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Want to work in Hollywood? Want to make something in Hollywood? Then one way or the other, you’ll be dealing with the process of hiring in Hollywood. Today we share our hiring philosophy, helpful anecdotes, and straight talk on the challenges of interviewing and hiring. We even share what we ourselves need to do better. Applying for jobs in the entertainment industry? Interviewing potential candidates for your next TV or film project? Here’s everything you need to know about hiring, firing, recruiting, interviewing, and more. Listen now and find your perfect job match – no matter which side of the table you’re on!
Finding the Right Fit
Finding the right person for the job. This is the goal, the most important thing…and the hardest part of hiring in Hollywood. There are a lot of talented people who, for whatever reason, might not be the best fit for your production. How do you get to a place where you can make smart decisions?
Hiring in Hollywood? Be Clear
First of all, it begins with communication. What, exactly, does the job entail? It sounds simple, but it’s not. Credits almost never translate perfectly from one gig to the next.
For instance, at some companies Story Producers run interviews, while at others they spend their time stringing out stories in an edit bay. Some do both. What does your project need? Be clear in the job posting, be clear in the interview, and be clear when you actually want to hire someone. Do they truly understand the job they’re about to take on?
Applying for the Gig?
If you’re the one applying for a gig, make sure your resume details your exact responsibilities. We often receive resumes that read more like credit lists. As you now know, seeing someone’s title alone isn’t helpful when hiring in Hollywood.
How Big Is Your Production?
What was the size of the company the person previously worked at, and how does that match up with your workplace? For instance, there are large production companies with hundreds of employees. They have multiple levels of bureaucracy. It can provide a level of “cover” and anonymity that doesn’t exist on smaller productions.
Don’t get us wrong…there are plenty of good people working at big production companies. However, there are also some who are used to letting others carry a lot of the weight, and prefer “blending” in to the background. On a smaller production or at a smaller company there is no place to hide. These people can become overwhelmed fast.
Some people thrive on the responsibility that comes with a more hands-on position. Others are perfectly happy staying out of the spotlight. They prefer a job with multiple levels of management and less intense scrutiny. Make sure whoever you hire is ready for the work environment they’re entering into. Be honest about how much will be on their shoulders. Do they still want the job?
References – Necessary, but Usually Useless
Get references, but don’t rely on them. References are necessary, but they’re notoriously unreliable, when hiring in Hollywood. And one, solitary reference can be as useless as credit lists themselves. You have to do your level best to get more than one reference on anyone you consider hiring. The more the better.
Why is this so important? A person might want to give a friend a good reference (even if they’re not really sure the person is right for the gig). Or, someone may have a personal issue with the applicant in question and provide an unfair review. So you have to get an aggregate of opinions and interpret them as best you can.
Don’t Discard Someone with One Poor Reference
If you get a poor reference, try to figure out why the person didn’t work at that job. Look to see if they have strengths that might work for you. Remember, just because someone didn’t work out somewhere else doesn’t mean they’d be a bad fit for you. Are there good references that offset the bad? Be open minded, or a great person might get away just because someone else didn’t like them. On the other hand, if you get bad review after bad review, you should probably dodge that bullet.
Careful Who You List as a Reference
If you’re out interviewing for jobs, be careful who you list as a reference. You might wrongly think someone had a great experience working with you. When someone calls them up for a reference, they don’t help your cause. You should always ask permission to list someone as a reference. Make sure they’re comfortable vouching for you. If there’s any hesitation on their part, you don’t want to list them on your resume.
Paying People what they Deserve
You always want to pay someone what they deserve (and get paid what you deserve.) Of course, that’s based on a lot of things: experience, the amount of responsibility the job entails, the budget the network or studio has approved, etc.
When we were coming up in the industry, we saw some companies constantly give people a bigger credit but no more money. Some would even offer a bigger credit if the employee LOWERED their rate. We disagree with this big time.
Our belief is that if you’re being promoted to your first time in a new position, you should make a least a little more than what you were paid previously. However, not necessarily the same rate as someone who has five years of experience in that position.
On the flip side, if you have tons of experience and we’re working with a smaller budget, we might not be able to afford you. We’ll tell you what we have, and will understand if you can’t take the job because the pay is not enough. Hopefully it’ll work out next time with a different project and budget situation.
Advice We Need to Heed
Someone we trust told us this:
Hire slowly, fire quickly.
It’s not always possible, and it’s never easy, but hiring too quickly will almost always bite you in the butt. And not firing someone who can’t do the job, or is ruining morale at the office, means your entire production suffers.
Time to Take Control
We go into all this and much more, including personal anecdotes, in today’s ep. It’s time to take control of whatever hiring situation you’re facing, employer or employee. Press that giant play button at the top of this page and listen now!
Helpful and Related Links
Out actively trying to get hired? Don’t miss Landing Jobs In Hollywood – full of actionable tips the help you get your dream gig.
Let’s Make Some TV Together
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