A Whole New Career...

[Lil' Joe]

I am 26 and I have been working as a film producer since I left University. However, I just cant see a decent and secure wage being earned, in this country at least, in the future so I am thinking of a complete career change. Can you help advise me?

Criteria:

• Must have the potential for good future earnings - £30-£40k.
• Retraining/going back to Uni etc is feasible.
• I am at the stage in my life now when I am prepared to do things I would have been unhappy to do in the epast if it mean I am earning well amd have an element of carrer security (OK, Ok, I know, not he best time but in the future), so throw in ant and all career ideas, suggestions.

I am well educated, computer literate and have experience in Producing films and music videos but would like to get out of this industry, although the skills are transferable.

I really look forward to you advice on this on.
Regards, and thanks.
Joe

[GSP]

Same situation as you to some extent.

I work in construction in a good job, however fancy a change.

My recomendation which has been fruitful so far is to look at the FTSE top 10

I Graduated 3 years ago and they are still interested in you as a graduate. One I have recently looked at the starting pay is £28k + Car allowance, laptop, phone.

[Lil' Joe]

Lovely, what field is that in?

I had an ida to do something like you suggest. Ive already been Googling "Highest paid jobs"!

[GSP]

Money is not everything but if that is what you are after then look for graduate jobs with FTSE100 companies in sales.

My friend works for Mars in sales and drives a good spec Audi A4, works from home and Mars advertis on their website that graduates get paid £28k + Performance Bonuses.

Capital One are another high paying graduate employer.

These jobs are very competitive as you would imagine......and you need to WANT the job, not the money.

[Lil' Joe]

No, its not everything but it is certainly an incentive to workhard, especialy when you have struggled for a while.

[R4PID]

swerni said:

My oldest friend is a assistant director. He as been in the film business for 20 odd years now.
He has an incredible life style, has travelled the world first class and see some amazing places.

I would stick with it.

He started off as a runner and is now very well known in the industry with some incredible credits to his name.

Do you really want sit in an office with your company laptop and phone?

+1. I think more people would rather swap with you. 26 and a film producer. Who cares about the money. Stick with it and work through it doing the work you enjoy and who knows where it will end up.

[BigAlinEmbra]

GSP said:

Same situation as you to some extent.

I work in construction in a good job, however fancy a change.

My recomendation which has been fruitful so far is to look at the FTSE top 10

I Graduated 3 years ago and they are still interested in you as a graduate. One I have recently looked at the starting pay is £28k + Car allowance, laptop, phone.

You don't want a graduate job with a car, they then expect you to live in it.
And it's never going to be the type of car you want.

[shirt]

swerni said:

I would stick with it.

me too, at least give it another couple of years. all you need is one break and you could have an amazing career.

i'll swap if you like

[Diseisel]

Lil' Joe said:

Ive already been Googling "Highest paid jobs"!

I doubt that you will find anything other than Sales roles "OTE £450k". When you look more closely, the salary is usually about £12k plus your performance related bonus.

Think about what you enjoy doing, get your CV/Personal Summary into shape and get sending it out to companies you might like to work for.

I got into a large retailer by emailing my CV to the Departmental Directors (9 of them) and got 2 interviews, 2 subsequent offers and accepted one of them.

[Mr POD]

After 20 years in what might be the wrong career for me, I'd say find something that is enjoyable, that makes you happy and DON'T worry about the money or security.


I've never really enjoyed what I do, and every day is a another day like the last only more so. I do it because I need the cash, but when My mortgage is paid off in 4 years I shall think very hard about what I'm going to do with the next 20 years before I retire.

[johnfm]

Hi Joe

Been there, have the t-shirt. WOrked for 15 years in network tv - researcher----->AP--------->producer----->director.

It can be a great industry, but is not remotely meritocratic.

Seeing useless duffers getting work (and screwing it up) because they have a good network and a good agent is frustrating.

I am in my final stretch requalifying in corporate law - so it can be done.


Good luck

[A911DOM]

Lil' Joe said:

I am 26 and I have been working as a film producer since I left University. However, I just cant see a decent and secure wage being earned, in this country at least, in the future so I am thinking of a complete career change. Can you help advise me?

Criteria:

• Must have the potential for good future earnings - £30-£40k.
• Retraining/going back to Uni etc is feasible.
• I am at the stage in my life now when I am prepared to do things I would have been unhappy to do in the epast if it mean I am earning well amd have an element of carrer security (OK, Ok, I know, not he best time but in the future), so throw in ant and all career ideas, suggestions.

I am well educated, computer literate and have experience in Producing films and music videos but would like to get out of this industry, although the skills are transferable.

I really look forward to you advice on this on.
Regards, and thanks.
Joe

Perhaps try going on your own, in a previous life I was in a band and would have killed to have made a video etc etc... Theres lots of opportunities associated with the skills you already have to just head in a slightly different direction I would have thought, but hey if its not all its cracked up to be then I wish you luck in your search...

I have a feeling the office wall and a laptop screen are going to look very very dull in comparison in a couple of years time tho.

[Lil' Joe]

Thanks for all the replies. I guss te problem is the lack of security. Yes, the work can be fun and yes, if I get a break I could be rich but it is rare. I have a missus prone to worrying about money and we both want kids etc and the film industry can be a bit hand to mouth. Lots of work and money for 6 monthsn then nothing (of note) and struggling to pay the bills for 6 months.
I will look it re-training but I agree with the enjoyment part; if I dont enjoy work at least slightly, I wont do it for long. Stubbon and a bit childish but at least Im honest with myself about it.

Thanks again guys.

[shirt]

can you not diversify your skills within the industry, become multi-talented [i dunno, sound, lighting, camera etc] and so find more work within the industry and keep you in the loop for production work?

[Mr POD]

Lil' Joe said:

Thanks for all the replies. I guss te problem is the lack of security. Yes, the work can be fun and yes, if I get a break I could be rich but it is rare. I have a missus prone to worrying about money and we both want kids etc and the film industry can be a bit hand to mouth. Lots of work and money for 6 monthsn then nothing (of note) and struggling to pay the bills for 6 months.
I will look it re-training but I agree with the enjoyment part; if I dont enjoy work at least slightly, I wont do it for long. Stubbon and a bit childish but at least Im honest with myself about it.

Thanks again guys.

Why not find a Second career that you do when you have no Film work. Actors generally make reasonable waiters, so what about becoming a chef ?

Or write your own programmes.

[taldo50]

Mr POD said:

Lil' Joe said:

Thanks for all the replies. I guss te problem is the lack of security. Yes, the work can be fun and yes, if I get a break I could be rich but it is rare. I have a missus prone to worrying about money and we both want kids etc and the film industry can be a bit hand to mouth. Lots of work and money for 6 monthsn then nothing (of note) and struggling to pay the bills for 6 months.
I will look it re-training but I agree with the enjoyment part; if I dont enjoy work at least slightly, I wont do it for long. Stubbon and a bit childish but at least Im honest with myself about it.

Thanks again guys.

Why not find a Second career that you do when you have no Film work. Actors generally make reasonable waiters, so what about becoming a chef ?

Or write your own programmes.

im a chef, ill swap with him!!! sounds like a good job youve got there, however i know nothing of the world other than what i have seen from the small glimpse of freedom i get from the back kitchen door every few hours when i go outside to smoke...