Department of Theatre and Dance Four-Year Career Development Plan

The School of Theatre and Dance four-year career plan helps you develop your performance, creative, and production skills while exploring the many ways the performing arts connect with audiences and communities. This flexible plan shows you how to apply your artistic training in professional, educational, or creative career paths and translate your education into a meaningful career.

If you have questions on how to tailor this career plan to your path, make an appointment with the College of Liberal Arts Career Services.

Year One

FALL

  • Participate in the theater and dance callout
  • Identify your professional strengths (mystrengths)
  • Meet with a CLA career coach and advisor
  • Create a LinkedIn
  • Take a basic headshot for use in auditions and acting opportunities
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Attend audition workshops for theatre and dance productions
    • Audition for theater and dance productions

SPRING

  • Build a starter resume
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn
  • Take advantage of backstage opportunities
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty in your related interests
  • Attend career events or informational sessions
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Research and audition for off-campus theaters and studios
    • Audition for summer acting opportunities in community theater

Year Two

FALL

  • Update your LinkedIn and resume
  • Research potential areas of focus
  • Begin building a professional wardrobe (CCO Closet)
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Audition for student films and other on-camera acting opportunities
    • Tape monologues for acting internship applications
  • Interest in Production:
    • Seek leadership opportunities in production, workshops

SPRING

  • Identify a specialization of interest – whether this is Degree+, minors, or certificates
  • Create a professional theatre/dance resume
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Build your professional network by utilizing LinkedIn and informational interviews
  • Reflect on skills gained and begin planning which skills may need to be learned for a specific area of interest
  • Audition/apply for internships with professional theatre companies

Year Three

FALL

  • Research professional performance markets
  • Meet with your career coach to identify experience gaps
  • Secure leadership roles in student organizations and begin making an impact on campus
  • Network with professionals, faculty, and peers
  • Create a professional website
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Research actor representatives (agents/managers) in your chosen market
    • Tape monologues for theatre auditions

SPRING

  • Secure your personal brand
  • Apply for summer internships
  • Research graduate programs if planning to attend graduate school
  • Attend conferences in your field
  • Create and maintain a professional portfolio, including projects, media samples, and other materials.
  • Research various modes of interviews, including virtual, technical, and behavioral
  • Conduct a mock interview with CLA Career Services to prepare to be your best in front of potential employers
  • Interest in Production:
    • Participate in Portfolio Review

Year Four

FALL

  • Meet with CLA Career Services to identify and plan next steps for after graduation
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network by letting all your contacts know you are looking for employment
  • Plan to apply and interview for jobs and graduate schools 4-6 months before you graduate
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Create an actor’s access and ADX profile
    • Create a demo reel for voice acting and narration

SPRING

  • Continue networking, including key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Attend URTA and other interviews if planning to attend graduate school
  • Interest in Performance:
    • Send out inquiries to representatives in your chosen market
    • Self-submit for professional acting jobs
  • Interest in Production:
    • Participate in Portfolio Review
  • Complete the Next Steps Survey to provide helpful and accurate data insight