Contacting a potential employer

[sagroth]

Okay, I'm recently graduated and looking for work. I found a few places, but now that I have, I'm not sure how to approach them.

So far I've been emailing them links to my resume and demo reel, but is that the best way to go about it? Is phoning them better...or snail mail? What's the best way to contact a potential employer, and what should I include with the introduction?

[gmask]

It really depends on where you are applying. Usually if you can actually talk to someone you will ahve a better chance of finding out if they are interested and how to proceed. You allwasy want to know as much about the company as you can. For larger places it willbe harder to talk to someone besides reception or maybe you could talk to human resources and they will tell you if they are hiring but it will be more impersonal and once you've sent in your reel you will be dealt with systematically.

For smaller places you shoudl beable to talk to a producer and followup with on the phone after sending your reel.

[mutiny33]

I just graduated also and many of my peers choose to do online applications which is always good and convienient. However, I spent some time printing out cover letters and resumes on nice paper with folders. I also sent them my ****best**** work. I sent a 1 minute animation short I did in Maya on VHS tape and nothing else.

I received a phone call for an interview 2 days after I mailed my applications! Obviously your demo reel and resume are incredibly important, but what could tip the scales in your favor is the cover letter!!

Be sure to make a unique cover letter for each employer. I know it sounds tedious but it really stands out if you address the human resource manager by name (you can always find these people on the company website) and really talk about your impressions about what that company specifically does.

Others may debate that sending an email is much better but having some tangible reference like a printed out resume and demo reel seems to be compelling!

Good Luck!

[richard-sher]

It's also nice to mention something about the company in your cover letter. Like.... I saw what your company did on and was very impressed. I really liked the . It is just the sort of work that I've always dreamed of doing.

Of course you would want to word it better, but you get the idea.

[gmask]

They say flattery will get you everywhere.. but seriously don't lay it on too thick.. also avoid the phrase "I've allways wanted to work in film". Everyone wants to work in film.. it's sort of obvious that if you are applying for the job that you want to work in film or whatever industry it is you are applying to a job in. If anything you want to portray yourself as being in film allready.. even if you have not actaully worked ona film you want to talk about your training and experience as if it was all in preparation for working on films... but again don't lay it on too thick.

[sagroth]

Okay this is slighty off the topic, but only a little bit and it gets back on track near the end.

Anyone know stores that sell in bulk empty cassette cases? Now obviously, I don't mean local places, but electronic chains that span the nation and such. I bought a couple dozen vhs tapes to record my demo reel on, but they came in those cruddy cardboard boxes. I'd rather not send them in like that if I can help it, but I've been to Walmart, Target, Kinkos, Best Buy, Frys, Staples and none of 'em sell empty cd cases (yet they got plenty of empty dvd and cd cases...).

Okay, here's the part where it gets back on track and I imagine it's gonna sound pretty stupid. How do you send in a vhs tape and resume to a company? Should I put them in cardboard boxes along with a portfolio binder? If so, should I go to the trouble of sprucing it up too? I've never sent anything through the mail except letters...and bills. Lotsa bills...

[gmask]

You can usually get fancy vhs boxes from professional tape supply places.. being in hollywood I can think of a few places to go otherwise there are places online.

However they are unneccessary.. the cardboard sleeve is fine and will cost less to mail. Make sure you have a spine label cause if your tape goes to a shelf rather than the circular bin you want it to be labeled properly.

Presentation is not so much an issue you want everything to be nice but you don't have to go all out. IF you are a designer then mayeb it makes more of a difference.