what is the best way to get a job as a engineer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter alevy
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i worked as an intern at a local recording studio, but have never had a "professional" engineering job, except developing software at IBM =P

having said that, it really comes down to your recording knowledge, wisdom, interpersonal connections, and experience.

read a lot. practice a lot. get your name out. and don't give up.
 
thanks i pretty much have a lot to learn do you recommend going to school or just trying to go the the intern route?
 
alevy said:
what is the best way to get a job as a engineer?
Honestly? First learn to use the Shift key before you write a resume. If you cover letters look anything like your posts, you'll have a hard time getting any studio to hire you.

Second, either wrangle yourself an internship or part time production assistant job at a local studio and try to get the lead engineer to take you on a a protege or go to an audio engineering school and get an internship through there. The first one is ideal but extremely hard to do, only a handful of people get so lucky. The second is probably more realistic.

G.
 
i just had a vacancy in my studio and man, did we laugh at some cv's.

Hi, my name is dinkydong and i've been a truckdriver, waiter, gasstation attendend and parkingguard. Now i dediced to be a record producer. When can i start?


Who got serieus replies from us? Those who contacted us fair, straight and confident. You pick them out right away. This is a way of live, not a job.
 
I still believe the best way is through the back door.

Learn a skill unrelated to engineering that a studio might need. Web development, electrical engineering, accoustic design, carpentry, plumbing, whatever.

And offer that service free or at an extreme discount to the recording studios. Use that as a means to make some contacts, and then after developing some relationships, start telling them that you want to learn audio.

It's a sneaky way in through the backdoor, but in theory, it should work. Studios (or any business for that matter) would rather hire or take on people they know or trust, rather than some stranger fresh out of Full Sail.
 
take you on a a protege your not the best at typeing either lol anyway thank you for the advice i will definetly try do both but like you said your second suggestion sounds more attainable thank you a lot i feel closer are ready i have a clue as to what direction to go now thank you
 
That's true...most guys in the studio are friends haha
 
i dont have a way sneeky way to get in the door everything i do is music related lol
 
I'm just starting to study sound recording at a 4-year college (UMass Lowell) to get my Bachelor's in Music with emphasis on sound recording. Will it help? Hopefully. I'm pretty much counting on snagging a good internship my senior year and trying to get employed at that particular location. I have very few connections to the pro music business. I just really hope I can make a good impression on someone in the field.
 
IronFlippy said:
I have very few connections to the pro music business. I just really hope I can make a good impression on someone in the field.


I'd highly recommend that you work on making them.

Your connections will get you in the door. The other stuff will (hopefully) keep you there.
 
or...

get a good job that pays the bills and keep recording as a hopeful hobby.

that way you'll only have to record at your convenience and have options aplenty.

plus, you might be able to afford enough gear and real estate to be able to own and operate a nice studio.
 
mrbowes said:
or...

get a good job that pays the bills and keep recording as a hopeful hobby.

However, it is most likely that you'll need to learn to communicate more effectively in the written form than you've demonstrated here.

Being a musician is no excuse for poor written communication skills, IMHO.
 
Best way to get a job as an engineer is to GO OUT THERE AND GET CLIENTS. If you have 10-12 bands that want you to record them a few times a year you'll find a job without any problem.

#1 problem with most people in recording is that they forget its a business. Client attraction, retention and social skills are possibly the most important thing next to your audio skills. If people want to work with you and pay you to do it... you've got the battle licked.

That's what I did--I went out to find people to record then I'd call studios up to book time and split up the fee. If you are bringing them biz and want to engineer/produce they'll let you--you are basically giving them free money to use their gear! I did that for about 2 years and got a steady job as the main engineer at a mid-sized, well equipped studio.

So get off your lazy, eq-tweakin' asses and find some steady clients. :eek:
 
IronFlippy said:
I'm just starting to study sound recording at a 4-year college (UMass Lowell) to get my Bachelor's in Music with emphasis on sound recording. Will it help?

IMHO credentials don't matter in this biz. Either you can do the work or not, either you can make clients happy or not, either you are easy to work with or not... those are more important than any degree.

However, if you learned these things along the way it will help out just fine.

Recording is ultimately about a lot more than you can learn in a classroom or from reading a book (although both can be useful). In my experience the people that are best at recording were first and foremost good listeners long before they even picked up an instrument or became interested in audio.

So to answer your question--the degree won't help you, but your knowledge will.
 
The main thing i noticed is just to follow through. I dont let anyone come hang around the studio. But i really dont mind people are interested coming in and wanted to assist to learn.

However, I get plenty that come in and say they want to help out. Some are actually quite qualified for the assistant job. I tell them sure they can come in and help. Then I never hear from them again. Depending on how long it takes, I might think they are totally independable. So why would I call them to come help with a project if they are just gonna flake out?

So thats me. Im just waiting for one that really is motivated and dependable to come help out. Ive been doing fine without them so why would I actually give them a call to come when I feel like im giving an obligation to them?

I had one come in the other day who I feel might be a pretty good assistant. Except I wish he would push a little harder to come in here. Think about it, I dont set up a session and go "Oh i better call that assistant guy that wanted to come in" unless I really need someones help but if I did need serious help I would probably just call an associate to come help out. If one of these guys were checkin up and always willing to come in it would be more like "Oh hey ive got a pretty fun project coming up this weekend if you want to come. Would be nice to have a little help".

I think you get the idea. I really dont mind getting a little help especially on full day sessions. Hell ill even give breaks on snatchin the donuts and coffee and let an assistant take the wheel at tracking for an hour while I had a break. Wouldnt that be nice?

Oh, and leave them your email address. Im more likely to email an assistant about something like that than call them. Thats just me, but others might be the same way so just leave it just in case.

Danny
 
fraserhutch said:
However, it is most likely that you'll need to learn to communicate more effectively in the written form than you've demonstrated here.

Being a musician is no excuse for poor written communication skills, IMHO.

Poor written communication skills? :confused:

My sincere apologizies for not using the [Shift] key. :rolleyes:

This is an internet message board, not a f**king board meeting.
 
He wasn't personally attacking you and it was just a suggestion... chill.
 
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