Your career is a movie...kinda.

I have been fascinated by films and cinema my whole life. When I began a career in advertising some many moons ago, this fascination was cemented into my almost daily schedule as we were often pitching stories that become videos and TV Commercials to our clients and eventually being seen by the public as ads.

Yet none of this became as ingrained in me as when my company @Up in the sky became actively involved in actual film making, producing 10 short films for various clients over the years. You can see them all here.

Nowadays, I can hardly watch a film or TV show without paying attention to how the camera movements help the film maker tell different stories. Why choose to begin a scene with a close up shot of the murder weapon? Why should the camera swing from face to face of all the prisoners in a cell?

How the camera moves is an art, curated by film makers to guide the audience to view a scene in one way and not another.

But my thought today is how these different movements of the camera give an insight into how any of us can look at our career journeys. Yes I know, that’s quite a segue right ??

Stay with me

What do filmmaking and your career have in common?

?More than you might think. Let's use three camera movement styles to understand your professional journey.

Think of your career like a movie. It has a beginning, a middle, and (hopefully not!) an end. And just like a film director chooses different camera angles to tell a story, your career path can be viewed through the lens of three filmmaking techniques:

1. The Wide Shot: This is the big picture. Early in your career, you're exploring possibilities, trying different roles, and figuring out where you fit in. You're taking in the whole landscape, just like a wide shot establishes the scene in a movie. Think internships, entry-level jobs, and maybe even some side hustles. It's a time of exploration and learning.

2. The Zoom Shot: As you gain experience, you start to focus. You zoom in on your strengths, passions, and areas where you excel. This is where you specialize, develop expertise, and maybe even climb the ladder in a particular field. You're getting closer to your goal, just like a zoom shot brings the subject into sharp focus.

3. The Pan Shot: Careers aren't always linear. Sometimes you need to shift your perspective, explore new horizons, and change direction. This is where the pan shot comes in. It could be a career change, a new industry, or even a different approach to your current role. You're keeping your options open and scanning the horizon for new opportunities.

So, which camera style best describes your career journey right now? Are you in wide shot mode, exploring the possibilities? Have you zoomed in on your passion? Or are you panning across the landscape, looking for a new direction?

No matter where you are in your career, remember that it's your story to tell. And like any good movie, it's full of twists, turns, and exciting possibilities.

So, keep the camera rolling!

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