Vacation Plans
Caroline writes: I just got a job as an office PA at a TV show production office. Unfortunately, I had a trip planned for a month into the job that I long before I was hired. Would it be unwise to request a half day on a Friday and offer to work extra other days […]
Faking It and Following Up
Seán commented on Wednesday’s post: Be careful with the template resume though; I dismiss resumes I get which are not for the job on offer and are just boilerplate stuff. A very good point. As best you can, you should include information given in the job posting, just to show you actually know what job […]
Post-Interview Thank You Note
Bianca asks: I just had an interview with a coordinator. What are your thoughts on sending a post-interview note? Is that appropriate and what would I want it to say? Yes, it’s perfectly okay to send a quick email after the interview. In my experience, it probably won’t do much good one way or the […]
It’s About Time (Or: Yes, I’m Back)
Several people have commented or tweeted that I haven’t written anything in a while. The reason is, basically, this blog was started nearly five years ago, with over 650 posts. That’s quite a bit of material about a job a monkey could do. Eventually, you just run out of things to write. But don’t worry, […]
Walk Right In
Alex writes: My friend and I are approximately 3 weeks away from departure to New Orleans and we are trying to figure out the best way to find our first PA jobs. We have heard from some people we know that are already there that it is better to simply walk into production offices and […]
Knowing People in High Places
Jack writes writes in: I’m planning a move to LA in February next year to become a TV writer. I have a friend in development at a major network and another contact that executively produces a cable series. I’ve already met with them, they know I’m moving, and have offered to help and read anything […]
Screen Credit
Sally writes: I’m working an unpaid position as a “Set Intern” on an Indie Film with some recognizable names. Since we’re not receiving school credit or financial compensation, I was banking on receiving screen credit. Now it seems that may not happen. Is that normal? Is it normal to work 15-hour days for 3 weeks […]
How To Pad Your Resume…
…without actually lying. Chris writes: I was what you might call a “day player” on a game show a few days ago. Is this experience worth mentioning in a résumé and cover letter, or is it better left unsaid — perhaps even reserved for an interview? First, don’t accent the accented é’s in “resume.” We’re […]
Resume Basics
Received a few resumes from some youngsters. (When did I get so old? Oh God, am I The Old PA?! Nooooooo!) They were rife with rookie mistakes. I’ve said all these things on the blog before, but for those of you who might be too busy (i.e. lazy) to go back through the annals, here’s a […]
Not ‘Till You Book It
When I was first starting out, I told my parents about every interview I went on, every potential job offer that came my way, every good parking space I found on lunch runs. Oh, how years in Hollywood have jaded me. Now, my parents know almost nothing about my professional life. Why? Because a PA’s […]
How to Become a Producer
Dylan writes: I just graduated in May and I plan on moving to LA at the soonest possible time. My question, though, is this: what exactly is the best route to producing features? I’ve heard advice to get an office PA job and try my best to attach myself to a producer that will take […]
Should I Mention that I’m Moving?
Mike asks: In two months I am moving to Los Angeles, and am wondering how to go about mentioning this in my cover letter. Does it just take a sentence or two? I know you’ve stressed being as brief as possible. As per the advice of my industry friends, they have prompted me to get […]