Breaking In

Salary Expectations

Does mentioning the words “Salary Expectations” make you cringe?  When a recruiter calls and asks for your current salary and/or what you’re looking for – are you uncomfortable?

No reason to be!  The primary reason recruiters ask for this information is to make sure you are in line with their budget.  You are not giving away sacred information in discussing your earnings and expectations – letting a company know where you are and where you want to be salary wise is and should be an honest and easy conversation.  Think about it, if you are earning $60K and a job only pays $45K – why do we want to waste your time?  Our time is valuable and so is yours.

Ah, but then the words “I’m flexible” come out….Be honest and realistic when it comes to your salary expectations.  When you make a career jump – company and/or next level - your expectation should be ~10%-15% above your current salary.  Be prepared to give your “bottom line” number and TRUST that the company will not low-ball you if you get to an offer stage and present you with a fair offer based on their budget and your experience.

In addition, for those of you that are moving into entertainment from a different industry, do your research on entertainment salaries – all industries are not equal and entertainment happens to pay on a lower end. (…Although, this is shifting given the current “war for talent…”)

So, in a nut shell, don’t worry about or avoid the salary conversation – do your research, be open and honest about your salary history and expectations – trust me, it makes the process more comfortable and seamless.

The Illusive World of Development

Are you one of the many aspiring creative executives that feel like you’re on the outside looking in?   You want to get in, but just can’t seem to find the right door?  It’s that proverbial ‘catch-22’ of an entry level job requiring 1-2 years relevant or development experience?  Entry level?  Key word… RELEVANT….

I recently partnered with my creative team to look at the team’s structure, players, workload, etc.  It was quite refreshing to hear, and to now tell you my aspiring creatives, that there are many doors into the creative area: Physical Production, Producing, development, advertising and/or marketing, and/or a great track record through school with interesting internships.  Creative teams want people that are passionate about trends, stories, human behavior, knowledge, current events, etc.  After all, isn’t that what story telling is about?  Interesting people, their stories, intrigue?

If you don’t have the relevant experience – be willing to get it.  Productions are always looking for good, reliable Production Assistants (PA’s); Talent agencies, Studios, and Production Companies are always looking for capable, hard-working Assistants.

The doors are there – you just need the right key.

Think Global

Just got back from London where I was fortunate enough to meet my HR counterparts from around the world - the theme of our forum seemed to be global, mobile talent.

My international peers confirmed that the entertainment industry is becoming more and more internationally talent fluid. As we recruit and hire, we are interested in meeting people that have an interest in global career growth.

If you are interested in entertainment and thought the business was specific to the US – think again. There are opportunities and entertainment companies that are globally decentralizing, offering more choices for those that seek a more adventurous diverse career. As you create your target company list, make sure that you ask companies about “ex-patriot” opportunities and policies!

The 3 P's of Breaking In

Breaking in to the Business?  I happen to land my first entertainment job through a serious of connections, or in other words, by sheer dumb luck:  I was looking for my break in my field (human resources), answered a newspaper ad (remember those? yes, a newspaper ad) and just so happen to land in the Business.  I’ve been hooked ever since.

Through my years of meeting a vast audience of entertainment job seekers, I have noticed a few common qualities that make a future hire stand out.  These traits might sound cliché, but they are proven:

• PASSION:  I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to meet someone genuinely excited about their career and industry of choice.  Believe me, there is a difference in their demeanor, knowledge, etc.  Smile, engage, know your stuff!
• PATIENCE:  Know what you want and wait for the right move.  So many people take any job “to get their foot in the door” – sometimes it works and they get where they want eventually, but a lot of the time they get stuck in a dead-end role or career as a result of that miss-step.
• PERSISTENCE:  Take every meeting that is offered to you - you never know who, when, where that right opportunity will present itself to you.  Now, be careful – it’s one thing to be persistent, and it’s another to be obnoxious.  Know the difference.

In my humble opinion, these three “P’s” are the foundation to breaking in – build upon these and you will be on your way to a successful and fulfilling career in the industry.

Yours-

Ellen