Category: Tips & Tricks

Get Featured!

Get Featured!

Every fortnight we feature several ProductionBase members in our Off Camera and Word of Mouth newsletters, as part of our ‘Meet the Members‘ feature. Being in the ‘Meet the Members’ section is a great opportunity to market yourself and get your profile seen by employers and fellow freelancers alike.

There are a couple of things you can do to improve your chances of being chosen for ‘Meet the Members’. The main thing is to make sure that your profile is up to date and fully complete. Secondly, to be chosen for ‘Meet the Members’ you must have uploaded a photo to your profile. Once you have both of these done, you might just find yourself starring in our next newsletter! You can get in touch with us if you’d like to be featured – drop us an email on info@productionbase.co.uk.

Where Are You Willing To Work?

Where Are You Willing To Work?

After meeting with a regional production company last week they expressed their difficulty in finding freelancers who are willing and able, to pack-up and relocate to the West Country for a few months. Although as a freelancer you can state your regional preferences, these aren’t actually visible to employers, so why not add more detail regarding this to your profile? What’s your current situation and how flexible are you when it comes to travelling and relocating within the UK or worldwide? Update your About Me section on your profile today.

Are You Sure You Fit The Bill?

Are you sure you fit the bill?

PB often spot checks applications made through the site, mainly to make sure that they are being received correctly and that employers are viewing them. From time to time, we come across applications which clearly fail to meet the requirements of the job posted.

The most common complaint from employers is that they feel their time is wasted sifting through unsuitable applications. When applying for a job on PB it’s crucial that you address the specific requirements of the job and it’s even more crucial that you can relate that to your actual experience or work to specific requirements. We recently posted a position for a Historical Researcher and the employer was shocked that previous applicants considered a GCSE in History to be adequate experience.

It may seem obvious, but read the job description fully and ensure that you address the needs of the employer detailing your relevant skills and experience.

Keep Up To Date With Recent Commissions

Keep Up To Date With Recent Commissions

Every week we update our Recent Commissions page with the latest TV and film projects that have been given the go ahead. This information can be an invaluable guide to freelancers wanting to gain an insight into what’s currently in development and the productions that have been recently given the green light. It’s also very useful for finding out which companies will be looking to staff up over the coming weeks .

If your production has been recently commissioned, please let us know, and we’ll share the news with our members.

Research, Empathise, Relate

Research, empathise, relate

Whether you’re applying for a job or scouting for work, it’s essential that you do your research. If it’s a production company, a knowledge of their programming and overall mission is essential. How can you empathise with this and how can you relate to the work they do? In doing this you could also consider their competitors and the content that they produce, what makes this company appeal to you and how can you help the company achieve its goals? Adding personal opinion or comment will hopefully make you more memorable (and for the right reasons), engaging with a company and the work that they do can only benefit you in your application. Remember, stating what you can bring to the table is paramount.

Working For Charities

Working for Charities

With the state of the industry being what it is, many of you may be looking for a little something to give your CV a kick, or just a productive way to spend some free time. So why not try something that gives you both of these, as well as some good karma.

The Media Trust offer media professionals the chance to utilise their skills for good. Not only will this look fantastic on your CV, but it will also give something back. Roles range from mentoring young people, to sharing your experiences at live talks.

Have a look at the Media Trust website for more information, and to sign up!

Give Yourself Credit

Give Yourself Credit

At PB we have noticed that quite a few members have opted not to fill out the Credits section of their profile, opting to complete the Employment History instead. Credits and Employment History should be used differently. Make sure you detail all of your broadcast credits in the dedicated credits section, all of your other general experience should be detailed in the Employment History.

Entering your credits in the appropriate section will allow you to be found by employers who use the Credit Search. That’s why credits should be entered here rather than in your employment history. If you have a video clip to accompany the credit why not detail it in the additional info section of your credit, so that employers can see the finished masterpiece!