The Value of a First Job

Through the wonders of social media, I recently stepped back in time and connected with my first employer. I don’t mean the good folks who hired me for summer jobs – and there were many – but the first person who invited me to join his company. That, of course, was years ago. What a joy it was to exchange emails and a brief update, to include mutual friends who enriched the conversation. In doing this, I was reminded about the value of a first job – however humble or modest in compensation.

I found this job through a college alumnus who listed his name in a directory as someone willing to help. Having studied Communications, with a major in Film, I had planned to go out West to find fame and fortune – or at least one of the two. I really didn’t know the phrase “networking” then, but through this person and his acquaintances, I found a place to stay, my first (very used, cheap, reliable) car, interim freelance work, and an interview that led to this job as a production assistant in a small educational film company.

This was one of those jobs where you ‘did everything’ and gained hands-on experience. I was lucky to work with good people who had a ton of that and a slew of street smarts – because leaving college with a headful of theory, only gets you part-way there. What I learned most, was the business side of the industry, about equipment, and efficiencies in production. ?I watched, listened, and gladly accepted assignments – in the office and on location. I discovered that I was better at some things than others. I was good at research and writing, location scouting and casting, designing titles, taking still photos, and the logistics of production. I was not so good at being a ‘script girl’ because I’d get distracted by the excitement of the day, and much to my chagrin, once let someone leave the site before getting a reaction shot. (That made it difficult for the editor to cut the scene.) I ran errands to film labs and prop houses and when needed, provided the random hand or foot in the background.

Although this first job was specific to my craft, I picked up universal skills which apply to anyone starting a career. I learned to pay attention to detail, to cover my butt by documenting directives, to ask questions (because it’s OK not to know everything). I learned how to be a team player, be flexible, accept challenges, and show up on time. Mostly, I learned how to budget, and like it or not, that’s an advantage of working for a small company. I became adept at negotiating free permits and permissions; working with agents to secure narrator talent at an “educational rate.” I learned that lighting (at least at that time, when lights burned hot) was a major expense, and that the crew had to eat. I learned to do more than was expected and tried to make other people’s jobs easier by providing detailed notes. I did stuff others didn’t want to or have time to do (such as writing study guides to go into film cans), and years later, I used that skill in supporting Newspaper in Education. Point is, you never know what may come in handy or what will distinguish you in your next job hunt.

After producing 20+ educational films and one feature, the company re-defined itself, relying on freelancers rather than staff for larger projects. At that point, I moved to their distributor and learned a lot about marketing. While I didn’t realize I was doing ‘direct response,’ I created oodles of mailers to promote film purchases and rentals. Our clients were large school districts, libraries, and the military. I learned about screening films, prospecting, targeting, and tracking. My boss had the habit of leaving me piles of articles with the names of potential investors, publicists, and customers circled. (I do this for myself to this day) I’d followed up as time allowed, not particularly aware I was practicing lead gen. I attended conferences with colleagues, and only years later, after working for bootstrapped start-ups, did I realize how well I had been treated in terms of accommodations and an expense account.

There are small things that count in a first job, too, even though you might not take them to the bank. The camaraderie was exceptional as was the sense of humor and mentoring. I may have been na?ve, but I did not sense the stress of office politics. We worked grueling hours on weekend shoots, but we’d have fun despite the exhaustion, and I learned to appreciate the many talents of the crew. The refrigerator was always stocked with Granny Smith apples, and my reserved parking spot was company-paid. I worked in an office that was more like a house, so while I didn’t receive management perks, I also didn’t sit in a cube. Someone came in nightly to ‘comb’ the rug and water the patio plants. The dress code was 'business casual' before the term was coined, and the vibe was distinctly ‘California Cool.’ In fact, just as I was preparing to move north to San Francisco, we had begun to test a four-long-day workweek so we could get beach time on Friday. I regret that I wasn’t there to enjoy it.

One bit of advice, although you may not think you’ll need it, is to keep samples of your work – links, screen grabs, digital files, and hard copy if applicable. Take note of results and summarize for future use. Get a reference before you go. Don't lose it. Don’t burn your bridges. Stay in touch. Link In. After you leave, send an occasional FYI with an article of interest or a hot lead, and remember those early employers when new associates need a vendor or speaker. If geography allows, get together in their city or yours. It’s particularly nice to share in someone’s success when they were instrumental in fostering yours.