MTD Career Readiness Resources

The Center for Career Exploration and Development (CCED) offers resources and support for students' professional development across campus. In addition, the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance benefits from a designated Career Engagement Specialist who provides students with tailored guidance, helping them navigate the industry and pursue their unique career goals.
Drop-In Hours & Appointments

CCED Drop-In Hours: Stop by Muller 101 anytime Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and meet with a trained Peer Career Advisor to have your résumé or cover letter reviewed, discuss your grad school search, and beyond!  

Appointments with Katrina (MTD Career Engagement Specialist): Whether you are a current student or alum, schedule a one-on-one appointment to dive deeper into your professional development journey. 

MTD Job Search Support

This list is intended to assist in your job search, but does not cover all areas that MTD students may be interested in exploring. Students are advised to verify the legitimacy of each posting before applying. Job scams can appear even on reputable sites.

Casting sites are online platforms where performers can find and apply for acting opportunities in theater, film, and television. These sites are valuable as they provide access to a wide range of casting calls, helping students gain experience, build their résumés, and connect with industry professionals. 

Actors Access: One of the most widely used casting websites in North America; tv shows, films; can submit to roles without talent representation

Backstage: Oriented towards beginners; smaller commercials, theatre, student films; includes educational articles about the industry

Playbill: Broadway’s #1 job site - acting, internships, administrative, design, technical, and all other stage employment opportunities

Freelance platforms are online marketplaces that connect freelancers (independent professionals who work on a project-by-project basis) with clients seeking their expertise and services. Many individuals in the music industry are freelancers. Freelance work offers the chance to build a diverse portfolio, hone skills, expand professional networks, and enjoy a flexible schedule, all while choosing projects that align with personal interests.

Airgigs: began in early 2012 as the first marketplace for hiring session musicians and recording engineers and has since grown into a global talent base

Fiverr: popular freelance platform with a variety of services and users, including musicians, sound engineers, composers, and voice over artists

SoundBetter: a music-specific marketplace where musicians can find and hire professionals for tasks like mixing, mastering, producing, songwriting, singing, and more

Twine: connects companies with creative and digital freelancers, including various music and audio services

Upwork: businesses post projects and freelancers can apply to those projects, essentially acting as a job board for freelance work

Summer music festivals, institutes, and competitions offer music students opportunities to enhance their skills, gain performance experience, collaborate with peers and mentors, and showcase their talents in a focused, immersive environment. These opportunities are amazing résumé-builders! 

American Institute of Musical Studies - Graz, Austria

Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music - Keene, NH

Aria International Summer Academy - Hadley, MA

Aspen Music Festival and School - Aspen, CO

Atlantic Music Festival Institute - Waterville, ME

Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) - Alberta, CANADA

Bang on a Can Summer Festival - North Adams, MA

Boston University Tanglewood Music Center - Lenox, MA

Bowdoin International Music Festival - Brunswick, ME

Brevard Music Center - Brevard, NC

Chautauqua Institution - Chautauqua, NY

Colorado College Summer Music Festival - Colorado Springs, CO

Domaine Forget - Québec, CANADA

Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro, NC

Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival - New York, NY

Kent Blossom Music Festival - Kent, OH

Lake George Music Festival - Lake George, NY

The Maine Chamber Music Seminar at Snow Pond - Sidney, ME

Music Academy of the West - Santa Barbara, CA

National Music Festival - Chestertown, MD

National Orchestral Institute & Festival - College Park, MD

National Repertory Orchestra - Breckenridge, CO

The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute - Washington, DC

Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Yale Summer School of Music - New Haven, CT

The Ohio Light Opera, The College of Wooster - Wooster, OH

Oregon Bach Festival Composer’s Symposium - Eugene, OR

Orford Musique - Québec, CANADA

Pacific Music Festival - Sapporo, JAPAN

Pierre Monteux School - Hancock, ME

Rocky Ridge Music Center - Lincoln, NE

Round Top Festival Institute - Roundtop, TX

Sarasota Music Festival - Sarasota, FL

Sewanee Festival - Sewanee, TN

Spoleto Festival - Charleston, SC

The Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) - Powell River, BC, CANADA

Texas Music Festival, University of Houston - Houston, TX

Yellow Barn - Putney, VT

ENTWORK’s Directory of Summer Theatre: An extensive list of professional theatres and theatre festivals in the US that present stage productions in the summer; broken down regionally

Take Five: resource created to increase accessibility to internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships for young theatre professionals by providing the information necessary for position consideration and application all in one place. Select the opportunities tab to explore!

League of Resident Theatres: LORT theatres operate under a collective bargaining agreement with unions like Actors' Equity Association, ensuring specific standards for compensation, working conditions, and other benefits for its employees.

Arts Admin Jobs: jobs board for the arts and culture sectors

BIPOC Arts Job Board: Opera, theatre, festivals; celebrating BIPOC professionals in the industry

Handshake: an online career platform designed for college students and recent graduates to find jobs, internships, and networking opportunities, connecting them with over a million employers. Use your Netpass username & password to sign up / log in. Be sure to follow IC's Performing & Fine Arts collection (explore tab, Ithaca College "view your school's resources," scroll down to our collections)!

New York Foundation for the Arts Classifieds: Employment opportunities for artists, arts administrators, and museum professionals

OffStage Jobs:Behind-the-scenes jobs in the live entertainment industry

Playbill: Broadway’s #1 job site - acting, internships, administrative, design, technical, and all other stage employment opportunities

Take Five: resource created to increase accessibility to internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships for young theatre professionals by providing the information necessary for position consideration and application all in one place. Select the opportunities tab to explore!

Theatre Communications Group’s ArtSearch: Free, but you have to register for an account

United States Institute for Theatre Technology: Theatre design & technology jobs

The Online Application System for K-12 Education (OLAS): job application system serving schools and districts throughout New York state and the surrounding areas of CT, MA, NJ, PA, and VT. There is no cost to register as an applicant on OLAS - multiple job opportunities, one application. 

Teacher Recruitment Day (Western & Central, NY): annual job fairs connecting K–12 teacher candidates with school districts, including open networking and scheduled interviews, offering schools an efficient way to recruit qualified educators in one day.

K12 Job Spot: Build profile, upload resume, and apply to multiple teaching jobs; get insight on school districts, such as their student population and upcoming events

Higher Ed Jobs: College and university faculty and administration jobs

School Spring: Teaching job board with openings nationwide
 

BIPOC Arts Job Board: Opera, theatre, festivals; celebrating BIPOC professionals in the industry

Digital Music: music industry jobs, from major recording labels, streaming services, universities, merchandising companies, startups, and more

Doors Open: Global electronic music opportunities

Handshake: an online career platform designed for college students and recent graduates to find jobs, internships, and networking opportunities, connecting them with over a million employers. Use your Netpass username & password to sign up / log in. Be sure to follow IC's Performing & Fine Arts collection (explore tab, Ithaca College "view your school's resources," scroll down to our collections)!

Music Business Jobs: Global music business jobs

Music Careers: Built by music professionals for music professionals; includes opportunities in music recording & performance, marketing & PR, live entertainment, and more

Musical Chairs: Best for classical music and academic jobs (orchestras, conservatories, etc.)

Music Jobs: Jobs board for freelancers and companies in the music industry

Opera America: Opera and theatre opportunities including artistic administration, marketing & PR, technical / production

Orchestra Plan: For orchestra musicians to find and apply for auditions by creating a professional profile with their information and achievements

Musical America Worldwide: Music performance and administration

Soundlister: For audio professionals to showcase their skills and find employment opportunities and projects; also serves as a recruitment portal for those seeking sound talents

Appel Farm Arts Camp (NJ) – inclusive arts camp hiring counselors and specialists in all disciplines

Belvoir Terrace (MA) – girls’ performing arts camp hiring dance, music, and theatre staff

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI) – music, dance, theatre, and visual arts camp that hires seasonal staff

Brevard Music Center (NC) – classical music institute; offers staff and internship roles

French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts (NY) – large performing arts camp hiring across disciplines

Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI) – renowned for music, theatre, dance; hires summer camp staff

Long Lake Camp for the Arts (NY) – performing and fine arts camp looking for instructors and counselors

Luzerne Music Center (NY) – music camp offering counselor and teaching assistant roles

Stagedoor Manor (MA) – theatre camp famous for its alumni; offers counselor and production roles

Professional associations, organizations, and labor unions offer students valuable connections to industry standards, networking opportunities, and career development resources. These groups help emerging artists stay informed, build professional relationships, and access tools that support a successful transition from student to working professional.

Actor's Equity Association (Equity): labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers; advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans 

Audio Engineering Society (AES): only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology; unites audio engineers, creative artists, scientists and students by promoting the growth, knowledge, and appreciation of the science and art of audio

American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Assists musicians in the U.S. and Canada with fair agreements, music ownership, and benefits

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP): performing rights organization of more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers

Dramatists Guild of America (DGA): the national, professional trade association for American theater writers, including playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists

Music Teachers National Association: a collaborative community of music-teaching professionals, connecting both the seasoned educator and those at the beginning of their career; networking, leadership, mentoring and educational opportunities

National Association for Music Educators (NAfMe): collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education; check out their collegiate membership section

Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA): labor union representing approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals

Theatre Communications Group (TCG): commitment to modeling and advocating for the structural, cultural, and equitable environments that a just and thriving theatre ecology requires; check out their student membership section to learn about what is included 

Women's Audio Mission (WAM): dedicated to the advancement of women and gender-expansive people in music/audio production and creative technology, fields in which they are critically underrepresented; music and media arts training, mentorship, and conferences

ACX: Amazon's and Audible's platform that connects authors with voice actors to create and distribute digital audiobooks. It serves as a marketplace where narrators audition for projects from self-published authors, independent publishers, and literary agents.

Backstage: a leading online platform providing a casting engine and resources for voice actors to find auditions and apply for voiceover jobs; under the “Job Type” drop down menu toggle to “voiceover”

Upwork: a large online freelance platform where clients seeking voiceover talent post jobs, and voice actors can apply to these jobs or create "gigs" to offer their services for projects like commercials, animations, explainer videos, and more

Voices: a global online marketplace that connects businesses and creators with professional voice actors for projects like audiobooks, online ads, and e-learning content

Voice 123: a pay-to-play online marketplace that connects voice actors with clients seeking voiceover services; voice actors create a profile to showcase their demos and skills, then use paid membership plans to gain access to and audition for projects posted by clients

PDF Resources

General Résumé Guide - general-resume-guide_2025 (pdf)

This general résumé guide offers essential tips on formatting, showcasing achievements, and tailoring your résumé to job descriptions. While it provides useful advice, it may not be as specialized as other resources on the MTD Career Engagement webpage. For more specific guidance, refer to those documents or meet with the MTD Career Engagement Specialist.

Guide to Music Performance Résumés - guide-to-music-performance-resumes_2025 (pdf)

This guide for music performers outlines best practices for effectively showcasing your performance experience, education, training, and additional skills. As a musician or vocalist, your résumé serves as a key tool for securing auditions, interviews, fellowships, festivals, grants, competitions, and graduate programs. This guide will help you craft a clear, compelling résumé.

Guide to Acting & Musical Theatre Résumés - guide-to-acting-musical-theatre-resumes_2024 (pdf)

This résumé guide for Acting and Musical Theatre B.F.A. students focuses on best practices for showcasing your theatre, film, and TV credits, as well as your headshot, training, skills, and union/non-union status. The guide is an outline on how to effectively present your performance experience and make a strong impression in the competitive entertainment industry.

Guide to Freelance Work - guide-to-freelance-work-mtd_2025 (pdf)

Freelance work involves self-employed individuals offering their expertise on a project-by-project or contract basis, allowing for independent work. This guide covers the pros and cons of freelancing, key skills for success, and a step-by-step approach to getting started.

Sample Resumés

Theatre Administration Sample Resumé - theatre-admin-sample-resume (pdf)
Sound Recording Technology Sample Resumé - srt-sample-resume_0 (pdf)
Violinist Sample Resumé - violinist-sample-resume (pdf)
Vocalist Sample Resumé - vocalist-sample-resume (pdf)
Financial Support, Funding & Grant Resources

IC Internship Funding Resources 
Ithaca College has several excellent resources to assist students with unpaid or low paying internships. These include the IC Career Center Internship Fund, The Class of '08 Scholarship, and The Washington DC Scholarship as well as the Alice Flaum Berman '71 Summer Music Festival Scholarship. Applications go live at the start of the spring semester. 

IC’s Student Emergency Relief Fund 
The Student Emergency Relief Fund provides financial assistance to students facing unexpected emergencies. This application-based funding is intended for unforeseen and unanticipated situations. Additionally, the fund helps students with financial need to purchase course materials at the start of each semester.

bold.org
Provides a variety of scholarship opportunities to students at various education levels and fields of study, helping them reduce college costs without taking on debt. Users create a personalized profile, allowing them to find scholarships tailored to their background and goals, and can also earn "Bold Points" by engaging with the platform to increase their chances of winning. 

Entertainment Community Fund
National organization providing vital social services, emergency financial assistance, career development, and support for affordable housing, health care, and senior care to all professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry, including those in film, theater, television, music, radio, dance, and opera. Formerly known as The Actors Fund.

National Endowment for the Arts 
Federal agency established in 1965 to promote and strengthen the arts in the United States by funding artistic projects and education. Find information on funding opportunities, research resources, and application forms for eligible organizations and individuals. For application submission, you may also need to use Grants.gov, the federal government's portal for all federal funding opportunities.

Princess Grace Foundation USA 
The Princess Grace Awards identify and support extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance and film through career-advancing grants.