Ahhh..the ever so popular question of how to become someone in the industry!
Obviously you should know that it isn't going to happen overnight..Rome was not built in a day the ol saying goes.
You need to provide something that either hasn't been done before or revamp something that has been done but years ago..
It really depends on what part of the industry you want to make an impact on...studio(analog or digital), business, promotion, producing or composing....this is the main focus..
Next, learning the lingo...being able to speak to people in the same terminology or just to hold an intelligent conversation with NO EGO! Be honest, be humble. Also know that you will ALWAYS learn something new every day even if you think you know it all already. That is always the lie...I learn every day still and I work for a high end audio manufacturer..deal with Audio computer based systems every day, deal with software based companies...I still get schooled from some of the Nuendo users on that forum.
One thing that has gotten me a lot of respect is all the forums I participate on..When you think about it there are A LOT of people who know about me and my tweak guides...altho this doesn't bring the "true" fame it is fame in one sense or the other. I hope you see where I am going with this(I don't... :p j/k)
Just make as many contacts as possible, be persistent in keeping in touch and to get jobs, offer people to do some work for them for free and let that be your word of mouth advertising.
The more you do the more people will respect you and want to work with you.
last but not least...ATTITUDE!!! DO NOT THINK YOU ARE THE SHIT...that only makes people want to NOT work with you.
Opus

well, if you want to getinto music engineering and production, you better get ready to move to LA when you get out of school. As I also live in vancouver, I can tell you that you have a much better chance getting something happening in LA. Vancouver has absolutely no music scene to provide a steady income.

Mark

Hey, thanks for the tips on behaviour and people skills. My instructors at school have also drove that right into my brain, so I'm sure that by the time I'm out of here, I'll have a pretty good idea, if nothing else, on what NOT to do. Right now I'm doing some post production. I'm conforming and laying back the audio for 2 episodes for the History Channel. It's called "Ghost Towns of Canada" and I'm doing Saskatchewan and Ocean Falls, BC. They'll be airing probably in September sometime. Although I'll get no money for it because I'm a student, I'm sure that this presents a golden opportunity to get my "foot in the door" and make an impression. And to the guy who told me that there's no music scene in Van, believe me I know. From rock to hip-hop to electronica to just about everything that makes music worth listening to, there's great acts out there, but almost nowhere decent to play. And the places that are halfway there are too damn expensive and are really small. I really wish that we had a place like SEC in Seattle. Indoors, 16,000 capacity, and it's CLEAN. Anyway, can you tell me, in your honest opinion, if there's enough post work to make an honest living? Just something I want to consider if LA seems to be the only option for music...