Looking For A Job In the Entertainment Indusry Is Tough, Right? Let's Brainstorm Together...

Job searching is probably one of the most intense things you will have to do as an adult. Take it from an adult herself…me! 

One of the most heart wrenching ordeals will have to be submitting an application for a job and either not hearing back from the employer at all, or receiving the, “we regret to inform you, but your application will not be considered at this time” email months after applying. Talk about heartbreak!

So we know that searching for employment when you have a plethora of experience and receiving rejection email after email can be discouraging, but how about trying to find work in the most competitive industries in the world - the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?!

There are so many career paths to take if you’re trying to break into the entertainment industry, but can sometimes be hard to attain. It’s the sort of thing where you have to know somebody, or know somebody who knows somebody to even have your application pulled. It can definitely be discouraging, especially if you have a passion to be creative. The creative side of your brain gets easily distracted when it’s not feeding that desire.

I’ve done a little bit of research to find out different ways you can network your way into the job of your dreams.

LinkedIn

If I was describing LinkedIn to someone, I would probably tell them it’s like Instagram or Twitter, but for professionals. If you create a LinkedIn profile, one of the requirements is to upload a profile picture. Instead of using a picture with your dog or you on vacation, this is where you get the chance to show off those headshots you took. You can reveal as much of your educational or employment history as you want. This is your opportunity to befriend someone who works in human resources for a company you’ve been trying to hear back from; LinkedIn allows you to message them, per their discretion. New jobs are always being posted, and you can narrow your search down by title, skill, or company, as well as the location. I definitely recommend using LinkedIn for your professional advantage, and interacting with those already in the field of industry you desire to work in.

Reaching Out Via Email/DM/Etc…

This might take you out of your comfort zone, but why not? It only takes your phone or laptop, a valid email address, and words from the heart. What I mean is reach out to those who are in the same or similar positions you aspire to be in. Ask them if you could pick their brain on how they got their start. Ask them for advice on what direction you should take on your pursuit. Get to know them, and maybe just maybe, if they hear of an opening that fits what you’re looking for, they will put in a good word for you. You never know. The sky's the limit, and if you don’t try, you will never know.

Working Contract Jobs

There are various contract jobs for those who aspire to one day have longevity in the entertainment industry. Jobs such as production assistant, camera operator, assistant director (AD), script supervisor, gaffer, production runner, and so much more are always in high demand. Even if you aspire to be a celebrity makeup artist, working as a production runner for a music video could put you in a position to network with others in the industry. By doing so, you have an opportunity to build connections by providing your social media handles so that they could see your work and fingers crossed, in the future, may utilize your services. If I could emphasize one thing it would have to be to NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK. Don’t be afraid to talk to people and put yourself out there. To find these jobs you can type “contract jobs in the entertainment industry” on Indeed or another job board, do some digging on instagram, twitter, tiktok, and any other social media platform, directly email production companies or those in the field you want to work in, and so much more.

Don’t Be Afraid To Offer Your Services For Free Or A Low Price … At Least ONCE In A While

Okay, don’t be mad at me; I know I mentioned free or low price above, but hear me out. Let’s say you are an up-and-coming photographer who aspires to one day work concerts, on music video, movie, and television sets, or whatever your goal is, and have been working your butt off for years and building your catalog. This is perfect, because you already have a portfolio and if you’re reading this, I am most certain that your work is amazing. This means you already have work to show so when you, for example, reach out to a local up-and-coming artist offering a free photoshoot, it can potentially help get your name out there. You never know who might know someone who can put you in a position to be offered paid gigs. Now of course, do this to your own discretion. Never let anyone take advantage of your hard work.

Join Professional Associations

Just like The American Bar Association is for lawyers, there are plenty for the entertainment industry. These are organizations that bring together people from a specific industry to network, share employment information and opportunities, offer various resources, and more. By joining, you are associating with an industry of people who like you aspire to work in the entertainment industry. Some notable associations include the Writers Guild of America,  Independent Film & Television Alliance, Actors’ Equity Association, American Screenwriters Association, Professional Photographers of America, and so much more. You can simply google search your field of choice, and see what comes up for you. I have to add that there are membership fees, but the benefits are definitely worth it.

Good luck on your job search. When you land that dream gig, come back to this post and let us know. :)