Job Assistance / Stay Connected Program

The Film Connection’s one-of-a-kind Stay Connected Program is in place to help all our graduates make the successful transition out of school and into a lucrative position in the film industry.

Due to the unique nature of our on-the-job training, many of our students find gainful employment immediately upon graduation, and even before. However, understandably, some of our graduates still need some assistance in finding job openings—and our commitment to helping our students find and secure those jobs is second to none. This is why we have put our Stay Connected Program in place.

Beginning at week ten of your course, and for up to a year after you graduate, one of our Job Assistance Coordinators will be actively involved in helping you connect to a successful career, starting with a series of lessons designed to position you for employment, and finishing by contacting real film production companies to help make the introductions for you, attempting to help you get your foot in the door.

The Film Connection’s Stay Connected Program starts with the following steps, to be completed every two weeks, designed to help you make the most of your newly-acquired skills and potential:

Research and write a one-page report about entry-level film positions. (As a new film professional, entry-level jobs are your most likely gateway to working into a higher-level job.)
Write and submit one page discussing your numerous career options in film. Doing this exercise may open your eyes to career opportunities you might not have thought about.
Prepare and submit a “Strategy For Success,” a 5-year plan detailing your goals in film, and how you intend to achieve those goals.
Assemble your demo reel—a visual portfolio of your work.
Prepare a professional cover letter and your resume. Also, ask your mentor for a letter of recommendation.
As you conclude your apprenticeship with your mentor, have a conversation with him/her about the possibility of continuing to work together, and see if he/she has any job openings or leads for you. If no jobs are currently available, research five specific places in your area where you might like to work. What characteristics of these companies appeal to you, and how might you be a good fit? Research their client lists, and find out who to contact.
Research and find out how to apply to the five companies you identified in the previous step.
Submit applications to all five locations!
Make follow-up calls to the five places where you sent an application. Persistence pays off!
One week after your follow-up, we will call these five places on your behalf.

Most importantly, as you make this transition from student to pro, our Student Services department is here for you each step of the way. Need career counseling? Need help with your resume or cover letter? A friendly voice to encourage you? We are always a phone call or email away.

Please note that The Recording Radio and Film Connection is a licensed and accredited school, not a job placement service or employment agency. While we are highly committed to the ultimate success of our students, we cannot offer any guarantee of a job. However, if you are ambitious, passionate, and dedicated to finding a job in film, you will find that we will do our utmost to help you obtain the employment you need and deserve.

We know it takes determination to become a working film professional. That’s why the Stay Connected Program is here for you.

Checking in with Film Connection Graduate Catura Jensen

“I have been working with my mentor’s studio now for a little over a year, and wow there are so many stories and experiences that I could share. The one that sticks out to me the most is when they had informed me they were going to be leaving for L.A. to shoot a music Video with a rap artist. I immediately asked them if I could go, and they said yes. I also realized that it was a great opportunity for me to help produce the video, and so I decided to invest. three days before we were scheduled to leave, I was booking flights, location scouting, getting the camera equipment ready, and meeting with the editor to make a shot list and decide how we were going to be editing the video as a team. The week went by fast and it wasn’t long before I was at the Hollywood castle on the Hollywood hill setting up shots, assisting the director, and working with camera operators who had been called down to help out on the set. The experience was a real eye opener to how much work it takes to make it happen, but the fulfillment after it was all done and knowing that I had a part in the process was irreplaceable. Everyone who had been on set that day told my mentor that i was the hardest worker there, and they asked me if i had any plans to move down to L.A. because they had jobs for me! Hearing very talented artists who had already been working in the industry for years tell me that i was a hard worker and offering me jobs was such a complement and really pushed me to stay motivated.”
- Catura Jenson, Sandy, UT