Using the Internet to Find a Job

You've packed your car, said a tearful good bye to your dog, casually waved to your parents, got in your car and drove 3,000 miles with your bff to get here. Congratulations! You've made it to Los Angeles.

Fast forward three months-- your mom just called and says she's not sending you any more money to loaf around and visit the Getty. Sight seeing is over with son, it's time to find a job! Panic sets in. What do you do? Where do you start? Lucky for you there's this awesome new thing called the Internet. In fact, you might have done a quick google search for "how to start out in the film industry" just to get to this page. If so, you've completed the first step. Good job! Now dust the cobwebs off your resume and start leafleting them around town, (digitally, of course.) Here are some good places to start:

Craigslist:
I might as well put this category first, because we all know that's the first place you're going to look anyway. I have known people who have landed excellent jobs from the "tv/film/video" section, myself included, but a word of warning: A lot of jobs listed on there are people trying to get you to work on their personal projects for free, (see blog posting "Should I Work For Free?"). Feel free to correspond with these folks and even take a meeting or interview in a public place, but if your gut feeling tells you it's a waste of time, it probably is.
Link to Craigslist

Mandy.com:
Mandy is great because it tells your right up front who the hiring company is, the exact job position you are applying for, when it starts, how long it lasts, and if they're going to pay you or not. It's like Craigslist's professional and detail-oriented aunt. Aunt Mandy.
Link to Mandy

EntertainmentCareers.net:
Entertainment Careers is like Aunt Mandy on a low carb diet. Sure there are a few good jobs listed, but you don't get the information up front that Mandy gives you, such as when the position starts, and how long it's for. Tip: When you get to the job listings, make sure you click on "state" or "city" to organize the list by location. Otherwise you might end up applying for the perfect job... in Duluth.
Link to Entertainment Careers

Studio Websites:
I love working on studio lots. Small boutique production companies with offices above Tiffany & Co. in Beverly Hills are cool, but nothing beats a lot. You're surrounded by producers, actors, grips, electricians, editors, interns, PA's, executives, actors, set construction workers, animal trainers, and so many other people with really cool jobs. It's easy to make friends with the folks on a lot, since you're on the lot too they know you're also cool and awesome. I have a friend who works as a Page on the Paramount lot and she gets to meet the coolest people every single day while giving tours and preforms a wide variety of tasks from day to day. An entry level studio job is a great way to get your foot in the door and meet a lot of people. I would especially recommend it if you still aren't quite sure what you want to be when you grow up, because there are so many opportunities available there. Trouble is, everyone knows this, so print your resume on extra crisp paper and wear good shoes to your interview! 10,000 other people are standing in line behind you for the job, and they are just as qualified.
Paramount Sony Warner Brothers Disney Sunset/Gower NBC Universal

The Facebook Group called "Production Notices":
This is very new to me, but seems cool, hip and helpful. If you're a member of facebook, that is. I've never applied for a job on here myself, but I have referred several friends to their page. They seem to have legitimate paying jobs, and as you can see from their photo albums they have some fun too. I'd call this a great place to observe, network, and apply.
Link to Production Notices

The Facebook Group called "Post Production Networking":
Love anything touched by Walter Murch? Well if you know who he is, this group is for you. I'll let them speak for themselves; it's "...a networking tool for all of us who work in or want to get back into post production for film and television." List yourself as available on a discussion thread or snag a job posted on the wall. Many of my friends are in this group and it comes highly recommended.
Link to Post Production Networking

SummerInternships.com:
Are you a trust fund baby? Perhaps you are the heir to a multinational condiments company. If daddy doesn't want to give you a job or you just want to see what doing your own laundry is like, how about a paid internship program? No, they don't pay you, you pay THEM! The New York Times did an article on The University of Dreams, and writes, "The program advertises a guaranteed internship placement, eight weeks of summer housing, five meals a week, seminars and tours around New York City for $7,999. It has a full-time staff of 45, and says it placed 1,600 student interns in 13 cities around the world this year, charging up to $9,450 for a program in London and as little as $5,499 in Costa Rica." Not sure which major organ you'd have to donate to get a job in LA, but they also forgot to mention there's a $10 application fee just to apply. If you are living the high life or happen to to have won the lottery recently, this actually might be a great move for you. They place you in hard to obtain internships or assistant level positions, you have room and board, and you'll be strategically placed to make some great connections. Honestly, if I had $8,000 laying around when I was 19 I'd probably look into it. Make sure you visit their eligibility page before freeing up your summer schedule.
Link to The University of Dreams
Link to the full NYTimes Article

UTA Job List:
The UTA, otherwise known as the United Talent Agency, weekly distributes a lengthy list of jobs and internships. I used to think you had to be part of a secret society with a code word and a retinal scan in order to get a hold of this list. However, I just googled it and found an excellent, up to date link to this awesome resource. While some jobs listed are detailed and others are vague, you can rest assured knowing they are all legitimate.
Link to UTA Job List

UTA Internship Program:
This is a 10 week program for college students; the poor ones who just want to work for free without having to pay to do so. Applications can be sent in Jan. 1st - March 15th each year, so you better hurry!
Link to the UTA Internship Program

LA411 & The Creative Handbook:
These sites provide lists of thousands and thousands of companies in Los Angeles. You can search broadly by categories such as "post production" and "camera and sound equipment", or you can get more specific with categories like "animals & trainers" and "tape storage". Basically it's a big list of names, address and phone numbers to people who already do what you dream of. Call a company up! Ask to speak to the HR department or for information on where you can send your resume. Use these sites to research a company. Say you want to be a world-renowned trailer editor but you don't know anyone who can help you do that. Go to the "Ad Agencies & Production Co's" link on LA411, scroll down to "Trailer Production Companies", and start calling. Don't get frustrated after a few unhelpful folks, they're a dime a dozen. If asking to send in your resume leads from dead end to dead end, try changing up your strategy. Ask if you can come in and look around for five minutes, or get a tour. Look up their website first, many are linked right from their info page, and get a lay of the land before you call in. If all else fails, use LA411 and Creative Handbook to get yourself educated on the industry.
Links to LA411 & Creative Handbook

Variety & Hollywood Reporter:
Ah, the infamous Trades. People tell you that you should read them, and you should. (Why? Stay tuned for future posting: "The Trades.") Both sites have links to job listings, and both are excellent resources for figuring out what the heck you're doing here.
Link to Variety
Link to Hollywood Reporter


This is a growing list I'll certainly be adding to as I hear of more resources. Do you have any favorites? Let me know! I'll post them for others to check out.