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School and Career Surprises: Tips From People on the Job

Career: "I was surprised at how technology has changed the film industry. Almost anyone can make videos of decent quality with a high end consumer camera and some know how. You don't necessarily have to go to Hollywood to follow your passion. There are plenty of people making professional videos and big money on YouTube etc."

Best & Worst Things About This Career

"The best parts are the sense of satisfaction I get at the end of each day. I love to help people get their work done, and I take great pride in what we do and how it is received. The work I help support reaches millions of people every day. The bad parts are when we get very busy and I have to sometimes say no to people, or ask my staff to work extra or odd hours. My job can be very stressful sometimes."

"The worst part of work? It is random and there is no way to predict how busy or slow it will be. We are at the call of the casting directors. It would be nice to have steady work, instead of the highs and lows we have. The best part about it is how much freedom I have: more than any job I had in corporate America. I work for a small company; it's just the owner and myself, but I feel more appreciated and useful than I have in corporate jobs that have held me back in the past."

"The best parts of the job is every day is different. Although the responsibilities are the same, each day brings some unexpected opportunity/problem/challenge. The people I work with make the job enjoyable. I have the opportunity to meet with many different people looking to clear their program on television. The worst part of the job is taking viewer complaints. When a show is cancelled or preempted, the viewer does not care why, they just know their show is not on and they get very irate."

"The best part of my career is that I get to work in a variety of different venues. I've worked in concert halls, offices, hotel ballrooms, and even the Capitol building in D.C. My work takes me all over the country. It's exhausting, but it's so much better then being stuck in an office all day long. The worst part would be that doing the same thing time and time again can get tedious. Most set-ups are identical, and the lack of creative output can feel stifling at times."

Tips for Succeeding in This Career

"Go to where the work is. My first job was at a very small radio station in North Dakota. Be willing to learn anything and everything, and don't be afraid to take shifts at funny times. Sometimes you have to give up some of your personal life to get the work done. Always keep a good attitude. Most people will respond better to a smile and friendly conversation rather than being dictated to. Keep in mind that you're dealing with people, not just things."

"Entertainment is a very tough industry. If you know someone in it, get some advice on how it really works. Most people do not know the reality of working in entertainment. A lot of it is luck, the right people and/or situations. It can happen, but classes are not necessarily the most important thing to do. Talk to everyone you know who's involved in the business. But a word to the wise: being an agent's assistant will give you many options in areas of TV, film, being an agent, etc. Hard work then can pay off with the right people around you."

"1. Intern as much as possible while you are in school. This will get you experience and help you create contacts you can use after graduating. 2. Take a job that will get your foot in the door, don't think it is below you. I started as a part time night receptionist almost 20 years ago at the station. 3. Once you get your foot in the door, learn as much as possible about the business. talk with people in different departments to know how the business works and how each part affects others."

"The first tip I can offer is to always maintain a friendly disposition, especially when working with clients. Financial success in this industry relies on maintaining a long list of contacts, and no one wants to work with a grumpy person. The second tip would be to make sure you always arrive on time prepared. This may sound obvious, but clients remember who's punctual and who's not. The third tip would be to keep track of new technologies. Video production, as is any field that's heavily based on technology, requires you to know all the new and useful technologies available to you."