STARTING OUT: Chanel Carmona ’10

Coordinator in the alternative programming department at the CW Television Network in Burbank, Calif. The department develops unscripted shows, including reality series and game shows. Princeton major: sociology.

What she does: Carmona helps oversee casting decisions, listens to focus groups to improve the shows’ content, and screens episodes and makes suggestions on how editors can shape the shows. “A lot of what I contribute ... is keeping up with what my friends and  other people like me are liking and doing social-media-wise and ... ­consuming on the Internet.”

Challenges: “Once you have a foot in the door, it’s very competitive to move up or move on.” Carmona had an internship with CBS; ­colleagues there recommended her for the job at the CW.

Networking: She’s expected to go out nearly every evening “with people from different companies just to keep abreast of who’s working on what ... . You have to know everything” about every show being developed, she says.