Confidence and Knowing What you Want
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 Tags: creating contacts, Job Hunt, making contacts, networking, tips
Category: Job Hunt, Networking No Comments 
They say that people change their careers 5-7 times throughout their life. The vast number of positions and directions in the entertainment industry make it almost impossible to lock down what you want to do when you’re starting out. There is nothing wrong with having varied interests and not knowing where you want to take your career in Hollywood. However, when you’re meeting new people you need to have a plan.
Networking is all about connecting with people you meet and staying in touch. If that wasn’t hard enough, now imagine that almost everyone around you is trying to do the same thing. I’m not suggesting you go all Tonya Harding and take them out at the knees, but you definitely need an advantage to stand out.
That advantage can be as simple as having confidence and appearing to know what you want. You need to be definitive or you’re not going to be the first person they think of when job opportunities come up. When you’re asked, “What are you doing out here?” or What do you want to do?,” don’t be vague by saying something along the lines of “work in the industry” or “work on TV shows.” You need to talk about the position you want in the future, and the entry level job that’s going to get you there.
Here are some more specific examples that can help you out if you’re not sure on where to start.
I want to work:
- As a PA on set – leads to 2nd 2nd AD, Grip or Electric, or Camera Department
- As an office PA – leads to Assistant Coordinator, Coordinator, Assistant Production Manager, Executive Assistant
- In an agency (in the mailroom, as a receptionist or an assistant) – interested in becoming an agent or manager and opens doors everywhere
- In post production (as a logger, runner, PA, etc.) – leads to Assistant Editor or Post Coordinator
- As an assistant or 2nd assistant to an Executive or Producer
- In casting (as an assistant or PA – yup, they have PA’s too!)
I meet a lot of good people out here who enjoy helping others get in and move up, but they are not your career counselor or mentor, especially on a first meeting. Your main goal is to make a good impression and give them a simple way in which they can remember you and help you.
Right after I graduated I sent an e-mail to an A-List Executive Producer I had the opportunity to connect with when he came to talk at our school. It went something like this:
….I’m looking forward to moving out to LA this month and you said I should contact you when I was heading that way and what kind of work I was interested in. I’m excited for the opportunity to work in Hollywood and think it would be great to be a part of Films, TV, Music Videos or Commercials. ….
No joke, that’s what I wrote…needless to say, I never got a response. This was from someone who told me to contact them and was offering to help me get a job. I recently reconnected with him and asked if he ever got that e-mail. He did, but he wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or how specifically he could help. This coming from an Alumni who is well connected, constantly producing movies, and goes out of his way to help people from our school. He was willing to connect me with people, but didn’t have time to help me figure out my life and my career goals. If I had simply said that I’m really interested in Post Production, he would have put me in touch with a couple of friends who work in that area.
This industry has an incredibly high turnover rate meaning you don’t have to be stuck in a job or a specific path. The experience you get in entry level entertainment positions is useful across the board. As you start working you’re going to meet people from all different sides and gain an understanding of what you like and don’t like.
So be specific, choose something that your interested in and stick with it…at least for that night. You can always change your mind and you can always find a new job, but trust me, that’s much easier to do after you get the first one.
