Entertainment Industry Careers: Your First Office Job
🌟Career Coaching: Strategies for Landing and Keeping an Entry-Level Administrative Gig in Film, TV and Theater
In last week’s post, Showbizing co-founder Jane Applegate provided strategies for succeeding on set as a production assistant.
This week, I’m turning attention to entry-level positions that are behind the scenes and off the set. These office jobs come with a wide array of titles that usually have “assistant” or “associate” in them. They include roles at talent agencies, industry-focused marketing and PR companies, labor unions, venues and platforms, equipment and service providers, and production companies ranging from tiny to titanic.
Most of these gigs are administrative in nature, but before you yawn and roll your eyes, just remember that they don’t call it “show-show”; they call it “showbiz” (a favorite saying of the late, great Louis Scheeder). Behind the glamour of red carpets, solid business practices drive the entertainment world, and administrative tasks are a huge part of the engine that keeps the industry running.
Depending on the employer, an office assistant gig can give you access to scripts and storyboards, contracts, budgets, schedules, marketing and distribution plans, labor relations and human resource training, dealmaking strategies and so much more. You’ll likely get a broader overview of the industry by working in an office than you will by working as a production assistant, which makes these jobs a fantastic way to begin your career journey, especially if your goal is to be a producer or executive.
I recently wrote about where to search for jobs in entertainment, and most of those ten, industry-specific platforms are a great place to start looking for office assistant positions. But also be sure to check the career pages on the websites of the talent agencies, PR firms, vendors and production companies you're interested in. Follow these same companies on LinkedIn so that you learn their communication style and keep up with their news; this will put you one step ahead of the curve if you land an interview.
Before you apply for one of these positions, be sure that your skills-based resume highlights the following:
Exceptional Communication Skills – Whether it's writing emails, answering phones or interacting with talent, clear and professional communication is essential.
Organizational Prowess – The entertainment industry serves a lot of stake holders (from creators and crews to distributors and audiences) who are often demanding. To minimize the stress of that environment, it’s vital that you’re able to prioritize tasks, manage your time effectively and stay on top of details.
Tech Savviness – Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace apps is a must. Knowing how and when to use AI is a growing demand.
Once you land the job, here are three strategies to help you keep it.
Be Adaptable and Proactive. Things change quickly in entertainment. To truly excel, don't just adapt, anticipate. Look for ways to streamline processes and offer solutions before problems escalate. Ask for feedback on your work and allow yourself to hear it. Volunteer for extra tasks, particularly those that stretch your skills. Take a crash course after hours in collective bargaining or bookkeeping if you need it. And become a notary public if you can – notaries are hard to find these days, and you’ll stand-out if you can save your boss from having to track one down when the need arises.
Be Discrete and Build Trust. Many of these office jobs will expose you to sensitive information, including salaries and side deals, box office reports, scripts in progress, and other financial and creative details that are rarely made public. You cannot disclose this information to outsiders (okay, your dog is perhaps an exception, but probably not your cat). This is more than just maintaining confidentiality; it's about building trust. Be discrete even in casual conversations. Avoid gossip and always err on the side of caution when sharing information.
Cultivate Strong Professional Relationships. Take the time to get to know your office colleagues, both those who are your peers and those further up the ladder who could become mentors. Offer to be of help even when it’s not your job, don’t rush to judgement (esp. if time is on your side) and always maintain a positive attitude (it’s a fact that no one likes to be around someone who regularly complains). Every person you work with could become part of the network you will rely on throughout your career. Put in the work now to build those relationships for your future.
Entry-level office gigs can be your backstage pass to the inner workings of the entertainment machine. You’ll be privy to the deals, the strategies, the very DNA of how this crazy industry operates. So embrace the administrative grind, soak up the complexities of a complicated business and prove your worth. You're not just an assistant; you're a future player in the game, and this type of gig is how you start learning to play it well.
