Want to jumpstart your career? Break into a field that you may think is unattainable? Many have found a springboard to their success.... Reality Television.
Reality television has gained tremendous popularity in the past few years. For some of us these shows may be annoying, for others addicting (I admit it I have watched every season of the Real World and can't stop), and for others the chance of a lifetime to jumpstart their career!
It all started with "The Real World: Season One" the show where seven strangers were picked to live in house and have their lives taped. This show featured Eric Nies an active twenty something that had an opinion on everything. After the show ended Eric did not fade away back into the life he had before "The Real World" Eric became the star of MTV's "The Grind" where he introduced dance videos for all of us to enjoy. "The Grind" was such a success that Eric even released a work out video collection also titled "The Grind" to help the MTV generation get into shape.
Eric is just the beginning.
With the growing number of reality shows, you can jumpstart your career, no matter what you are looking to do. Looking for a career in fashion design? Project Runway is the perfect place to start. Want to be a top model? Tyra Banks and her reality TV hit America's Next Top Model is a path paved for success in the modeling industry. People with a passion for cooking you have some options, you could join the Bravo TV hit Top Chef, Food Network's, The Next Food Network Star or network televisions drama filled Hells Kitchen. I cannot even keep up with the number of ways reality television can help you can make it into the music industry. You can be anything from P .Diddy's protégé on Making the Band, a rock star on a show appropriately titled Rock Star or an Idol on American Idol. Want to work for a bizarre boss in a corporate environment? You can take part in Donald Trumps, The Apprentice, or work for Virgin Record mogul Richard Branson by competing on his Rebel Billionaire.
Even the shows that are not focused on starting someone's career have still worked wonders for many ex-reality TV stars.
Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson let cameras into their homes to document their new marriage and look what it did for their careers. Jessica Simpson had a platinum selling album and had the opportunity to star in the movie, Dukes of Hazzard. Nick Lachey, a previous member of 98 degrees, re-ignited his career with the popularity of the show. He just released his debut solo album.
Bob Guinney used The Bachelor as a way to promote his CD. Kristin Cavalerri, one of the members of the Laguna Beach cast, is now on every red carpet and has even been asked to host celebrity events. The show launched her into the Hollywood spotlight just as she dreamed. Ty Pennington, a carpenter that started his career on TLC's Trading Spaces, is now the author of a line of "do it yourself" books and the star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
If you do not like the idea of using reality TV as a way to jumpstart your career here are some tips for the more ordinary career minded people:
- Expand your network - networking with people that are already in the career field you are looking to get into is a great way to have your name on people's mind as positions may become available. Your network can also be useful as contacts and references for you.
- Start a Blog - Blogging is gaining more and more popularity daily. Take some time and blog about what you want to do and how you plan on doing it. You never know who will be reading it, maybe the boss of your dreams.
- Revamp your Resume - Ensure that your resume reflects the career path you are trying to go down. Review your objective and make sure to highlight skills you have demonstrated in your pervious work experience that could be useful in your jumpstart.
- Ask for more responsibility - Asking your current employer for more responsibility will show them that you are ready for a move or a change. As you prove you can handle more responsibility you will be first on their mind as new positions open up.
- Announce your plans - make your current employer aware of your plans.
- Continue your Education - If that means going back to school to get a degree or taking a one-day seminar about the field you are trying to excel in. The more knowledge you have the better.
So for those of you who aren't willing to eat insects or who aren't getting calls back on your reality TV audition tapes; maybe the use of some of these more traditional techniques will jumpstart your career. Who knows, using the traditional methods of jumpstarting your career could be the next big reality TV hit and you could be the star!