• Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Partners
  • Blog
Hollywood Resumes
  • Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Partners
  • Blog

How to get your entertainment industry resume into a real person's hands

4/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
You’ve heard us say it before, but in Hollywood, it’s hard to get a job by simply submitting your resume through a job portal. In this competitive industry, you’ve got to take an extra step to get your resume into a real person’s hands. In fact, the majority of positions are filled through referrals, as hiring managers like to mitigate risk by hiring candidates who have been vetted by their contacts first. Even if you have great application materials, you’ll be at a disadvantage to those who've found an “in” at a company. So, how do you become the person with the “in”? Here are four strategies we’ve found effective:

1. Build your network. Regardless of whether or not there is an immediate position of interest, you should work to build your network to increase the chances that you will know someone who knows someone the day your dream job opens up. Request informational interviews, attend networking mixers, get in touch with your college alumni network, and build strong rapport with the people you currently work with, both in and outside of your organization. This piece is key to getting your resume into the hiring manager’s hands and will make your career easier in general. But onto more immediate strategies…

2. Tell your friends. If you are looking for a specific type of role, tell your friends that you are on the hunt. You never know when they’ll have heard of something that just popped up, and while it’s not always fun to talk shop with your friends, they are the ones who will look out for you. If you’re hunting for a new job, get in the habit of mentioning it in conversation.

3. Use LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the perfect resource for finding out who knows who at a particular company. If you haven’t cultivated a strong LinkedIn network, use the “People You May Know” tool to build up your connections to at least 500. This will increase your chances of having a second-degree connection with someone. It’s usually relatively easy to identify a hiring manager or member of the department with the open role on LinkedIn, and you can work from there to try to find someone who can refer you directly to the recruiter or hiring manager. If you don’t find a 100% clear cut connection but have a friend that might know someone at a company of interest, reach out and see if you can find some sort of path to send your resume down. And don’t stop at one person – if you find multiple ways into a company, leverage them. The more people advocating for you, the better. But if you really can’t find any connections to the company…

4. Try cold outreach. Cold outreach can be hit or miss, but it’s worth a shot if you’re applying for your dream job and don’t have other options. Just be strategic with who you are reaching out to – if you send a cold email to someone in the IT department and are looking for a development job, they don’t have much incentive to pass your resume along, even on the off chance that they did know the person hiring. In this case, you need to target recruiters or feel pretty confident that you know who you’d be reporting to. You can find email addresses or email formats through tracking boards or by googling “@companyname.com press release.” Just be very clear, professional, and polite in your email, and don’t get upset if you don’t hear back. Note that cold emails are rarely effective if there isn’t an available role.

Keep in mind that sometimes, these strategies won’t work. But you’ll find that you have a lot more success at securing interviews if you can take the extra step of getting your resume into a real person’s hands.

-- Angela Silak and Cindy Kaplan

0 Comments

How Facebook can boost your Hollywood job search

3/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
When it comes to social media, LinkedIn is typically viewed as the go-to job search platform. And it's definitely a great resource! But it's not the only social platform you should be using. In Hollywood, Facebook is one of the most helpful tools for finding jobs, and more importantly, finding someone who has an in at the company that could get your resume into a real person’s hands.

Even if you've dropped off of Facebook in favor of trendier social platforms or because of concerns about their policies or social media overuse in general (for the record, it's totally fine to use social media however feels good to you in your personal life), we recommend keeping a Facebook profile for the purposes of networking and job searching (whether or not you are searching at this very moment). Here’s why: 


Facebook groups are one of the best ways to learn about new opportunities. There are Facebook groups for just about every aspect of the entertainment industry, and you’ll probably fit into many of them! For the most part, these groups have replaced tracking boards as a source of information, including job postings. There are groups for all job types and levels (assistants, executives, writers, crew, producers, etc.), and if you just search your job title or the type of content you work on (or want to work on), you’ll surely find a group of peers that already has a conversation going around your line of work. You’ll likely have to share some credentials with the moderators to be accepted, but once you are in, you will see job postings come through frequently, often directly from the source!

Facebook groups make networking easy. The most active Facebook groups usually have multiple posts added per day, not just job postings. Often, people post to source a key piece of information or a contact, announce a big achievement, vent about an industry issue, or simply ask for advice. As a result, members have an opportunity to engage with each other in a very natural way. If you are in one of these groups, get active! Like and comment on posts, especially those where you feel you can offer support or advice. The more your name pops up in the group, the more of a reputation you will build for yourself as an informed member of the community. And this could lead to some offline relationships as well. But the nice thing about it is that you don’t have to get all dressed up and meet someone for drinks. It’s a way to stay on top of what’s going on, learn new things, and help out your peers, and this will only help you with your long term job prospects.

Facebook makes it easier to maintain professional relationships. Much like LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to friend your professional contacts on Facebook. But because people use Facebook differently than LinkedIn, Facebook provides an opportunity for you to get a glimpse of your contacts’ personal lives and connect on a separate level. The more you engage with the content they post (in a non-creepy, genuine way), the easier it will be to connect more overtly when you have business (like a referral for a job!) to discuss. 
​

Facebook is a good platform for self-promotion. Your contacts are probably equally curious about what you're up to, and sharing your professional achievements on Facebook can be a great way to help them keep track of you! Plus, the platform is designed to promote major life events, like a new job. You can also share new project announcements, interviews, articles, and anything that features good news about you or your company. It gives people a reason to reach out to you and can keep you top of mind for a long-ago contact or friend who's hiring. This is a great way to get noticed for a job without even searching for openings yourself.

All of this said, if you want to use Facebook professionally, make sure your account looks professional, isn't too polarizing or political, and any photos are appropriate.

-- Angela Silak and Cindy Kaplan

0 Comments

Six ways to build your network

2/25/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
In Hollywood, your network is your key to success. The best way to find jobs is through referrals, and even once you're in a job, your network will help you generate new business. If you're worried you don't have a strong network, we have great news for you: Your network is bigger than you think it is, and growing it can even be fun! Here are six ways you can go about cultivating your network:

  1. Nurture relationships with your industry friends. Your friends are always going to be your number one support system in the industry. They’ll be the first to think of you when they hear of a job opening, and they will enthusiastically refer you for jobs and introduce you to their friends when they think there are opportunities for you. Your friends care about you personally and want you to succeed! Plus, they're the people in your sphere who you can be the most honest and vulnerable with about work. Make sure to carve out time for your friends to keep those relationships strong, even when it's tempting to stay at home with Netflix.


  2. Forge strong relationships with the people you meet at work. Alongside your friends, those who work at your company or with your company as partners are going to be your most important allies as you advance your career. These are the people who have the best understanding of your work ethic and professional capabilities, and they have the ability to help you succeed in both current and future roles. Do your best to get to know as many people as possible through work and develop friendly working relationships with them. In a non-remote world, coffees, lunches, and drinks were an easy way to kickstart these relationships, and you should certainly try to do as much of this as you can, but it gets a little trickier when you are remote. This is why it is absolutely crucial to do your best work, as you are being judged on it more than ever – make sure you're responding to emails efficiently and checking your work. More importantly, make an effort to come across as a friendly and enthusiastic person on Zoom, on the phone, and in writing, take extra steps to thank people who are doing great work or are helping you out, and show empathy and compassion for your colleagues who might be struggling. Kindness goes a long way.


  3. Set up informational interviews. A great way to build your network is to conduct informational interviews with people who hold positions you are interested in (now or in the future), who work at companies you would like to work for, or who work in a particular field that you would like to get into. You can use LinkedIn to help identify people you might want to meet, and ideally get friends or professional contacts to help facilitate an introduction. If that’s not possible, cold outreach can work, too. Informational interviews give you a chance to learn about possible career paths and also serve as a nice introduction to what could become a valuable professional relationship if you are able to keep in touch. What’s more, informational interview contacts are often well-connected with other people in similar roles, which will allow you to build a web of new contacts. In situations where you aren't necessarily looking for a new job, you can consider the informational interview's cousin -- the general meeting. In a general meeting (which could also be called introductory drinks or an exploratory conversation), you get to connect with a professional you don't really know and try to learn about each other to see how you might help each other out down the line. Meetings like these can even blossom into friendships!


  4. Leverage alumni networks. If you’ve attended college or grad school, you automatically have a network of people who are willing to help you. Schools with strong entertainment programs usually have a lot of ways for alumni to get involved and help each other get a leg up in the industry. But even schools with smaller entertainment programs will inevitably have some alums who work in the industry, and you should try to cultivate relationships with these people. You can even start your own networking mixers for fellow alums! It’s easy to build rapport with other alumni of your alma mater, as you already have something in common that had a great impact on your life. And typically other alums are eager to help out. Events are one way to meet alums, but you can also reach out cold for a one-on-one meeting -- your fellow alum will often be happy to connect!


  5. Attend networking events. Whether virtual or in person, many organizations offer networking events or professional development opportunities that provide you with the chance to meet others in your line of work. The nice thing about networking events is that everyone is there to build their network and open to meeting new people -- knowing this should help alleviate some of the stress of approaching a stranger. They'll probably be thrilled someone came up to them first! The key to networking events is to follow up with the people you meet individually. If you get someone's contact information, you need to do something with it after the fact, otherwise the event won’t do much for you in the long run. If you're not interested in a large event (which is totally okay!), you can try Lunchclub, a service that uses an algorithm to connect you to other professionals who might be of interest to you for one-on-one meetings. It allows for longer, more meaningful conversations with total strangers -- the kind you'd love to meet at a networking event.


  6. Pursue activities that facilitate human interactions. Since networking is really just a fancy term for connecting with other humans, you might find valuable contacts in unexpected places, simply by being human! You may have never guessed that the acquaintance you sometimes chat up after your spin class is a successful exec at a company you’d love to work for, or they know someone who is! We're not saying that you should awkwardly ask about work in all your personal activities -- and it's certainly important to have boundaries that work for you between work and play. But don't shy away from mentioning your work to the people you meet through your hobbies and community involvement. You can even connect with them on LinkedIn or other social platforms and reach out for help if there's an opportunity. Give yourself permission to explore hobbies and interests outside of work, and if there's a little voice bugging you that you should be out there hustling instead of taking your pup to the doodle meetup, shut it down. 


Keep in mind that you can do whatever mix of these feels right for you -- networking really just means relationships, and your relationships should be fulfilling, not scary. Networking is an opportunity to connect with other people who have similar interests, and not something icky, sleazy, awkward, or whatever other negative association you may have with it. Nurture your connections by staying in touch the best you can, pay it forward when you can, and make a genuine effort to care about the people you connect with, and you'll be on track for a successful career.

-- Angela Silak & Cindy Kaplan

0 Comments

How to reconnect with your contacts over the holidays

12/3/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
The holiday season is upon us (Happy Chanukah!), which means that between all the celebrations, gift giving, and good cheer, you have the perfect opportunity to check back in with your contacts. But how exactly should you go about doing that?

First, make a list. Check it twice. It should include all your contacts, from the external contacts you interact with regularly through work to the person you met for an informational interview months ago to the person you chatted with at a virtual mixer. Include notes about each person, like how you know them or how they might be connected to your dream company. It's best if you create this list over time and continually update it, but if you haven't started one, now is a good time!

Next, figure out how to reach out. If you have the bandwidth, you can email everyone on your list, but it's also totally okay if you triage it -- and when you do, you may decide that different people get a different form of outreach, or you may remove people from your list altogether. Some people opt to send a newsletter recapping their year, but we don't recommend this as a way to build strong connections. A mass email is a more effective strategy if you're sending out a note on behalf of your whole team, if you already regularly send out newsletters, or if you have a major project or life announcement. If you go this route, make sure you have permission to email your contacts in that manner, expect a decent number of "unsubscribes," and don't anticipate many notes back. Think of this more as a targeted social media post, and consider sharing your update on LinkedIn instead.

Another option is to send handwritten cards. Most people opt to do this for personal contacts but there may be some people on your list who fall in between personal and professional. This method is more about well-wishes than establishing a rapport, so don't expect this to spark a conversation with a contact you haven't chatted with in a while. But it is a nice gesture.

If you're looking for a more in-depth exchange, or even just open up communication channels, a personalized email is best. You want to keep this short and sweet. After the season's greetings, you can let them know what you're up to in 1-2 sentences, as candidly as your relationship allows (e.g. "I'm still looking to transition to a full-time role in development" or "I plan to start looking for a new role in 2022 and am hoping to land at a streaming service in the production department" or "Since we last spoke pre-pandemic, I wrapped production on the latest season of X and am gearing up for my next show in late January!"), and ask how things are going for them. You can also ask if they'd like to catch up in the new year, as long as you make sure not to overcommit yourself. Draft a new message for each contact and note the outreach on your handy-dandy list so that you're set up to track your network in 2022. 

You don't have to email everyone all at once, either. Make a schedule for yourself (again, based on how you prioritize your list!) and start sending notes as early as the week leading up to Christmas break and as late as the first week back at work (that said, if you are hoping for a response, avoid sending your note the Friday before Christmas break). You may not get a response from every contact, but if you're genuine, polite, and professional, you'll get back on the radar and keep your network up to date. ​

-- Angela Silak & Cindy Kaplan

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Hollywood Resumes

    ​Welcome to our career tips blog!  To receive our updates via email, sign up for our weekly newsletter.  You'll also get access to exclusive discounts, offers, and resources! 

    Sign up now!

    Categories

    All
    ASK HR
    Assistant Life
    Bios
    Cover Letters
    Industry Spotlight
    Internships
    Job Applications
    Job Interviews
    Job Search Tips
    LinkedIn
    Networking
    Personal Statement
    Professional Development
    References
    Resume Help
    Salary
    Script Coverage
    Social Media
    Thank You Notes
    Work Life

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    RSS Feed

Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter to receive career tips, discounts, and access to our resource library!
SUBSCRIBE
Photos used under Creative Commons from Jimmy Benson, 401(K) 2013, christiaan_008, televisione, Dai Lygad, MarkMoz12, Krists Luhaers, Nguyen Vu Hung (vuhung), Hollywood_PR, State Farm, Joe The Goat Farmer, HandsLive, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., thedailyenglishshow, dno1967b, flazingo_photos, jmrodri, cliff1066™, Joe The Goat Farmer, flazingo_photos, starmanseries, anitakhart, jimmiehomeschoolmom, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., hfb, gminguzzi, thedailyenglishshow, Visual Content, mkhmarketing, Peat Bakke, Visual Content, vlauria, flazingo_photos, flazingo_photos, cafecredit, StockMonkeys.com
  • Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Partners
  • Blog