Author: Kevin

Jared Trace

Listen to the interview (approx. 1 hr, 24 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2009 with a major in Jazz Composition.  Principal instrument:  voice.

 

Position:  Staff Accountant at Le Tote, a 400+ employee startup company that’s like “DVD Netflix for women’s fashion.”  Subscribers receive a package with 3 articles of clothing and accessories to wear, then send them back (unwashed) to receive the next package.  One of four on the finance team, and the one accountant who works at the company, Jared tallies transactions, reconciles money owed (“accounts payable”), analyzes revenue and what transactions can be recognized as such.  He also values inventory, processes payroll and deals with any accounting-related issues that come up.  Jared’s background is not in fashion, but he finds the rental model an interesting challenge.

 

Overview:  While at Berklee, Jared took a semester off to earn money, and a temp agency placed him at a real estate firm, which moved him from the file room to accounts payable due to his being fast and accurate with a 10-key numeric keypad.  Jared worked there part-time for two years and expected to continue there after finishing Berklee, but he got laid off during the severe economic downturn in the spring of 2009.  Jared worked for two years as a barista, doing some, but not too much music with the busy-and-early work schedule.  Wanting a better job, he applied for other accounting-type jobs, and got a similar job, again via a temp agency in accounts payable, where he worked for a year and a half, hired on permanently and gradually taking on more responsibility as he figure out things on his own.

In early 2012, Jared had an existential crisis about not working in music, and he went, with a fellowship, to the Masters in Jazz Composition program at UMASS-Amherst.  However, he found he really did not like the program and left in the spring of 2013.  He got a bookkeeping job in Northampton, but the wages were low, and he and his fiancee elected to move to the San Francisco area where he’s from.  He did several accounting jobs while getting his Masters in Accounting from New England College, an 18-month online degree program for working accountants without an accounting background, in 2015.  In early 2016 a recruiter reached out to him about his current job–being Le Tote’s first staff accountant–which he ultimately got.

 

You can see Jared’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “At Berklee I took lots of arranging and theory classes. Accounting is like financial theory. You’re taking real money and putting it into ‘imaginary’ categories. A lot of it is making sure $ is in the right place in the way that a C-major 7 chord has to have notes in the right place. There’s a certain satisfaction from achieving ‘numerical harmony’ and being able to say I was able to make sense out of what my company did.”

“Everyone needs an accountant one way or another. Without financial data you can’t make good decisions whether you’re an individual, a small company, or a large company.  Because I understand accounting, I think about my own money in a different way now.”

“Though there are many possible career paths for an accountant. I like working directly for a company rather than being a public accountant because this way I’m not surrounded by accountants all the time. I appreciate the diversity. I also like getting to know a business intimately, and feel I can be more effective with that level of understanding.”

“The quickest way to up your title/salary is to go get a degree / certification. I spent around $24K on tuition to get that degree. 2 months after I finished the program I got a new job paying $20K/year more. I’m still making more money–the degree legitimized my knowledge.”

“Think what you’re good at in music–playing teaching, writing, making connections, singing, etc. Then apply that into the larger world–what jobs in the world interest you? Only liking music–that’s nuts–everyone has multiple interests, so don’t pigeonhole yourself.  At least think about what else would you be willing to do? Maybe you’ll fall in love with it after trying it–some things are more like bourbon–and acquired taste–than like vanilla ice cream.”

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

Betsy Simpson

Listen to the interview (approx. 52 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2009 from the Boston Conservatory, with a major in Voice Opera.

 

Position:  “Human Resources Business Partner” at Gartner, a large research/consulting firm specializing in performing and aggregating technology and other research for their business clients.  Betsy works with their roughly 800 people on sales teams.  She deals with day to day issues including problems, but also plays a major role in determining people’s compensation and how teams are structured.  She also spends a lot of time coaching new managers on how to do their jobs most effectively.

 

Overview:  Betsy moved back to Connecticut after graduation, and spent the summer waiting tables and doing community theater.  A woman in the chorus of the community theater production mentioned that her employer, the large hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, had an open receptionist position that Betsy would be a good fit for.   Betsy aced the interview and was offered the position, which the took, as the money was good and she figured it would be temporary.

By the end of the year she was taken on permanently.  After another year she was asked to apply for an Administrative Assistant position on the technology team, which she got, and continued to work extremely hard.  Two more promotions and she had a HR-position on the same team.  Eventually, Betsy felt like her career had plateaued and she was looking for the next step up.  A friend who worked at Gartner suggested she look at the company and an informational interview and real interview later, she was hired into her current position in June of 2016.

 

You can see Betsy’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “Every day is different. I’m never sitting at my desk feeling bored with nothing to do. In HR, you get to partner with someone and if you do a good job they rely on you. I really get a lot out of that partnership, like when you have a great musical relationship and the music is all that much more beautiful.”

Too many people want to do HR because they ‘want to help people,’ but your’e on the wrong job if that’s your attitude–the first time you fire someone you’ll realize you’re not helping them. You’ll have a lot more of these difficult conversations than ones you feel you’re helping an individual.  HR is a tough job–you have to be emotionally stable. Like an ER room nurse, you can’t get too attached.

“As a musician we focus on building & breaking down of music–musical phrases, the meaning behind each passage, etc. We also try to get to know a character so we can better emote. In the business world I take the same tactic in my job. I try to figure out the person I’m working with–who are they, how do they thing, so I can learn what to expect and be ahead of the curve there. That level of empathy you have to learn and build and in HR that’s what we do.”

“We musicians see an obstacle and rather than avoid it we’re determined to decimate the obstacle and overcome it. You don’t just do the job, but everyone in the corporate environment notices and realizes that you’re the person who will do what it takes.  That attitude is more valuable than skills–skills can always be taught, but grit can’t be.”

“By working a day job and being active in community theater, I’ve played more dream roles in the musical theater canon than if I’d stayed in music theater profesionally. I’ve played Maria in the Sound of Music, Mary the Librarian in teh Music Man, and all these other incredible (unpaid) roles!  Sometimes we’re performing in a glorified back yard, but I’ve performed at some really great venues too.”

 

 

See the full index of successful Berklee/BoCo alumni.

Rose Seyfried

Listen to the interview (approx. 53 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2010 with a major in Electronic Production & Design (EPD).  Principal instrument:  voice.

 

Position:  Senior Project Manager at Eko, an internet-based company specializing in interactive video stories.  (Think “Choose your own adventure.) “My job is to facilitate the production process for original content. I do a lot of talking to UI / UX designers, video editors, producers. I’m working with amazing creators and helping them achieve their vision.”

 

Overview:  Rose finished Berklee a semester early in late 2010, feeling a bit burned out and not sure she wanted a career in music.  She spent most of a year in seattle interning (unpaid) at a film post-production house while working an assortment of odd jobs for money before deciding to move to NYC.  In New York, she worked part-time doing sound engineering for audio books and some freelance sound design, but “None of that was making me happy enough being poor.” and in late 2012 she put the word out to friends that she was looking for something new.

A friend put her in tough with a small creative fashion agency looking for someone who handle all the administrative work.  After a very challenging year, Rose applied for and got a job with another fashion agency that put on shows.   Doing a variety of roles in that small office, Rose found she liked the project manager role best, so she applied to various project manager positions.  Spotting an opening for a project manager at Eko, Rose spent the weekend putting together an interactive video cover letter, and in November, 2015 she got the job!  She earned a promotion to Senior Project Manager after a bit under 2 years.

 

You can see Rose’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “Project management is a funny concept. It’s just being organized and professional for money. It’s not this one skill you have. It’s being open to being flexible and jumping from one thing to another. I like the challenge or turning on a dime and doing something new every day. Bonus that I’m doing it at a company that is doing something I’m interested in.”

“My job is production, but it’s also consultation. We’ll sit down together, go through the concepts, map out an outline. I’m managing the creative director schedule, helping with scoping of script, making sure this is going to be on-budget.”

“It’s cool that I’m doing something that is creative, though my primary job description isn’t creative. I really like that mix.  I love that we’re pushing the boundaries of technology. I have the best coworkers– straightforward and laid back but straightforward but also they work very hard–they’re my favorite part of the job.”

“Part of my job is dealing with creative people and trying to speak their language. Just being around creative people at Berklee and seeing what they do and don’t like makes me better at communicating in my current job. Plus a lot of my coworkers are former musicians!”

“Be kind to yourself. There’s this weird stigma about a Berklee grad who feels like this isn’t it for me. Don’t beat yourself up about that–the world is hard enough as is.   Just take experiences and there are so many different routes to where you want to go. Often you’ll take a rout and realize you want to go somewhere else.”

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

J.C. Zwisler

Listen to the interview (approx. 1 hr, 15 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2010 with a major in Professional Music.  Principal instrument:  drums.

 

Position:  Associate Attorney at Ladas & Parry, LLP, a Intellectual Property (“IP”) law firm that specializes in international intellectual property law, with a bit over 100 attorneys spread over for primary locations.  J.C. is one of around 30 in their New York office, and one of 4 lawyers in the “Trademark Group.”  He’ll respond to clients’ queries, research issues, and write responses which are then looked over by one of the (more senior) partners.  A small fraction of his job involves trying to get new clients.

 

Overview:  J.C. planned to teach music after graduating at the end of 2010, and did so in the Boston Area for a year, getting private clients plus many clients in Weston and Wellesley through At Your Door Music.  He enjoyed working with them, but after a full year J.C. realized he was unhappy with this as a career–for most students “It was just another activity.” and his head would be ringing by the end of the day. He kept some students, as well as gigging with a band, while exploring other career options, particularly those still connected to music.  His Legal Aspects class at Berklee, plus his parents both being lawyers got him thinking about entertainment law, and conversations with several local entertainment lawyers made him choose that as a career.  J.C.  spent a while studying for the LSATs, and enrolled at NorthEastern University School of Law in the fall of 2013.

Very soon as he got there, J.C. realized he didn’t want do entertainment law.  “I learned more about what an entertainment attorney actually is. It’s not like it’s one thing. It’s someone who should know real estate, corporate, IP, maybe criminal.  That wasn’t what I was looking for. ”  But J.C. loved his IP law class, so he took all the IP classes he could, joined IP professional organizations and clubs, and took IP-related jobs.  After graduation and passing both the MA and NY bar exams, J.C.  undertook a full-time jobs search.  It took roughly six months, but in February 2017 an application to his current firm led to his current job.

 

You can see J.C.’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “I was drawn to IP (intellectual property) from the get-go. Also, it makes sense to me. When I try to explain trademark law to people, what it boils down to is two companies using marks which may or may not be similar for products that may or may not be similar. The question is are they similar enough for people to be confused? To me, that makes sense.”

“In our practice–and I think this is particular to trademarks–I bounce around all day on countless things. I come home and can’t recall everything I’ve don’t wtihout having to look back on my records.”

“A lot of what I do is routine, but when a client comes with something really different and it’s intellectually stimulating to turn your brain on and figure out new things–I enjoy that challenge. I have to keep up with trademark law as part of my job; there are a lot of interesting, impactful IP cases.”

“Dealing with first year law school was a major shock. Not that Berklee wasn’t challenging, but law school is a whole different beast.  You can’t prepare all that much, but brace yourself–it’s REALLY difficult!  Try to read a few case books before you go. Learn some rudimentary law before you step in.”

 

 

J.C. drumming with the band he was in for years, Jet Black Sunrise.  They played their farewell show in December 2017.  “When you’re a musician, you practice your craft. For me that was drums–going to (Berklee) classes all day, then practicing for hours at night. That taught me to focus in on something for long periods of time and apply apply apply myself until I get better at it. I went to law school with no real idea what was going on, but that same concept–reading stuff over and over until I got it was similar.   It was extremely hard, but I knew if I put in the time and worked it hard it would happen.”

 

 

J.C.  these days, with friends.  Life is going well, and he has some words of advice for Berklee grads thinking about a career in law,  “”It’s a double-edge sword. As a Berklee grad, you’re going to have to explain yourself a lot. This interview is just a long version of my 30-second elevator pitch I’ve done for years. But on the plus side, having Berklee on your resume will help you stand out–and in this field anything you can do to set yourself apart really helps!”

 

 

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

AJ Farley

Listen to the interview (approx. 1 hr, 15 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2011 with a major in Professional Music.  Principal instrument:  alto saxophone.

 

Position:  Software Engineer at IQVIA, a large, Fortune 500 medical data firm.  AJ works on a 6-person team (4 designers, 2 engineers) that builds demos and prototypes for internal use.  He also has a side job with a start up that uses blockchain technology to build “smart contracts.”

 

Overview:   AJ spent his first three years after graduation in California (a years in Chico, followed by two in Oakland) working in various food-related jobs.  On a farm, selling juice, working at Whole Foods, managing a cafe.  But by 2012 he was getting interested in technology via interactions with customers and others.  “”If you live in the Bay Area, software is just part of your world.”  He started to teach himself coding in his off-time, but put that aside as his music opportunities multiplied and he did several tours.  With those done in 2014 and feeling burned out on the small-business food world, AJ was attracted to the opportunities and higher pay in high technology.  He spent over a year getting up to speed, between self-study and attending a coding “boot camp.”

It took 4 months and 100 applications to get his first job, which was in Las Vegas.  He moved out there, but got laid off 5 months later.  He moved to Seattle and spent over 3 months in the next job search, keeping himself busy by building websites from scratch.  Finally, in July of 2017 he was hired into his current job.

 

You can see AJ’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “I love what I do.  I wake up every day and want to win at this. I’m totally dedicated to this. For the last month I worked so much–and rather than complain it’s because I wanted to do that! I see this progress, and it’s real.”

“What I care about is solving problems. That’s the name of the game when it comes to tech. . I’m trying to work with more decentralized tech, which the general public will be able to take advantage of and empower themselves with it. As a musician, there are technical solutions which will help musicians, and I’m not just talking about streaming.”

“There’s so much pressure to just do music (or just live in a certain city)–I got that pressure a lot.  But listen to yourself, and follow your gut, period. None of those other folks are going to pay your bills and rent or live your life.   However you’re trying to put it together, stay with that vision and don’t let things break your focus. If you’re trying to get into a non-music career, just do it!”

 

AJ as a Berklee student, playing his sax.  “Coding is not easy; it is not for dabblers if you want to do it for a living. If you want to be good for the long haul, you have to take it as seriously as you took your instrument–you need to work VERY hard.”

 

 

 

 

 

AJ feeling good in Seattle.”I sometimes can’t believe I have this career that I have. Music and software are everything to me. I have so much to offer to the world.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

Chris Carlberg

Listen to the interview (approx 1 hr, 2 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2012 with a major in Music Business.  Principal instrument:  guitar.

 

Position:  Financial Adviser (investment sales) at Edward Jones, a national, privately-held financial firm which specializes in personal investing.  Chris’s job is to find new individual/household investors, and help them choose the right investments to help them meet their financial goals.  “I’m essentially a business owner and Edward Jones backs me with materials, administrative support, and what I need to run my business.”

 

Overview:  A successful child actor and musician, Chris went to Berklee in his mid-20s when the recession hit and work dried up.  After graduating in under 3 years, Chris moved back home to L.A., where he reconnected with his old girlfriend (now fiancee).  Several months later, she was pregnant, and he frantically sought an income sufficient to support a family.  He worked 7 days/week at four jobs:  teaching music, producing, bartending, and gigging, but was feeling worn down by mid-2014 and posted on Facebook if anyone could hook him up with a better career.  A friend recommended him for an internet marketing manager for Scorpion, an internet marketing firm, and he got the job.

Chris stayed with Scorpion for 2 years, before deciding that he wanted to move to Oregon.  Unable to work remotely, he sought new employment and found a job with Edward Jones.  Ironically, just as his 10-week training (during which he got his Series 7 and Series 66 certifications) was wrapping up, he was informed that they no longer were placing new advisers in Oregon, so he elected to stay in L.A.  Chris has been there since, networking and building his business.

 

You can see Chris’s LinedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes: “There’s a big reward in professions where you’re helping people. I get to help people undersand how it all works, and also achieve their goals. I ease their stress about having to worry about this, and help them achieve those goals.   Also, a lot of my job involves meeting my neighbors.  I love being integrated into my community, and I get to make friends all day!””

“I’d equate it to a franchise, except that normally with a franchise you have to buy in with your own money. This is the same idea, but instead they bought into me–giving me a salary and training to get my Series 7, Series 66, and California licenses.”

“My life is my family. This job affords me to help my family in multiple ways.  I am able to make money to support them well and pay for vacations and other enrichment for my children, and the flexible hours allows me to spend time with my kids.”

“Certain Liberal Arts classes at Berklee really opened me up to appreciating learning. That again is a big reason I took this job, where I’m constantly learning new things–as a financial adviser I have to follow world events, politics, etc. and understand the impact on the markets.”

“Whatever it is you want to do / see happen, go do it!  We all have excuses, but we all have stuff we want to do.  If it’s meant to happen, make it happen!”

 

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

Jeffrey Arevalo

 

Listen to the interview (approx. 1 hr, 5 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2013 with a major in Music Business.  Principal instrument:  drums.

 

Position:  Insurance “Outside” Sales (official title:  Mortgage Protection Specialist) at Symmetry Financial Group, a large life insurance company offering many different insurance products.  A commission-only-based job, Jeffrey receives sales leads directly from his company, and his job is to sent up appointments to visit potential clients, find them appropriate insurance to cover their home mortgages in case of illness/disability/death, and sell them the appropriate product.  He also spends time recruiting others to work for the company, and expects to be promoted to director of his own insurance agency several months from now.

Overview:  After graduation Jeffrey moved back to Sarasota, Florida, and for the next several years he was “a workaholic–working (mostly construction and odd jobs) every day and gigging every night.”  But he had a lot of student debt, and was only treading water financially.  In the spring of 2017, a friend in Connecticut offered that he move up there and try to get a fresh start.  Jeffrey moved there and spent the next two months applying to over 200 jobs.  He got five offers, of which the offer for his current job was the most appealing.

It was tough “going from expert musician to the new guy,” and for the first three weeks he had no success.  But in week 4 it clicked, and he realized he could do this.   He has had great success in his current job, and is moving toward a more senior role.

 

You can see Jeffrey’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “I like four things about my job:  1) The freedom. I create my own schedule, and can work anywhere I have my phone. Usually I’m working from home.  2) The compensation is great!  3) I’m making an impact, making the world a bit better by being here. 4) The culture of the business.  I’m really close to the team I’m on, and there’s a large focus on personal development.”

“I have been very successful here, and my managers say it’s because of my work ethic.  Musicians have a lot of grit and commitment and know that you have to put in hours of work to be successful.”

“The world needs more role models. Be a mentor; be a leader. Surround yourself with people you look up to. Find role models, talk to them. Read books. Chart your progressions, and don’t give up.”

“Music has been and always will be a big part of my life, it’s in my heart. I’ve always been a fan too. I’m taking a break now, but I’m not giving up on music, and I regret nothing.”

 

 

See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.

James Giannoni

Listen to the interview (approx. 50 min.) or download it.

 

Graduated in 2016 with a major in Performance.  Principal instrument:  bass.

 

Position:  IT (Information Technology) Recruiter at Pinnacle Group, Inc.  Pinnacle Group is a multinational staffing firm, which places candidates in higher-end jobs in IT, banking, and executive level positions.  James scours the internet to find and reach out to qualified candidates for the available positions.   When someone is interested he explains the position, polishes up their resume if needed, and passes it along.   Functionally this works like a sales job, where he is paid a combination of salary and commission (James earns money when someone he reached out to takes a position.), while working to meet a quota.  He averages several people placed in jobs each month.

Overview:  Finishing his degree in the summer of 2016, James wanted to stay in Boston, and he applied to “tons of jobs,” getting a job with a catering company as waitstaff.  However, by late 2016 he wasn’t enjoying it, nor was he getting ahead financially, so he moved home to Dallas, Texas, where he would be able to save money.   He arrived home and started applying for waitstaff jobs.

However, his sister’s husband was a manager at Pinnacle Group, and suggested that James try his hand at recruiting.  James gave it a shot.  The first two months were rough, and he was nervous he wouldn’t hit the required minimum quota to remain employed after month three, but then a work buddy took him aside and trained him better, and he made his 3-month quota in the last five weeks.  James continues to do well there and hopes to be promoted to the next level of recruiter later this year.

 

You can see James’s LinkedIn profile here.

 

Choice Quotes:  “Now that I’m in it, I enjoy the depth of technology, specifically development–you’re building a world! If you can understand it in a deeper sense you can find better candidates in my job, but the whole world is moving that way and it opens a lot of opportunities.

“I was hesitant to take 9-5 job at first, as that would mean means I won’t be able to gig as much. But the more I thought about it, I realized that I was considering 2 waitstaff jobs which would’ve give me much free time anyway, and at minimum at Pinnacle Group I’d be learning something new.”

Get your hands in everything and really get after whatever you get in. Give it 100% If you’re in catering, be the best one on the team. I’m still friends with my boss and you’ll never know where these connections will get you.”

“As a recruiter, it’s tempting to look at a positions and think of all the competition from other companies and recruiters and it seems hopeless that you’ll be the one to find someone. Don’t think about that!   Review the requirements, then look look and look. I’ve had times where I was about to pack up and leave, then looked for 30 more minutes and found the perfect person for the job.”

 

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