First
Job
A window office, an assistant and a
reserved parking space are all things you can look forward to much later
in your career. In the meantime, for your first job out of college you
should probably expect lots of grunt work, long hours, and low pay.
The first
job in the industry may be the toughest one you’ll have to find.
Unlike other industries where companies proactively recruit students on
college campuses, in entertainment you will most likely have to contact
the employers yourself. And because so many people want to have careers
in this industry, in many cases the competition for entry-level
positions is fierce. For example, a former development assistant for a
well-known film producer told us that more than 200 people had applied
for his old position.
So what
does it take to be the 1 in 200 that lands that position? You make
yourself the best candidate possible by being well prepared,
enthusiastic, and professional. It really is that simple. Here are some
tips to finding your first job.
Perfect
Resume. Resume
mistakes are one of the biggest reasons that employers reject people for
entry-level jobs. The feeling is that if you’re not careful enough to
check the spelling or the typing on your resume, you’re probably not
careful with your work. Develop a perfect resume custom designed for
each position you’re applying for. Hire a professional to assist you
if you feel it’s necessary. If you’re writing to a specific person,
double check the spelling of their name. In this business, someone
probably spells their name like, “Syndi” as opposed to “Cindy.”
Perfect
Cover Letter.
The cover letter offers you a great opportunity to grab the attention of
an employer by demonstrating your passion for the industry through a
creative, original, and professional cover letter. Avoid standardized
cover letters from resume books which come across as dull. Be as
specific as possible about your short-term career goals in your
correspondence. Write “I’m looking for an agent assistant’s
position” as opposed to “I’m interested in any entry-level
position with your agency.”
Industry
& Company Research.
Always research thoroughly the area of the industry you want to work in.
For example, if you’re interested in entertainment publicity,
familiarize yourself with the companies and trade associations in your
field by studying industry directories. Learn the names of the top
players in your field. Visit the websites of companies and organizations
you’re particularly interested in. Consider joining an organization
where you can network and learn more about your profession. Read the
trades; be informed on the issues currently being discussed in the
industry. Attend events where
entertainment publicists are speaking such as trade shows, extension
courses, etc. Read any books you can find on entertainment
publicity. If possible, arrange for information
interviews with alumni who work in entertainment publicity.
Locals
Only.
Job search locally, not from a distance. Entertainment companies,
especially in large cities like New York and Los Angeles, almost never
look outside their immediate geographic area to fill positions. Because
entry-level jobs have the least requirements, they are usually filled
quickly from a local pool of applicants that can start work immediately.
Job
Titles.
Long term career goals are important. However, you should know the title
of the position you’re interested in applying for today so that you
can focus your job search on that particular area. Read the want ads and
entertainment job search books. Some of the more typical entry-level
positions have titles such as: production assistant, marketing
assistant, runner/mailroom clerk (also known as messengers),
receptionist/client service representative, etc.
Abundant
Job Sources.
You can never utilize too many career resources. Read the want ads in
the trades and local newspapers. Network with your friends in the
industry. Visit your university’s career center, Internet job sites
and the job center at the industry trade associations you’ve joined.
Resume
Campaign.
If you find that the companies in your desired field don’t advertise a
lot of their positions, consider launching a targeted resume campaign to
both small and large companies in your area.
Attitude.
Having the right attitude can make the difference in landing the first
job. Focus on what you can do for an employer, not on what an employer
can do for you. As an entry-level job seeker, you simply don’t have
the same skills to offer an employer as someone more experienced does.
But you can make up for that with optimism, enthusiasm and willingness
to help out in any way possible. Situations can come up where you may be
needed to come in on a Sunday at 3:00 a.m. Make yourself available 24/7
and that will be a clear indication of how seriously you are committed
to your career.
Legitimacy.
Many entry-level job seekers spend too much time agonizing over whether
a company is “legitimate” or not. As
someone new to the industry, you should not dismiss a company simply
because you haven’t heard of it. There are many highly successful and
very reputable companies in this business which will be unfamiliar to
newcomers. Invest in a good directory and do some research on a
company’s credits. Credits define which projects a company or
individual has been involved with and which companies or individuals
they’ve worked with. If you’re not familiar with the company or the
principals in the company, perhaps you’re familiar with the films or
TV shows they’ve produced. If you’re not familiar with those,
perhaps you’re familiar with the people who’ve been affiliated with
these projects. For example, you should know that The Chronicles
of Narnia was produced by Walden Media, an independent
production company based in Los Angeles. It’s okay to have a healthy
dose of skepticism, but if you’re not familiar with a company it
doesn’t mean they aren’t for real.
Temp-To-Perm.
Many people don’t realize that temping is another avenue for finding
entry-level work. Some employers do not have the staff to wade through
hundreds of resumes. They turn to firms that help them screen people. If
you have good clerical skills, a great personality and are able to adapt
to working at different companies on a daily basis, consider signing up
with a couple of staffing firms that cater to the industry. Some of
those temp jobs really do become permanent for the right people.
Salary.
Bear in mind that nobody gets rich from the salary they receive on their
first job in the industry. On average, entry-level starting salaries
range from $300-$500 a week. Salary and benefits are important, but they
shouldn’t be such big factors that you would turn down a good
entry-level job because they aren’t as great as you’d like. Get the
experience, make the contacts and learn as much as you can. That will be
worth a lot more to you than a few extra bucks today.
Follow-up.
Employers have told us stories of job applicants who never responded
to requests for additional materials such as references, portfolios,
etc. As a result, those candidates were dropped from consideration. If
you’re asked to submit additional information, don’t hesitate to get
it in as quickly as possible. If you receive a phone call from a
recruiter, return the call promptly within 24 hours.
The
search for your first job requires a lot of work. If
it isn’t proving to be successful, ask
for help -- from the career center on campus, people you’ve met in the
industry, etc. Remember everybody started out in an entry-level
job at one time. The more effort you put into the search process for
your first job, the more successful it will be.
