How to Get a Job in Hollywood

How to Get a Job in Hollywood How to Get a Job in Hollywood Achieving a career in Hollywood  might be a dream for many, but its not a challenge for the faint of heart. Part of the problem is that theres a massive amount of competition out there and everyone is looking for the same job. The good news is that this is one of those areas in life where persistence tends to pay off. More often than not, its the person who doesnt give up who eventually manages to get a job in Hollywood and keep it. If you think you just need a degree from a topnotch school or that you must know someone in the business to get a foot in the door, think again. Neither of these things is guarantees that you will work in film or television. Your desire and ability to prove yourself is what will ultimately get you hired or fired. That said, there are a few things you can do to up your chances.   Be Willing to Work for Free As ugly as that sounds, its absolutely essential that you be willing to work either for free or for a very low wage. Those who are financially able to do so should be able to get a position with most film and television crews relatively quickly. These positions are often entry level, but its an in. Youll have an opportunity to meet others in the business and you can learn on the job. Many of these free jobs quickly lead to full-time careers. Leave the Ego at Home Hollywood is full of egos and it doesnt  need one more. Youll find that most people will be a lot more receptive to helping you if you check your ego at the door when you come to town. You might find that your ego comes in handy someday later on- but only after youve mastered a few of the Hollywood ropes. Otherwise, it will just get in the way. Be Persistent Spend some portion of every day doing something that helps you get to where you want to be. Meet people, make calls, send letters or e-mails- do whatever it takes to move forward and do it without break. Seize Opportunities Many of the jobs youll have to commit to in Hollywood- like those free ones- will be less than glamorous, but theyll be full of opportunities. Seize these opportunities as they occur. If youre sent off to copy scripts, make an extra copy so you can read it yourself and learn something. If youre forced to field calls for your boss, he may let you listen in when he takes one, so grab the opportunity to learn by listening to whats being said. Be Respectful Youre going to come across dozens- if not hundreds- of different types of jobs in Hollywood. Many will be positions you wouldnt dream of taking, but those who are doing them might actually enjoy them. Keep your disparaging opinions to yourself. Although it might seem unlikely, the one guy you ridicule for his job might be the one guy who could have helped you get ahead. Know Where to Look If youre looking in the classifieds section of your local newspaper or on career sites like Monster.com, chances are youre not going to have much luck. Most production jobs are never advertised. People are often hired by word of mouth and through pre-established relationships. This is why its so important to get to know as many people as possible as soon as possible. You might find a few jobs in Variety or  in The Hollywood Reporter, but in all likelihood, youll have to track down available jobs on your own. You might want to steer clear of Hollywood Job websites that charge  monthly fees because, unfortunately, many of the jobs they advertise are filled before the listing even goes up. Besides, even if the job was still open, no production person has the time to sift through the hundreds upon hundreds of resumes that a service like this would generate. They want to hire the best person for the job and more often than not, that person has been identified by someone else already on staff. Believe it or not, getting a job in Hollywood is not impossible. Becoming a great director, writer, makeup artist, electrician, agent, or executive all starts by getting out there. Meet new people, take the low-level jobs, and take a few classes. You could be on your way to the top before you know it.