Location, Location, Vocation

As some of my industry contacts will attest, I’ve been getting somewhat vocal of late about the small matter of location when it comes to LinkedIn…for someone who spends probably more time on the platform than most, I am increasingly of the view that there are two places where those in the creative sectors work – 'London and the 'United Kingdom'. Whilst these two places are incredibly well recognised by pretty much everyone on the planet, it may be worth thinking about the messaging on this.

If we take the media production community of which I’ve spent 20 years working with, the vast majority of these are freelancers and as such operate very much as independent micro-businesses. However, due to the historical perception that most of the work is in London, there is a natural inclination to put London down as your place of work even though you may live hundreds of miles away. It has for me been the very definition of FOMO…and with an industry struggling to recover from first the pandemic and now the Writers and Actors strike, I certainly can’t criticize anyone for wanting to maximise their visibility or perception of availability close to the main production hubs and studios!

However, there is a very real concern with the film and TV industry in particular in that it’s creating a potentially damaging and unsustainable environment which means its workforce is having to be economical with the truth – and may well be contributing to the decline in mental well-being. Following numerous conversations over the last two years, it has become one of my missions to see people in our industry sleep in their own beds and not have to commute long distances or worse relocate to live elsewhere, away from their families and support networks.

Over the last four years, I have been researching to establish who in the media production industry lives here in the West Midlands but who ‘works away’ and maybe deemed a Londoner to colleagues and crew?! My initial resource has been LinkedIn and whilst I recognise it may not be the main 'go-to' directory listing for media freelancers and event professionals it has search functionality way beyond any other platform.

The impact of location on your LinkedIn profile can be significant, as it influences how you appear in search results, connects you with relevant opportunities, and affects the visibility of your profile to producers and employers. Here are some key considerations:

1. Search Visibility: Recruiters often use location filters when searching for candidates. If your profile lists a location that matches the search criteria, you are more likely to appear in relevant search results. If you are open to relocation, you may consider listing multiple locations or a broader region to increase your visibility to recruiters searching for candidates in different areas.
2. Local Job Opportunities: Certain jobs are location-specific, and employers may prefer candidates who are already in or near the location of the job. If you're looking for opportunities in a specific location, listing that location on your profile can increase your chances of being considered for local roles. This is especially important when most media and event projects are short-term and very much location, studio or venue specific.
3. Networking Opportunities: Location information can help you connect with professionals in your area. LinkedIn may suggest connections based on geographic proximity, and local networking events or groups may find and engage with you more easily if your location is accurate. Organisations like Create Central , the creative sector trade body for the West Midlands, are keen to engage with as many local and regional crew as possible and so your location is key to engagement. You are unlikely to be found and/or invited to events in region if you are showing as London or United Kingdom based.
4. Remote Work Considerations: With the rise of remote work, freelancers may well prefer to list a general or remote location rather than a specific city. This can convey flexibility and openness to remote job opportunities but don’t miss out on being considered more suitable for a project that’s based in your region!
5. Relocation Status: If you are open to relocation, you might explicitly mention it in your profile summary or headline. This can attract opportunities from different locations and industries. This is particularly relevant if you are what I would term “regional alumni” i.e. you either grew up in the area, went to college or university here or perhaps have strong family links as well as if you're looking to expand your employment to related creative or technical sector opportunities. Moreover, lifestyle changes may drive you to consider a relocation - for example, due to starting a family, caring for ageing relatives or just wanting to buy a house somewhere affordable. Give your future employers a chance to make the move easier! ?

Remember that the impact of location on your LinkedIn profile will vary depending on your industry, career goals, and the nature of your work. Regularly updating your location information based on your current circumstances and preferences is a good practice and helps potential employers understand what experience you have which may be relevant for jobs that have not been created yet! Sustainability, crea-tech and AI are all areas which are seeing totally new positions being created which have not have got typical career paths.

My ask is a very simple one – update your LinkedIn profile to where you live (and/or where you would like to) so that the local and regional community can engage with you and tell you all about the opportunities you are missing. You may be surprised what opportunities may come your way – even if you, like me, are in the ‘Greater Coventry Area’ – more of that in early 2024!

And before my contacts think I have lost my focus – this is fundamentally a ‘#sustainable first’ approach. We can reduce carbon emissions greatly with a local, diverse, experienced workforce and crew base and sourcing talent locally will help us to build better communities and provide improved opportunities for the region’s talent, businesses and creative sectors.