Tim Donaldson is the Technology Operations Manager for Global Radio, the home of the UK’s leading commercial radio brands including Heart, Capital FM, LBC, Classic FM, Gold and XFM.  

Here are Tim’s Top Tips for getting an applicaton noticed:

”I cannot emphasise how important your first approach to an employer is, and you have to give it your absolute best shot.  If you mess it up you won’t get a second chance.  Adopt an approach adapted from Formula One (where the only question that’s important is ”Will what I’m doing make the car go faster?”), and ask yourself at every stage of preparing your initial email or letter ”Will what I’m doing give me a better chance of getting noticed?”.  Remember that the employer has what you want (a job), but he/she knows NOTHING about you, and so he/she needs to know that you want to have it (as well as, of course, knowing that you are suitably qualified for it).”

(1) Read the advert.  That sounds SO basic, but I am amazed by the number of applications I receive where it is blatantly apparent that the writer has not done so.

(2) Respond to the advert.  Don’t use a generic email application that could have been sent to anyone. It’s so transparent and will get binned. If you have an automated system for applying for jobs, don’t use it.  You might be lucky enough to find an employer who’s courteous enough to reply and clarify, but I suspect they’re few and far between.

Editor note - When applying for jobs through UK Music Jobs do not forget to tailor your covering letter and CV. You can now add as many CVs to your profile as you like and then chose which one accompanies your tailored covering letter.

(3) At least TRY to tailor your initial response to what the ad says. Pick out a few points and write about how well you would meet them. Remember, you have to tell your prospective employer the story of who you are, and, in the end ’sell’ yourself.

(4) Spell check carefully.  Don’t rely on your computer to do it for you.  Read and re-read your initial approach before you send it.  Spelling and punctuation errors make your application look sloppy and, whatever you might like to think, it really makes a difference.

(5) Make it ABSOLUTELY clear what you are doing in your initial approach - are you applying for the job there and then, or are you asking for more details? I would always advise the latter - job adverts are often no more than thumbnail sketches of what is contained in the Job Description. Your application should therefore be based on the longer document.

Editor note - Following the job description is always best however always take note of what the employer is requesting in the particular advert.

(6) Make sure that you can provide evidence for everything that you put in your application as you may be asked for it.  If you tell lies you will be found out sooner or later.  For example, if you say you are confident and outgoing and turn out, at the interview, to be shy and monosyllabic, or if you say you have skills which (it later transpires) you don’t you will have wasted your time as well as that of your potential employers.  You won’t be invited back next time there is a job going.

(7) Most jobs are in a particular location.  If you live miles away, make it clear that you are happy to relocate.

(8) If you are foreign applicant, make sure that you have the right work permits to work in the host country, and say so in your initial approach. Questions about this left undealt-with head on at the outset only present your possible future employer with a problem when he/she wants only solutions.

(9) If English is not your first language, ask for help in preparing your application, or get it checked.  A letter written in poor English will not reflect well on your undoubted abilities.

”Finally, the jobs that I, as a very specific type of employer, have rely on team work and communication as key skills.  It is useful (and something that I look for) that you demonstrate those.  Team work can be demonstrated not only by your past employment history but also by your hobbies and interests.  I am naturally going to be more attracted to someone who plays in a band, a football team or who does amateur dramatics than someone whose interests are more solitary.  That’s simply because people who take part in team based activities know better how to pay their part to a greater goal, and can understand how to take direction, again for the benefit of all.  If you don’t have such an interest take one up!!”

Does it still happen? Well, no.

It may SEEM like someone gets a lucky break now and then, but trust me, that particular gig where the (insert national newspaper) reviewer pops along and likes what they hear – that’s because it’s your 1052nd gig and they are there because you’ve contacted them through the whelm of social networking sites. They checked out your UK Music Jobs profile (which is in all your signatures) before replying, which was up to date with info, press shots, new music and carefully crafted branding. Someone in their office had actually heard of you already because you are always chiming in on (insert blog) with insightful comments and linking back to your own regularly updated tour blog. Their friend had won free tickets to your last gig that you’d offered to the local radio station (along with a CD and biog for the specialist genre DJ there).

Here’s the good news, and the bit to focus on. Your career is now in YOUR hands. You don’t have to rely on the top A&R gurus listening to your tape and throwing the other 1,000 away on that particular day.

YOU record your own ideas, dreams and emotions. YOU build your fan base. YOU start your own label and YOU sell the records through YOUR website. YOU do the marketing, publishing, live performances and cost scheduling.

It’s hard, but in today’s model, it’s all very achievable. You may not get it all right first time, and you may need to research for some advice. That’s where I come in

The internet is incredible, and web 2.0 is all about providing free content. There’s hundreds of helpful blogs providing expert help and advice, here’s a few I recommend;

www.leejarvis.blogspot.com (The Digital Revolution, Music 2.0 and tips for Indies and Freelancers; we all get one free plug, don’t we?!)
New music strategies (Does what it says on the tin. Change the way you think if you want to make it in the future music industry)
Berkleemusic (Top US college with some amazing tutors, offering help on all kinds of music careers. Alumi include Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock)

Now that you have control over you own career, go make it happen! Ooh, but before you go, leave a comment and check back soon

Lee.

I’ve come across this great talk by a rather clever chap called Gerd Leonhard. Leonhard is a Media Futurist, which basically means he will tell you how sell your album / market your record company / become a top-earning publisher, whilst moving forward, and avoiding becoming extinct or viewed as untrustworthy by your consumers. He was filmed at this Google Tech Talk in London last month, covering topics such as the way that the internet is the biggest change to the music industry since radio, current and future predictions of social trends, and the way music may be sold online in the near future and how it will affect artists.

Anyone serious about the Music Industry really should watch this - It’s bang on the money, with his points regarding the UK Radio industry, the BPI, RIAA and many more. Plus, at just over 60 mins, it will fit nicely into your lunch break

The slideshow is also available here in a larger and clearer form, but i was focussing so much on his theories that i’d rather go out and buy his book

Welcome to our new series of Q&A’s with music professionals from all walks of the industry. The idea of this series is to provide you with advice and insights into working in the UK Music Industry.

This interview is with singer/songwriter Kelli-Leigh Henry Davila lead singer of the band ‘KI’. 22 year old Kelli is an accomplished vocalist and trained at the renowned Brit School alongside Leona Lewis, Katie Meula and Luke Pritchard of The Kooks. In this interview Kelli tells us how she finds working in the UK music industry and her advice/tips on how to survive.

Q1. What made you want to get into the music industry??

I don’t remember how old I was when I specifically said to myself I want to be a professional singer but my family are very musical. My uncle is a professional drummer, my other uncle is a professional singer and my mum is a singer/songwriter amongst other artistic skills. So I grew up quite musical, and I would love to sing along and dance to; I think it was Eternal at the time and try and hit all the high belts that Easther Bennett would sing.

Q2. How did you begin your career in music?

I started after I left school. I had started helping other younger students with their voices for upcoming shows and I kind of got a knack for it and started as an assistant to a singing teacher, which then developed into me becoming a professional singing teacher myself. I then met my other half and in doing original material gigs this managed to manifest into doing paid gigs, realising I could also do covers very well, began getting bookings for bars, clubs, weddings and more.

Q3. What was your first experience of success in the industry and how did you build on it?

Mmmm, this is a difficult question as in my eyes I haven’t had the industry success that I desire, but in terms of basic working within the music industry I suppose I am very successful. I do music full time, as a teacher and doing gigs, function bands, private events, my own band bookings, session work and now co-own my own disco company with my partner IBP Music…which is now doing very well.

Q4. How has networking with other musicians and in the music business helped you?

Networking is a weird but often wonderful thing. But I think it’s a little bit different then going up to someone and saying ..’what do you do?…oh well you can book me for this then’. Its getting to know other people in the industry and being honestly yourself with them and if you make a friendly connection then passing each other your details is great as you are going to remember and want to work or pass work to that someone you get on with and respect.

Q5. What sort of networking do you find the most effective for you?

I think its through doing gigs and meeting other musicians and singers. There you can get to know someone as a person but yet see their skills first hand. The worst thing is getting on with someone then putting them up for a gig that they are just not right for.

Q6. Are you a member of any music industry organisation or professional body and how has it helped you?

We are members of PPL as our company IBP Music is also a registered label. This enabled us to release our debut album independently. We also need to be members of MCPS AND PRS…infact I really need to that in a bit.

Q7. What would you recommend as the most effective method of breaking into the industry or gaining experience?

Make sure you are confident in your instrument or skill and that you know yourself and how you will cope in stressful and individual situations then go go go for it. If you want to be a professional singer then get some good demos, pictures and CV and apply for singing jobs you see on places like UK music jobs. Do backing vocals for other singers you may know. Get a repertoire together as with lots of function gigs you need to now a lot of songs (in my ones its mainly disco classics, pop and popular modern tracks) or basically get together covers that suit you …e.g- if you want to be a jazz singer, then you need to know your jazz standards! If you only want to do your own original material then there’s not much to suggest but go out and do live live live gigs and build your fanbase, but unfortunately until you hit it big, it may not pay your bills in the mean time.

Q8. What would you describe as the best thing about working in the industry?

I like being able to see the sun on a sunny day like today and managing my own time. The worst thing when I worked in an office job for half a year was the strictness of it. The early mornings and then the evenings being gone by the time you got home and had dinner, and not seeing the light of day especially in the summer! Also I am not very good and being told what to do unless in a music work situation…honestly it felt like a grown up version of being at school!

Q9. What’s the best bit of advice you have even been given about working in music?

Be honest and work hard. Don’t get a gig and then turn up not knowing their songs or be late on your first job, they will remember it and you wont get a 2nd job. In singing world…look after your voice, not only is this your prized possession if it goes, what singing work can you do?! Be versatile and smile a lot, it makes you happy and other people whom are looking at you. And if you do something wrong like mess up lyrics or sing bum notes, it happens to everyone just keep going and most importantly when you sing or play an instrument or produce or DJ etc.. have fun that’s why you started doing it the first place right?!

Q10. Who do you admire most in the industry?

There are a lot of artist I love and really like but the people I admire are the ones that you probably don’t know. They are other musicians and artists I have met that work their backsides off getting further into their career and trying to reach their dream goal. I admire them!

For more information on Kelli-Leigh please view her UK Music Jobs profile by clicking here;
http://uk.music-jobs.com/fview1.php?uid=634044&type=&start=&position=0&search_uid=&uploads=

For more information on ‘KI’ please click visit their website;
www.myspace.com/worldki

For more information on ‘IBP Music’ please visit their website;

http://www.ibpmusic.co.uk/

By Earl Okin

Welcome to our new series of Q&A’s with music professionals from all walks of the industry. The idea of this series is to provide you with advice and insights into working in the UK Music Industry.

Tony Platt is a freelance Music Engineer/Producer based in the U.K. His career in the music business started at Trident Studios in London but he made his name as an engineer at the now legendary Island Studios and has worked in most of the best studios around the world recording some of the best artists including Bob Marley, AC/DC, Buddy Guy and more recently The Bad Plus.

Q1. What made you want to get into the music industry?

Mostly just a desire to do something that entailed music and tape recorders.

Q2. How did you begin your career in music?

I got a job as a tea boy at Trident studios beofre moving on to Island Studios as a tape operator.

Q3. What was your first experience of success in the industry and how did you build on it?

My first realisation that I had done something that had been noticed was when a person i knew from school stopped me in the street to tell me he had seen my name on a Bob Marley album - and he liked the album! I didn’t build on it because I had no concept of self promotion in those days. It was very much a case of good work got you noticed.

Q4. How has networking with other musicians and in the music business helped you?

In later years networking has been essential - people need to know you are there.

Q5. What sort of networking do you find the most effective for you?

I share a project studio within a larger complex which enables me to meet people just by going to make a cup of tea - you see tea features again! Being a member of the Music Producers Guild is useful too.

Q6. Are you a member of any music industry organisation or professional body?

I am a member of Music Producers Guild and JAMES (Joint Audio Media Educational Services). Both these help me to keep in touch with the trends and attitudes that drive the industry.

Q7. What would you recommend as the most effective method of breaking into the industry or gaining experience?

This depends very much on who you are. I think the most effective way nowadays would be to take a course and use the time there to build yourself a profile and portfolio.

Q8. What would you describe as the best thing about working in the industry?

Music

Q9. What’s the best bit of advice you have even been given about working in music?

Work with it - don’t fight it.

Q10. Who do you admire most in the industry?

I can’t honestly come up with just one person - there is a list that still gets added to year by year.

To view Tony’s UK Music Jobs profile please click here;http://uk.music-jobs.com/fview1.php?uid=753139&type=&start=&position=0&search_uid=&uploads=

We’re often asked how users of UK Music Jobs can maximise the value of their membership to the site - leading ultimately to that sought-after job.