For students hoping to break into the entertainment industry, getting a foot in the door can be challenging. However, a recent trip to New York City gave Monmouth students an opportunity to see what working in the industry could look like and learn directly from professionals who have built careers in the field.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Monmouth University’s Career Development office organized a Career Trek to United Talent Agency (UTA), one of the entertainment industry’s leading talent agencies. The visit allowed students to explore career opportunities in music, sports marketing, and entertainment while gaining valuable advice on internships, networking, and entering the workforce.
Located in Manhattan, United Talent Agency represents professionals across various entertainment industries, including television, film, music, publishing, and digital media.
The Career Trek program is designed to introduce students to potential employers while providing a firsthand look at different professional environments.
Jeffrey Mass, Director for Employer Engagement at Monmouth University, explained that these experiences allow students to explore careers in ways that traditional classroom learning cannot always provide. “Our Career Trek to United Talent Agency was a great opportunity for students to see firsthand how the entertainment and talent agency industry operates,” said Mass.
During the visit, students heard from Jenna Shatzman, Music Tour Marketing Coordinator at UTA, and Monmouth alum Richard Govel, who works in sports marketing through KLUTCH Sports Group. Both shared their career experiences, giving students an inside look at different roles within the entertainment and sports industries.
For students interested in pursuing these competitive careers, the opportunity to speak directly with industry professionals offered a better understanding of what employers are looking for and how to prepare before graduation.
Rosie Chisolm, Coordinator for Career Engagement at Monmouth University, emphasized that the experience of attending this event goes well beyond simply touring an office for students. “On our Career Treks we make it a point to have students connect directly with the early career teams at these organizations,” said Chisolm.
Students also met with a UTA recruiter who offered advice on the internship application process, including ways to stand out to employers and increase their chances of receiving an interview.
Chisolm explained how UTA outlined potential career paths across several industries, including technology, finance, and tour marketing. This information helped students better understand which opportunities and experiences they should pursue while still attending college. “These connections are especially valuable in highly competitive industries like talent representation, where networking and industry knowledge can play an important role in getting started,” Chisolm explained.
These conversations are particularly valuable in industries where securing an internship or entry-level position can be difficult.
For Ava Marton, a senior communication student who attended the trip, the experience provided a closer look at career possibilities she had not entirely thought were practical until now. Marton explained, “I had a wonderful experience at the UTA Career Trek and learned a lot about what it would be like to have a career position there.”
Marton added that one of the most interesting parts of the visit was discovering how many different jobs exist within music marketing.
Beyond career advice, the Career Trek program also introduces students to the experience of traveling into New York City for work.
Chisolm explained that many trips take place in Manhattan, allowing students to experience public transportation and better understand what a potential commute could look like after graduation.
Monmouth University provides train tickets and transportation for these trips, making the opportunities more accessible to students. Participants can also choose to remain in the city afterward and explore.
The United Talent Agency visit is one of several professional experiences Career Development has organized. Mass highlighted previous Career Treks have included visits to Morgan Stanley, L’Oréal, Penguin Random House, Paramount, Bloomberg, Johnson & Johnson, and the New York Giants.
These event trips give students the necessary exposure needed to different industries while encouraging them to make professional connections and explore career interests before entering the workforce.
For Monmouth students who may be uncertain about their career paths, opportunities like the UTA Career Trek offer a chance to ask questions, explore new interests, and discover that the professional ecosphere has more possibilities than they might expect.
Marton encouraged other students to participate in similar experiences while they have the chance.
“I would tell other students to take the opportunity while they still have them available, there’s a lot of helpful information you can use for future reference,” concluded Marton.
