Finding a Job in the Arts in NYC — Young Professionals in the Art

We know job hunting can be exhausting. Believe us, we've been in your shoes so many times ourselves and tried to keep sane and motivated at the same time. That's why we want to share tips with you, as well as many resources, to help you land your dream gig in the arts. Let's do it!

1. Job Search Sites

“Using a comprehensive arts and culture job board like NYFA Classifieds can help you learn what kinds of positions are available, which organizations are growing their teams, which skill sets you’d like to improve, and, most importantly, where you see yourself in the future.”

— Mirielle Clifford, Program Associate, Online Resources at NYFA

Here is a list of the top sites for positions in NYC (and beyond!):

EXTRA TIP: SAVE the job description of the opportunity you’re applying for! It might be one more tedious step in the process, but you’ll be grateful to have the full posting and language to refer back to when they invite you for an interview. Very often the postings on job search sites are taken down as soon as the deadline has passed.

2. Networking

You've probably been told this many times. But how do you start and why does it matter? Networking is a vital activity while job searching because often there will be jobs available that aren't even publicly advertised yet. People often underestimate the power of their own network. So start small, ask a few key contacts out for coffee (here's an article on The Muse on how to do this effectively) and let people know that you are searching. Ask questions and listen to others’ experiences.

Young Professionals in the Arts (YPA) - we don't want to toot our own horn here, but we do have monthly networking events for professionals across all disciplines with insight into various areas of arts administration and management
Emerging Leaders in New York Arts (ELNYA) - have a great, one-year fellowships program and regular events for networking and professional development
Be Social Change - largest social impact community in New York City empowering people from all sectors and industries to build purpose-driven careers, businesses, and lives
Professional Organization for Women in the Arts (POWarts) - championing professional lives of women in the art world with events, panel discussions and mentoring opportunities
ArtTable - a very active support network for women in the visual arts
NYC Museum Professionals - connect with peers, increase involvement in the museum field and explore resources for career development
Your university alumni network - often alumni networks host regular drinks or other networking opportunities. If they don't yet, maybe you can start one?
Events in your discipline - such as concerts, art show openings and fairs, performances, readings etc.
Volunteering - both to meet like-minded professionals as well as to broaden connections in your field.

EXTRA TIP: Even if you have a job already, you should never stop networking and expanding your own connections. Don’t just stick to your own discipline but connect further afield, the arts all share the same passion and issues!

3. Social Media & Newsletters

Before organizations or institutions even take out a job listing on a search site, they are most likely to advertise employment opportunities through their own networks. It guarantees that whoever applies is already familiar with the organization and has been following them online. So, here’s what you do:

Follow your dream organizations/companies/institutions on social media: this is the spot any jobs will be posted first. It also gives you more insight into their working culture, latest developments and organizational voice.
Subscribe to newsletters: same as above, the emails will include opportunities but also keep you up-to-date with current happenings.
Do a regular hashtag search on social media for: #jobopp #artjob #artsjob #artcareer #artcareers #museumjob #creativecareers etc.

4. Application Materials at the Ready

In today’s fast-moving climate, we always suggest having your application materials up-to-date and ready. Imagine your dream job opens up today and you even have a contact that asks you to send them your resume? If you keep everything updated, all you will need to do is give it one last check and send it off. Here is what you should keep in mind and current:

CV/Resume
Draft or rough structure of a cover letter
Portfolio
LinkedIn profile
School achievements / internships
List of achievements in your last/current job: keep a running tab of achievements in your current job and make sure to include numbers, percentages and hard facts.
The Muse: great spot to check out tips for all of the above.

EXTRA TIP: Google yourself! Make sure your online identity matches the person you are presenting in your resume/CV. Utilize the privacy settings of social media sites and update your LinkedIn profile accordingly, they are the most visible profiles of you online and always rank highest in Google searches of your.

Most of all, take good care of yourself while job hunting. It can sometimes be a long and tiresome process. Keep active, practice self-care, meet with friends, and go to shows, exhibitions, performances and museums to keep reminding yourself why you’re pursuing a career in one of the most exciting industries!

Got any more resources, links or feedback to give us? Share them with us in the comment section below and sign up to our mailing list to receive news, resources and monthly event invites directly to your inbox.