Putting your best foot forward on paper and in person.
When I first started thinking about writing an article about resumes, I realized, I don't know enough. I don't hire that many assistant editors. It's rare that I see resumes. So, I reached out to a few editors, post supervisors, and heads of post-production departments, and got their input. Together, these wonderful people have nearly a century of experience in hiring. They had some excellent advice.
The following is a list of tips from the people who see assistant editor resumes the most:
Relationships
There's no getting around it. Getting a job means having connections. You can have the best resume in the world, but without a good word, you might not get the job. You don't need to be born into Hollywood, but you do need to get out and meet people. Here are some tips on how to build relationships:
Go to Meet-Ups
Blue Collar Post Collective and Assistant Editors in LA both host consistent meet-ups. They're a great way to meet other people in the industry.
Keep in Touch
Stay in touch with old co-workers. You never know where people will end up. They could be your next boss, or they might be too busy to take a job and they could pass it on to you.
Ask to Shadow Another Assistant
People love to share what they know. If you meet another assistant editor who has a job you want, ask if you can shadow them for a day or two. Sometimes, the security on a show doesn't allow this, but often you can learn some new tips and tricks and build a good connection.
Tip: As tempting as it might be to send out an email blast to all of your contacts when you're looking for a job, it's not super welcome. A better plan is to email 10 people individually and craft the email to the person you're writing to. It takes longer, but you'll get better results.
"When I call them, I want to hear confidence, a good attitude, and a willingness to learn." - Post Producer
In the end, if you're trying to move from one aspect of post to another (e.g. unscripted to scripted, scripted to features, etc), someone is going to have to take a chance on you. Some people love to give people a shot. Other people want a sure thing. It's not personal, but you need to know all types of bosses to get a boss that is good for you.
Don't Lie. Promise to Grow, Then Grow.
You might not have every skill necessary for a job. If you've never encountered a task that they ask about in your interview, don't lie about it. It's ok to admit that you don't know everything. The important thing is to show that you're proactive.
For example: If you've never had to script dailies before, you can say something like, "No, I've never had an editor request that before. However, I shadowed someone who had to script dailies. They had a great method, and I know they would be willing to give me a tutorial this weekend." This shows that you have support and a willingness to learn. Just be sure to follow through with that promise and show that growth.
Resume Tips
One page! Your resume should be one page - no exceptions. Cut older jobs or trim your list of skills to the most relevant ones. Just get it down to one page.
Show you're re-hireable. If you have worked more than one season on a show, make it clear. If you worked for a company where you jumped from show to show, make it clear that the company liked you. If you have worked for the same editor for 4 shows, make it clear.
Keep it to entertainment jobs. Showing you're a former Starbucks employee might show that you're reliable, but it doesn't show that you're hustling for your career. If you need to pad out your resume, add student films, side projects, or even that TikTok you cut for your roommate if you have to! If you're lacking projects, show classes you've attended and/or professional certificates. You can even include a shadowing session - just be sure to ask for the other person's permission first.
List References. List one or two people who will give you a glowing review. Make sure you ask for their permission first. Once they say yes, ask how they would prefer to be contacted by your potential employers (email or phone) and provide their preferred information on your resume.
Do The Prep Work
I vividly remember the one interview where I did not prepare. I showed up for an interview for a long-running show without watching a single episode ahead of time. I asked the editor (during the interview) to give me a basic summary of the show. I left my resume in the printer. I didn't have many questions prepared. Needless to say, I did not get that job.
Don't be me on that fateful Sunday. Be sure to:
Watch episodes ahead of time, or, if it's a new show read the Vanity Fair or Deadline article about the show. You don't need to watch all 30 seasons of Law and Order, but watch a newer episode or three, and be familiar with the tone and main characters.
Print your resume and bring it with you. If you're meeting with multiple people, have a copy for each person. (Tip: It's always good to have extra copies of your resume on hand.)
Prepare questions for the interviewer. Good questions can show that you're interested and engaged, as well as show your skill level and experience. A few example questions:
Do you like to have your dailies scripted?
What does a typical day on the show look like?
Do you allow your assistant to sit-in while you're addressing notes with producers?
When you assign a task, do you like to have updates along the way or do you prefer an alert when the task is complete?
You Are In Demand
There is SO MUCH work right now. Anecdotally, the post producers I spoke with said that they're hiring 4 times the number of assistant editors than they were in the past. You'll find your spot. Just remember to be authentic, and keep pushing forward.
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