What's the best way to get a foot in the door of a niche field?
Hi, I'm in that paradoxical beginning stage where I'm at "entry level" after graduating high school, but even all the entry level jobs require a level of experience I don't have. Just to clarify: Experience in terms of time in the workforce, not to be mistaken with level of expertise.
What makes things harder for me personally is that despite getting A/V certified in high school, it's hard to diagnose what job I should be looking for, finding them available in my league/skillset, and meeting all the specific demands.
The job titles alone tend to be very ambiguous and hard to trace, since not all of them are called "Audio Visual Media Producer", and then each one that I find has their own interpretation of what kind of capabilities & responsibilities the role should have. All of this plus other noticeable factors make it very difficult to land something that pays fairly.
I don't think there's a golden solution to this, perhaps if I just keep applying to the qualifying options that I find, I'll get lucky, but what I'm wondering is, is there something I can do to better my situation going forward?
To clarify, I'm a high school graduate who took an Audio/Visual program course (+ business classes), with Adobe & Microsoft certifications. #jobsearch #entrylevel #advice
@Gary Jackson Entry level positions are temporary, but a phase mostly everyone has to go through to gain experience in any field. Part of paying your dues in your professional life. But I recommend seeking an internship. Some actually compensate, but others don’t. But you will gain experience and possibly land a job where you internship at.
Here are a bunch of other titles you might look for that are in the field but don't often require much experience - good luck! Production Assistant Audio/Video Technician Content Creator Media Coordinator Multimedia Specialist Digital Media Assistant Video Editor Social Media Coordinator Camera Operator Podcast Producer Media Production Assistant Sound Technician Video Production Assistant Assistant Editor Studio Assistant Multimedia Coordinator
@Gary Jackson Hello Gary, welcome to the Jobcase community!
If it makes you feel any better, yours is not a unique issue. You’ll actually find that people much older than you are currently experiencing the same kinds of issues even with the experience. Not to paint a bleak picture but that’s the current state of the job market. It’s going to be extremely competitive. But what you may lack in experience you can make up with drive and innovation. The fact that you’re already out here ready to start making money and going off the beaten path going to more niche apps seeking opportunities and advice puts you miles ahead of others. Use that. Keep applying. Don’t be discouraged and do not stop. It sounds extremely generic but you’ll find that’s usually the best answer, just don’t quit. You’ll find what you’re seeking.
Feel free to click HERE to search through available job listings and please reach out if you have any questions. Best of luck!
Hey @Gary Jackson, entry level positions in any industry are tough. I think a good strategy, long term, is to continue to apply to anything that remotely interests you in your field. You eventually get some interviews and you'll get better at those as they come and go. Additionally, it sounds like you already have some certs and knowledge, but consider pursuing additional education. Continue to stack those certs or degrees, they will open the door for you in a very competitive field.
Hi @Gary Jackson – yours is definitely the age-old question, "How do I get experience, when employers only want people with experience?" It may seem difficult, but with some focused effort you can definitely do this. Having worked in film, video and creative for many years, I have several suggestions:
I noticed you worked for a short time with Azerion, helping to develop audio/video for social media. That’s a solid start. Do you have work from that time you can use for a portfolio? I would figure out a simple way to display it online and share links to any live pieces.
Ask yourself – what did I learn from the work or processes with Azerion? What did I like or not like? Let those answers help guide what you aim for next.
Think about the industry people you’ve met so far. Ask if they know anyone they can introduce you to. Sometimes all it takes is a cup of coffee and a quick conversation to make a connection.
Create on your own. You know audio/video and social are one big mash-up these days. So, the best way to build a portfolio is to create “projects” for yourself and experiment. It takes time and effort, but if you create a body of work, it becomes easier to show people what you can do.
Be prepared to hustle and ask questions. Take on any job involved in the process. In film and TV commercial industries, lots of aspiring filmmakers, editors, producers, etc will take any job on any set just to learn and make contacts.
Put yourself in places and in the company of people you can learn from (as Alexander says in this thread) – regardless of pay. Contact local production businesses and talk to them about shadowing their professionals as a helper, observer, or intern. NOTE: many large companies have internal marketing groups and are often willing to take on interns.
Volunteer for nonprofit organizations as a video producer or creator. There are lots of nonprofit groups who would love the help. ONE IDEA: I noticed you volunteered for the Houston Texans Teen Club. Call them up and say, “Hi, I volunteered for you before and I’m just starting out. I was wondering if I could talk with someone who does video production for the Texans. I’d love to learn more about how they do what they do.”
Show up and be dependable. The more people can trust you to do one job, the more likely they’ll be to hire you for a different one.
Sorry for the book here. Wishing you the best of luck and let us know how it’s going. You can do this!🙂