letter or preparing for an interview, you can always email thehub@icmp.ac.uk to get the support you need. 

More Music Careers Advice

Read Oli's previous blog article on How to get a job in the music industry  and Top tips for interviews. 

Connect with The Hub

If you're an ICMP student or graduate then please keep in touch and let us know what you're up to thehub@icmp.ac.uk. Also, don't forget that our careers and industry liaison team at The Hub continue to be available to you after graduation, providing advice and connections to help further your career.

If you're interested in taking a music course at ICMP London school of music, then please get in contact with our Admissions Team - you can call them on 020 7328 0222 or email enquiries@icmp.ac.uk.

find a course