how to get your first job in entertainment with no experience (current hollywood assistant)

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

• Start by clarifying what you want to do (and where you fit).

  • Identify the media you naturally consume most.
  • Decide whether you’re drawn to creative roles (often freelance-friendly) vs behind-the-scenes/business/tech-adjacent roles (often different career paths).
  • Consider whether you can handle freelancing life or you need salary/stability.

• Soul-searching + realism about motivation.

  • Entertainment is driven by passion; know why you want it.
  • Be honest: entertainment careers can require financial sacrifice and may not suit everyone long-term.
  • If you strongly imagine an alternate industry path, you may end up there instead—don’t ignore that signal.

• Get experience early—especially in college.

  • Use college resources and opportunities (classes, volunteering, student films).
  • Use summers strategically for internships and real production involvement.

• Build application materials that communicate value clearly.

  • Resume: use a simple, readable format; tailor language to the job description; include measurable impact when possible.
  • Cover letter: emphasize passion/fan energy and fit for the role; not all recruiters read them, but they matter more when you’re starting out with little experience.
  • Maintain an active LinkedIn profile, since people may treat it as your “snapshot.”

• Create a portfolio/personal website.

  • Entertainment is visual; your work should demonstrate what you can do beyond text.
  • Showcase multiple relevant interests/projects to tell your “career arc.”

• Find places to apply + network proactively.

  • Look for college/recent grad programs at major companies (examples given: Disney, Viacom, NBC).
  • Use media credits of projects you like to find production companies and teams.
  • Search locally if you can’t move (local news, radio, local studios).
  • Track applications and send cold emails (short, polite, ask if they need help).

• Follow up fast, then follow up thoughtfully.

  • Reply to emails within 24 hours; respond/call back the same day for calls.
  • If no response, follow up after about 1–2 weeks (not constantly daily).

• Interview etiquette matters.

  • Research the company and key leaders.
  • Send a thank-you note after interviews or informational calls.

• Four final “keep in mind” points

  1. Financial reality: many roles are unpaid or low-paying early on; look for grants/resources.
     • Recommendation: check school grants and free financial support for arts/entertainment students.
  2. Network using every opportunity: informational conversations, school events with industry visitors, ask for contact info/time.
     • Early job example: first job came from cold application to Viacom summer internship.
  3. Don’t discount your youth/taste/experience: entertainment is youth-centric; your perspective is an asset.
  4. Stay open-minded: the industry changes fast; opportunities and roles you can’t imagine yet can appear.

---

Practical methodology / step-by-step instructions (as presented)

1) Pick direction and self-assess fit

• Identify what media you consume most.
• Ask:
  • Do you want creative work or behind-the-scenes business/tech-adjacent work?
  • Can you handle freelancing instability, or do you need salary/benefits?
• Don’t require perfect clarity—explore to learn what’s available.

2) Build experience during college (and summers)

• During college:
  • Take relevant classes when available.
  • Volunteer for student projects and roles you can do (acting, PA, etc.).
  • Use major/final projects to create work (e.g., film/animation projects; research papers with entertainment focus).
  • Make your own projects if possible (short films, creative content).
• During summers / breaks:
  • Don’t only “help friends”; seek internships or real production roles.
  • Focus on showing execution, not just interest.

3) Prepare application materials (resume + cover letter + LinkedIn)

• Resume:
  • Use a simple, boring, easy-to-read template (prioritize clarity over design).
  • Tailor resume content to each job title.
    • Create different resumes for different target role types.
  • Under each position/bullet:
    • Use 2–3 bullets showing what you did.
    • Emphasize value-added impact, ideally quantitative (budget, people helped, scale of work).
    • Reuse words/skills found in the job description (e.g., scheduling/organizational skills).
  • Leverage school resources/upperclassmen to proofread.
  • Must be well formatted with no typos.
• Cover letter:
  • Focus on why you’re passionate and why you’re a fit based on enthusiasm + experience.
  • Note: not every recruiter reads cover letters, but when you’re starting out, do everything you can to show interest.
• LinkedIn:
  • Keep it active and updated; assume it might be the “snapshot” someone checks.

4) Build a portfolio / personal website

• Create a site (examples mentioned: Weebly; also references Squarespace/Wix).
• Include pages for:
  • Film projects you directed/wrote/produced
  • Digital media (including YouTube videos)
  • Animation projects
  • On-screen roles (acting/hosting, etc.)
• Showcase your work broadly, especially early in your career, to demonstrate range and your story arc.

5) Find where to apply (and how to discover opportunities)

• Apply to major companies’:
  • college internships
  • recent grad programs
  • introductory programs (especially helpful for applicants without much experience)
• Expand beyond big names:
  • Look at credits from films/media you enjoy to find boutique production companies.
  • Search locally for smaller studios and production-related workplaces.
• Create a master Excel sheet:
  • track where you’re applying
  • note program availability
  • record contact info and email targets
• Cold email strategy:
  • Send a short message (about 3 sentences):
    • who you are
    • what you’re interested in doing
    • ask whether there’s an opportunity for you to help

6) Manage follow-up and communication speed

• After applying / while waiting:
  • When you get a response request:
    • respond within 24 hours
    • call back same day if you miss a call
• If no response:
  • follow up after 1–2 weeks
  • aim to confirm receipt rather than spam repeatedly

7) Prepare for interviews/informational calls

• Research:
  • projects the company has worked on
  • key leadership figures (use LinkedIn/Google)
• After the interaction:
  • send a thank-you note

---

Speakers / sources featured

• Joelle (the video creator; primary speaker)
• Video mentions / referenced organizations (not as speakers):
  • Viacom / Nickelodeon
  • BuzzFeed
  • UTA (major talent agency)
  • Disney, NBC (examples for application targets)
  • Weebly, Squarespace, Wix (website builders referenced)
• No other named interviewees or co-speakers appear in the subtitles.