HOW TO GET A JOB IN TV... AND KEEP IT!

ALL  MY OWN OPINION.... DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT, JUST MY EXPERIENCE!!! :)

#TVMINGLING

A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE DO’S AND DON’T OF TV!

1. The TV Cover Letter
2. Making sure your CV counts
3. Networking
4. Making yourself invaluable when you get that foot in the door…

1. THE TV COVER LETTER

Hello, my name is Lou and I am obsessed with excellent cover letters (and CVs).

I often wonder if I am only obsessed with a strong and well thought out cover letter because I did not start out on my 'job journey' in the TV sector. In the commercial world a 'stand out' but 'by the book' (i.e. Dear Sir/Madam, Your Sincerely/Faithfully etc.) cover letter is imperative - anything less generally goes in the bin. TV however *appears* to be more forgiving. Don't get me wrong, an email along the lines of Mrs Doubtfire's famous 'I. Am. Job' probably won't get you very far in TV - but, I have found that my media peers are a lot more forgiving about formalities when it comes to what they deem acceptable in a cover letter.

That isn't to say that a good cover letter isn't sought in TV - but I think it is fair to say that generally, the rules surrounding one are a little more fluid than in the corporate sector.

Even so, TV is a notoriously competitive industry to both get into and progress within. Passion on its own is not always enough to get you by - and there will be times those amazing contacts just don't have a role for you, and you have to start sending out your CV. Here is where an excellent cover letter will serve you well.

I personally think that courtesy and manners are key - even if you are applying for a role with someone you already know. I also think that an introduction to how you are applying is a good measure too i.e. where did you see the job advertised, or how did you come about attaining their contact details. I am a big fan of:

'I am writing to apply for the role of XXX as advertised on XXX, and attach my CV for your consideration'.

A cover letter should sell you in a nutshell - about 60 - 70% of a sheet of A4 is a good size. No longer or they might stop reading. A cover letter should never be too long or too over packed: we (as recruiters) generally don't need your life story, and we don't need a summary of the contents of your CV - that's what we will look at next.

A cover letter should not be a blanket copy... nothing bores me more (personally) than reading a generic cover letter. Having a good template is fine - but take 5 minutes to personalise it to the job/company/person. It will make a difference - IMO. I think social media is an excellent way to suss out a person or company's 'personality' - then you can then tailor your cover letter accordingly.

An area often lacking in a cover letter is personality/a human side: this doesn't mean you should start telling jokes but do talk feelings. Cover Letter's often list skills - but don't make example of them. Don't just state that you 'possess excellent communication skills' - evidence how and whilst doing so, show something about yourself:

'I believe I have excellent communication skills - developed whilst volunteering as a radio presenter at my local hospital on their in-house radio station. I hosted weekly phone in sessions - and received good feedback about my ability to develop relationships with our callers.'

Every word in your cover letter should be there for a reason... use them, don't abuse them!

OK - it is time to start writing your cover letter - what do you include having noted the above?

If the name of the person you are writing to is obvious or can be readily found, address them by that name! If not, then Dear Sir/Madam is appropriate.

Kick-start with an introduction to who you are, and where you saw the advert/got their details/heard about the job.

Refer to the specifics of the job advert/inside info your friend gave you - keep it succinct but do briefly evidence/provide example to any statements of fact.

Never talk generally about interests and hobbies in your cover letter unless absolutely relevant to the job or the programme content - even then, rarely will we need to know that you have been an active horse rider for 17 years and what your favourite breed of horse is.

Please don't make jokes/try to be funny/behave in an over familiar way when sending a cover letter - there is nothing more insulting than someone you have given your card to then writing to you and saying 'Alright babes, sooooo lols meeting you last night. Really up for that job you mentioned - sounds wicked'.

Please don't copy and paste your CV into your cover letter - neither should emulate the other.

End your cover letter with your availability for both interview and work - and state best method of daytime contact:

'I am generally available for interview at all times, and would be in a  position to start with you, if successful, on XXX. I am available on my mobile number at most times/I am currently working so cannot readily take calls, but check email regularly/etc'

SPELL CHECK SPELL CHECK SPELL CHECK!

Sign off formally - cheers, ta, see ya later, etc is not acceptable.

So - that's what I think. I have shared this advice and supported creation of a 'new, formal' cover letter to several people I have worked with of late - and the feedback has been great. One example - an amazing chap with a good CV was not getting any work. A new cover letter and a quick tidy up of said CV and now he is solidly booked for the next 8 weeks. Coincidence? Maybe. I however, am all for the power of a top cover letter...

2. MAKING SURE YOUR CV COUNTS

There are some very basic, simple but (mostly) generally agreed upon rules here for those you starting out:

• 1 page maximum
• A clear header with your name and title/aspiring title i.e. Sally Jones, Runner
• No photo required
• Do not include DOB, address, bank details or NI number on your CV. If these are required for hiring purposes they will be discussed when relevant. Protect your data!
• A succinct career goal/profile is acceptable
• Key skills, bulleted often work
• Relevant experience should be credited over paid non relevant experience. For example, under your contact details and key skills, place Media/TV Work Experience as a header over Employment if you have volunteered for the student radio station whilst working in Maccy Ds on the weekend
• Academic qualifications should be short and accurate – 10 GCSEs at grades A – C is fine. We don’t need to know every subject
• The referee. If you choose to include one, please make sure they are aware of that fact!

3. NETWORKING

Networking in any industry is key. In television it is essential.

The world of TV is like one big extended family - everyone is connected in some way, and that is often due to excellent networking.

Almost every job you take, someone will know someone else you know or have worked with before. Try it out - look around you now and do some sneaky googling. You will be amazed how many friends in common you have on Facebook with the rest of the group!

Now - I am not saying that knowing someone is how to get a job (although it can help) but having mutual connections can help bond you with people offering jobs.

I am not going to tell you how to network - I am not an expert (although I do have a lot of excellent contacts so must be doing something right!)... What I can share rather are the boundaries around behaviour via email and at a networking event IMO. Having sent and received a lot of emails re. networking, and attended lots/hosted my own events, I feel this is an area I can safely comment on!

So - with networking at an event, we have two main scenarios: you are either at a network specific event in which networking is actively encouraged, or you are at a non networking event full to the brim with the type of people you long to network with. How do you behave?

SCENARIO 1 - THE NETWORKING EVENT
Clue's in the title... get networking! These events are held for a purpose - and that purpose is to enable you to meet relevant people in the industry. My tips for networking at a designated event are as follows:

1. Approach people with a smile and confidence - nobody remembers a wallflower. Be energetic, outgoing and positive. Make someone want to connect with you again.

2. Listen with focus - if you do introduce yourself to someone, really listen to what they are saying. There is nothing more unattractive than someone staring blankly, whilst waiting to sing his or her own praises and then thrust their CV at you.

3. Listen some more. When networking it is imperative to hear what the other party is looking for. What are their needs? Find which ones you have and are wishing to pursue, and match yourself to those needs. By networking, you are trying to develop a relationship. A relationship has two parties in it - and thus along with selling your own requirements, you must take on board those of others.

4. Give - do not just take. Use a networking event as an opportunity to introduce people you already know to someone they don't. Be seen as a 'connector' - people will migrate to you and your social capital will snowball. Plus, it is good manners. It can be very overwhelming for someone who knows not a soul at a networking event - help a peer out. Equally - it can be daunting if you are the person people want to meet, and time consuming; meaning that you don't actually get to meet anyone yourself that you may have desired to. If you see a 'key person' at a networking event drowning in networkers, offer to take them over to meet someone you think they might find useful to meet.

5. Network wisely - go for quality not quantity. It is the wise networker who leaves an event with 5 solid contacts who are happy to help/be helped, over 500 names and numbers at random. I say this with experience - when I am thrusted business cards with no proper introduction or conversation, I generally dispose of those cards as I struggle to recall what relationship I would have with that person. So the key here is to build an efficient network - not a massive one.

6. On that note, it is important to focus on finding the right people for you at a networking event. Do you want to work in editing? Focus on edit contacts - both at senior and junior level. The casting researcher is probably lovely - but not hugely relevant to your career path. Equally, whilst you will want to network with contacts that could prove useful in the future - a more senior person in your field, a supplier or a potential new recruit, do not forget the power of networking with your peers. Since my last #tvmingling event, I have been delighted to see how many of the runners have kept in touch and are helping each other to find work.

7. Time - do not abuse it. if someone gives you their time at an event you should firstly, ensure you have planned ahead and know how you are going to use it (wisely). It is also polite to thank them at the end of the conversation - and if you want to impress, ensure you end it. It will be noticed if you are considerate of others and say something along the lines of 'I would love to stay and talk - however I can see there are lots of people here wishing to talk with you. I very much hope we get to speak again in the future. Thank you'. This is really important - you can leave someone feeling very uncomfortable if you overstay your welcome.

8. Whilst you should exude confidence - do not blur the lines of the relationship and act with over-familiarity. I speak only for myself here - I often offer a polite hug or a kiss on the cheek to someone I have communicated with previously, but do not wish to be otherwise touched by a stranger. Equally, following someone into the toilet to continue a conversation is not the done thing at a professional event.

9. Be prepared. OK, so you know general rules... you are ready to network. Do so with a plan in mind, a wallet full of business cards and a clear marketing message. In networking you are marketing a product - you (or your supply/company). Be clear about why you are a useful person to know.

10. Don't flirt. Ever. It is weird and uncomfortable.

SCENARIO 2 - THE NON NETWORKING EVENT
OK - lets create a potential scenario: the wrap party. An occasion like this can be one at which you may meet some of the staff face to face for the first time. You want to make an impression - to be remembered and hopefully invited back. Equally, there may be someone there moving onto a great new project you are dying to get involved with - what do you do?

1.Remember that the primary purpose of this event is not networking. People may be there purely to celebrate, booze, chat about non work things, etc. It isn't the right time to try and do all of the above - however you should still take heed of the tips.

2. Be remembered - for the right reasons. Want to impress and remain in the important folks minds? Be funny. Be sociable. Talk to everyone without coming across as desperate for a new job. Be polite and have good manners. Don't be remembered for being the girl/boy who brought their CV to the wrap party... or got tiddly and fell down the stairs...

3. Have fun - and at the end of the night, when you are leaving, casually hand your card to those you want to keep in touch with and say 'it was great working with you - do think of me if anything else comes up'.

4. Follow up the non networking 'do' with a polite email - keep it light-hearted and say that you would love to have an informal chat about potential future work etc - and that you didn't think it was the right time at the party but do want to follow up.

That’s it – simple but imperative. NOW GO NETWORK!

4. MAKING YOURSELF INVALUABLE

CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS T YOUR ACE COVER LETTER, WELL PRESENTED CV AND WONDERFUL NETOWKRING SKILLS YOU HAVE A PLACEMENT/JOB!

So here is the situation once you get that foot in the door:

In my experience - YES, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE - I find that when a member of staff is required (at any level), the conversation tends to go like this...

A. PE/SP/PD/PM/PC etc: 'Anyone know a really good xxx available soon?' or 'What was the name of that xxx we used at xxx - he/she was great'. Answer - yes = job filled.

B. Answer no = ask immediate circle (cue Facebook/Twitter/email/network posts). Often = job filled.

C. Nobody is available that is a. already known or b. recommended = advertise

So - generally - the roles you may be seeking are filled before you even get to hear of them. How can you throw yourself into that pool of initial names and be considered? Firstly, network (see previous post) - make people aware that you are looking for work. Often, your name may be passed by as people will assume you are busy. Secondly, become invaluable/liked/preferred/respected or however you would like to think of it.

Not many people will admit it but staff will often recruit from their pool of preferred freelancers/employees. I hold my hands up - I often book or recommend staff that are part of what I cheekily refer to as my 'A-Team'. Now, don't get me wrong - I balance this with always providing opportunity to those who have impressed elsewhere (i.e. through networking, social media, word of mouth, great CV, etc); but sometimes you just need to know that the mark will be hit. Here, a reliable contact will usually deliver.

People sometimes ask me 'how do I make the A-Team'? i.e. get hired again. Everyone/every company/etc will have their own criteria - here are a few tips of mine to ensure I (remember this is personal advice) hire you again:

• Deliver - do what you said you could. Never lie. It can be tempting to 'over hype' yourself either on your CV or in person but there is a fine line with being dishonest. I know an excellent Prod. Sec - she is fab - very capable of stepping up. She has never however undertaken any form of PASC whatsoever, and this has often prevented her from meeting PC role requirements. I advised that she apply specifically for a short-term post PS role to get the basic knack - and then it should be plain sailing to PC heaven; she decided to lie. She was taken on and did really well as a PC throughout shoots. It got to TX time and deliverables were due - she had not a clue. The PM was off sick and she was expected to complete the paperwork. It ended with her in tears in the toilet, a confession to the fib and a justified telling off from the LP (who had to go through the processes with her, despite her own very heavy schedule).
• On that vein, I once met a guy who told me he had done 'tons' of work on a well-known show. My other half works on said show. Never heard of the chap in question - turns out he had done 1 day a very long time ago... awkward.
• Be personable - by that I mean smile, be polite and be someone that another member of staff is happy to approach. I get a strange sense of pleasure from learning and when I sense that someone else does, I will create opportunities for him or her as much as I can. As a result they get to experience things outside of their role (in a beneficial way). Equally, if someone is tasked with a rather mundane workload, but does it with a smile and a sense of pride, I will find more interesting/challenging activities for them where I can. The member of staff who moans, is sullen, looks annoyed about what they are doing and is generally demonstrating no desire to succeed or no interest in the task in hand, rarely gets an invite to do more.
• Don't be too personable i.e. grin like a Cheshire cat or be over-familiar too quickly - I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but it happens ok? There is a young lady who works in the industry - I don't know who she is or what she does, other than that she is trying to climb the ladder and is keen to make an impression. I see her a lot at events, and whenever I do she grins inanely at me. She never says a word. Just grins. I am going to put it out there - with risk of criticism - she scares me. Had she said hello or responded to my initial waves (I don't wave anymore - she scares me remember), then the grinning wouldn't be so unacceptable. As it stands, she grins in my direction until I turn away (and even when I take a peek back she is still grinning...).
• Over familiarity is a tough one. We work in an industry where we are thrown into very tight relationships with people - often spending up to 15 hours a day with them. It is very easy to form close bonds with your peers. There are only three things relevant to my story today (joining the A Team - or its equivalent elsewhere): 1. If those bonds are justified (i.e. you are together non stop, long hours, etc) then restrict them to work. Give each other space away from work. It isn't appropriate at the end of a long day to invite yourself to a more senior persons social activity. if you are invited, by all means go along. Don't invite yourself though - it can be really uncomfortable. Be known as a great, hard and fun worker - not a social invader. 2. If those bonds aren't justified - i.e. it’s the end of your first day/you haven't yet started/you are awaiting response to an application, do not act as though there is a bond. it isn't appropriate to try and add someone who had just interviewed you as a friend on Facebook, or to turn up at an event you have heard they will be at on your own, with the sole intention of remaining at their side. 3. Don't have sex with the talent/crew/runners/etc. Post wrap - do as you will (I still wouldn't). Whilst on my watch, the team member who makes it uncomfortable for everyone else, doesn't come back.
• Be ambitious - people who have a career plan and are determined impress me. Arrogance and an overly high sense of self-importance do not. We all have to go through a period when we are doing things which a. may not challenge us and b. we are confident we are overly qualified to be doing. Those who get on with it and then use their excess time to be proactive and do more, tend to go far. Those who grumble or talk loudly about their degree in xxx do not (tend to). I say this with personal experience - both in that I have to often do things I know I can do with my eyes shut, and I often have to delegate junior work activities to people I know are capable of assisting with much more.
• Ambition must not be blurred with snobbery. I remember my first job in TV - I started as a Coordinator. I had done my research and had set in my mind what my role was likely to entail. I also had visions of what the Secretary and Runner's role might entail. The show I worked on had no budget and thus there was just little old me. 12 weeks previously (pre career change) I had my own office, a team of PAs and admin staff and a fairly important job title - which meant that I rarely had to lift a finger (fab for a lazy bones like me). Now, here I was, surrounded by paperwork which needed scanning in. What did I do? I kept my mouth shut and I scanned. The snob in my head was daring me to make a surly comment - but the brains overruled, and I realised it had to be done. So I did it. I quickly realised that I could demonstrate my ambition whilst doing the 'dirty work' too. Whilst waiting for 100s of pages to scan I would sink my head in figures etc and come up with innovative ways to save (remember, we had no budget). Fast forward three weeks and the savings totalled a shiny new Production Secretary at my side - and an elevated position for me. The Prod Sec was amazing BTW... I felt bad giving her the 'dull' stuff and ended up doing it all myself anyway!
• If you are capable it will be noticed no matter what. Two guys really stand out in my mind. I won't name them here - it wouldn't be fair. Let's refer to them as 'Married with a Kid' and 'Nando's' (I am hoping they will recognise themselves...). 'Married with a kid' was working as a runner on a show I used to work on. I didn't know anything about him - nor did I get opportunity to see if he made the grade. He was already contracted when I started. It quickly became apparent he was older than your average runner; however I did not know how that had come to be. He was an absolute pleasure to work with (all of the points above and below) - and as such, he started to stand out. I quickly realised he was entirely wasted in his role as a location runner - and could give the production so much more than we were able to offer him. I didn't notice this because he strayed from the boundaries of his job - he was there, without fail, making the tea/coffee, printing and bundling docs, setting up rig, packing down rig - but because he did everything with such a sense of pride and a real humbleness that I made it my busy to spend my free time during the day with him - and from there discussions re. why he was running, what he hoped to do next, etc stemmed; thus it became apparent he was ready to do more. I wasn't the only one who noticed and almost immediately after contract end he was snapped up as a researcher on a great prime time show. I will always work with him whenever there is opportunity.
• Nando's is definitely in the A Team. He was also working in a junior role on a show when I started (logging). Now here the situation was a little different - he didn't just log. By virtue of being a technological whizz kid and having great organisation, he was able to fly through his logging and do bits outside of the realm of his role. Due to being largely confined to the logging room or edit areas, these 'things' tended to be of an editorially helpful way. Either way - he got noticed for being extremely useful - and stood out for being capable of more. I liked him (he drank shots with me and danced like a fool on a rare night out of a locations tour and we bonded). It intrigued me that whenever people praised him and pimped him out for the 'next step' (researcher) he didn't bite their hands off. Turns out he was deeply committed to going down the Production Route (nobody had ever asked him) - but worried about being unemployed so went along with the logging life! I planted some seeds, made it known to those in the know of his aims and generally ensured I shared as many tips with him as I could. He is now a Production Coordinator on an awesome prime time show - and doing swimmingly by all accounts.
• Ambition you see is essential - 'Married with kids' was determined to re-carve a career in TV and did what it took to make it happen. 'Nando's' took a role he didn't necessarily see as the path for him - but still delivered with pride and went outside the box. Neither ever complained - and both remain in my A List forever my virtue of their exceedingly good manners, commitment to doing the best job possible (no matter how small the job) and happiness to muck in. Even though they were able to deliver so much more.
• Keep busy and be proactive - just because you aren't drowning in work, doesn't mean others aren't. When you find yourself in a quiet time, look outside the window of your immediate tasks and see what else you can do to assist. Be wary not to hassle people though - and remember the golden rule for making it into the A Team (!) - don't just offer help to those you deem important (and therefore likely to help you in the future), help your peers too. I know a young chap who was very speedy (yet efficient) and would often finish his workload before his peers. He didn't run straight to the top shouting 'look at me - I am great', he quietly offered his support to his peers and helped them get the job done. I noticed him (I observe - a lot), and I will always welcome him to the team whenever there is opportunity.
• Have good manners - be polite. Nobody likes ill-mannered people. That is all.
• Don't be lazy - sometimes, there are things in our job we don't want to do out of sheer laziness - and passing the buck is a great way of escaping them. A completely mythical example - the researcher who hands a PM their receipts after a shoot. No reconciliation, no idea if the right amount of change is there, no desire to find out. Do they hand it and say 'Oh I just can't be arsed!' (generally - mythically of course) not. They hand it in and run away, and when asked 'do you not intend on typing up your float?' the response is often 'Oh, sorry. I assumed that was a production job'. Mythically, this works both ways of course (cue the story about the Production Secretary who although had nothing to do one day, didn't transcribe an IV that urgently needed doing - cos it's an editorial job, right?!). The situation is irrelevant - if you can do something, you have the time and you can see everyone else is busy, do it! I know it is petty but the staff that throw receipts and pennies at me get an invisible black cross.
• Have respect - both for others and for yourself. Those who deliver with pride (as above) demonstrate respect for the job (and thus the employer) but also for themselves, as they are committed to doing a good job, which generally means they take pride in their work (meaning they have respect for themselves). People who respect themselves and others come across well -and will be welcome back.
• Respect is not about obeying orders from power hungry folk. I worked with a Coord once - I was a Coord too - and she had no respect for anyone. She came across as being respectful of the Execs etc (brown nosing I like to call it) but actually was just plain rude to everyone else, and essentially believed in the old fashioned ugh of  'do it my way and when I say'. If you were equal or beneath her and she needed something done/didn't agree with the way you were doing it/ was simply in a bad mood, you knew about it. She made sure the more junior staff knew that 'they had to respect her - she had earned it' yet actually, in being so bloody rude, demanding and generally glory hunting, she actually herself respected nobody else. Did she think she was respecting the PM/Execs who had hired the junior staff by being nasty to them? She lost my respect very quickly. I think that by being so rude all the time she probably didn't think much of herself either (lack of self respect) - why else would you be so miserable? Disrespect and undermining others doesn't stand you in good stead. Nope - your invite to the A Team hasn't gone AWOL in the post. You never got one.
• Neither did the poor runner who thought he had to jump through every hoop she held out - including the hoop of 'be rude to my peer - I have been here longer than her'. Sometimes it is obvious that someone is encouraging you to do something inappropriate - don't do it. You are not a sheep. He lacked self-respect. Not an A Team member.
• Don't ask questions your call sheet can answer. Someone - usually with great research for content, and pride - has compiled a call sheet. Any shoot worth its salt has a call sheet. It is the job of everyone involved to read it. If (and only if) after reading it you cannot find your answer - or occasionally, if it is an emergency and the call sheet is dinosaur sized and a mess (not done by me...) - then absolutely ask away. I guess this links back to laziness. Example: two members of crew of equal grade received a call sheet. One replied later in the day, said thanks, and did what was required. One replied immediately saying thanks (no way it had even been opened in the speed of response) and then turned up at the wrong location. That person had assumed a shoot would occur in 'the usual place' and didn't even look at their call sheet. That failed shoot cost a fortune. 'Didn't read the call sheet and messed up' didn't make the grade.
• Stop. I am talking to myself here. I could go on and on and on... about this one. This was supposed to be useful - not send you to sleep! I will therefore summarise and nutshell highlight how you make a good impression - and thus, create the opportunity to be asked back:

1. Smile. Be friendly. Have good manners. Show respect.

2. Always be punctual. Time equals money. Money equals a budget. A good budget delivery aids a recommission or future opportunity with the broadcaster.

3. Be confident and come across as capable. Do not fib about abilities.

4. Be prepared - have a contingency if your plan/method to do what is being asked fails. Don't walk away or give up at the first hurdle.

5. Be ambitious and have a career plan - but do not be afraid/consider yourself too important to muck in.

6. Be financially savvy - creativity balanced with budget = please come back soon.

7. Retain confidentiality - don't post pictures of your shoot on Twitter!

8. Be proactive - but respect role boundaries.

9. Be useful - become known as the person to turn to when things need fixing/go wrong/need an extra pair of hands. You will therefore become invaluable.

10. Balance social desire with social etiquette. Go to events when invited, toast the teams success, make the Exec laugh. Don't get pissed/be the last to leave/tweet drunken obscenities to the PM/shag the talent/compete with your peers for talk time/hassle people in their time off for advice or future opportunities.

So - there it is. Basically, do your job and do it well. Be fun to have around without becoming a space (personal) invader. Evidence that you are useful. You will suddenly find yourself in today's blogs opening scenarios of A. B. C. (obvs the A team is where it is at...).

THERE ARE SOME VERY KIND PEOPLE IN TV...

...There are some absolute ass holes in this industry. Tons of them. Today I was reminded that there are also some bloody good souls.

I was recently asked to take #tvmingling to Glasgow. Now I have been to Glasgow a few times of late with work – but always with projects based in Manchester or London. As such, my contacts there are few.

When I run my events in London and Manchester I have a big pool of friends and colleagues to lean upon (bribe) and recruit to my panel and team of ambassadors at my events. Not in Glasgow – here I was faced with having to shock horror ask strangers. Ask strangers to give up their time. For free. On a Sunday.

My plea went a little like this… “Hi. You don’t know me. Scotland doesn’t know what #tvmingling is. I don’t have many followers up there. I am not sure if anyone will turn up at this event. I can’t pay you. Or buy you lunch… however I would be so thankful if you could come and join in?”.

I kid you not – everyone I invited said “I want to help (largely followed by a but….”. The point is they all replied (apart from one – obnoxious so and so…). 14 of them even agreed to come along – having never met me – and participate.

#TVMINGLING Glasgow was born – and all with the sole common factor of a desire to help.

The panel were superb. Three individuals with incredibly different backgrounds and careers – but all committed to caring about this industry, and those wanting to work in it. We sat on stage as four strangers – my new ‘team and I – and everyone participated animatedly, providing informed and bloody sensible answers.

As I listened to what was being said it became apparent these were answers with heart and meaning. There were no clichés, no standardised lines of ‘oh yes you must apply here’ or ‘I can only recommend this course…’. It was brutal, honest sharing of actual experiences; and advice based on those experiences.

In amongst our audience were the ‘ambassadors’. Another group of strangers, who had offered up their time. When our panel drew to a close they sprang into action and did what is said on the tin – they mingled.

I stood back and watched, and every person in the room had made an effort to approach someone they didn’t know – and swap tips and advice. The panel too threw themselves into the thick of it.  There was kindness everywhere.

It is very easy to forget that whilst it’s tough at the top – it’s tough starting out too. Seeking real and honest advice as a new entrant is a brave thing to do – very often you ask the wrong question at the wrong time, and you get such a sharp response, you don’t ask again. The people who joined me today did the exact opposite – no question was wrong, each query was answered with patience and wisdom, and the minglers left with a smile of their faces.

I am humbled by the generosity of time these people gave me today – and delighted to remember, behind every snarly co-worker as deadline approaches, there are many bloody lovely bods with a smile, waiting to make that path a little more comfortable to travel along.

What the Weazel Wonders: Where Does The Time Go?!

It has been a ridiculously long time since I blogged on here. Unacceptably long. You likely follow me on Twitter for this - and the #TVTIPS - exact reason. I would have stopped following me by now...

I made an attempt to keep things current with a few tweets and lots of re-posting old entries.

I am officially a lame ass blogger.

The purpose of what I am going to talk about today is two fold: a reminder that it's important to not allow this here career we have all desperately battled to break into take over, and secondly, to ponder as to how others do so much!

Take my friend Tulip*. She is an AP. A freelance AP - so like myself, and many of you - has to stay on top of her networking game to keep in work. So - she has a full time job (full time being TV full time - so at least 15 hour days... and an extra day on the weekends for good measure); she has to keep her schmoozing, networking and CV in current top form; and she does social stuff. On top of this, I see from her social-networking feed that she sees her family on a very regular basis. She also volunteers in a soup kitchen - every week. She regularly talks of days spent in supermarkets collecting tins for another charitable giving project. She never turns up at a do without a card and gift- and a good gift at that. She finds time to see friends. She also constantly promotes cool things - where you can tell she has taken the time to research them. Oh, and she goes to Power Ballads and other awesome nights on a regular basis. I have never seen her in the office in an un-ironed outfit, or with hair that should have been washed at least that morning.

Last week I started wearing Ben's clothes to work. I kid you not. I had literally run out of clean -suitable - things to wear. It was a case of aim for 'I'm still young and funky at heart' and go for jeans, converse and Ben's Hooters t-shirt - or, wear the kind of outfit the girls at Hooters actually wear. I wasn't sure the latter would go down well with my new Exec - especially in light of the fact that not only have I not had time to do any clothes washing, neither have I tanned my pasty thighs in quite some time!

Ok - so it isn't always like this - but I have found that since Christmas my work life has taken over. Everything. No wonder the odd Friday I have escaped early I have ended up a drunken, quivering mess in the new local at Media City.

January was spent in a mental edit - literally mental. Long days, masses of legals, too many people requiring viewings and sign off and more changes than you could shake a stick at. I was privileged that
I have been involved in this project in a way a PM would never usually be - to the extent little old me was, for example, doing audio sign offs and sitting in online making changes and having actual editorial influence. So - I didn't mind being crazy busy - I was loving it in fact!

February followed suit - with the added pleasure of contributor viewings (cue more fixes), press and PR, PASC and music cues (I curse them - all 9042 of them).

Before I knew it, it was March. The second week of March. How the mother-funk did that happen?!

Those of you who know me well - or have merely met me in the latter stages of a #TVMINGLING event - will know a few things about me:
- I love a good time (work hard, play hard is a big mantra of mine)
- I am obsessed with having perfectly manicured fingers and pedicured toes
- I have OCD and cannot stand anything in any of my cupboards being in the wrong place
- I generally scrub up ok
- I LOVE my family and London

Not now my friends. Over the last 10 weeks or so my life has literally turned to a state of chaos. Admittedly a broken foot (yup - cheers 2014 for that one) hasn't helped. I feel I need to be honest in order to move forward:

- there are currently four (large) hampers of dirty laundry in my house. Some of which has been in the bottom since we came back from New York. At New Year....
- I haven't had a pedicure since Christmas
- not only are my cups in all the wrong cupboards, the cupboards haven't been cleaned internally since Christmas. Just a quick Flash wipe over....
- I haven't been to see my family since Christmas. Despite being in London twice for work.

OH GOD. Did I really admit to the cleaning (lack of) bit on a public blog?!?

So - the moral of this story is: I need to get it sorted. All of it. Especially seeing my family.

The reality is Tulip* and every other well dressed, organised soul in TV feel the strain too. The difference is I have genuinely just let work consume me. I have been so addicted to making sure everything at work is perfect, I have neglected my home life. Poor Ben now has nothing left to wear seeing as I have shimmied my way through his wardrobe now too. Admittedly he could turn the washing machine on from time to time - but that's a whole other story...

So - from tomorrow onwards - I am doing this:
- leaving work by 1900 latest UNLESS it is critical (staying late to chronologically order release forms cos the person who filed them did not, is not urgent. That is just my OCD.)
- going back to Bikram Yoga at least once a week. WITHOUT FAIL. A calm soul is a calm mind - and a calm mind, gets the job done quicker.
- reinstating wine Wednesdays. Social time is vital for a good balance right?
- delegating. I must learn, that even in a limited team, it isn't my job to do it all (combo of the OCD and being a control freak).
- doing at least 2 washes a day until the laundry is caught back up on. By doing the leaving on time thing, I will be able to stay awake til the load finishes and thus hang it out.
- getting a cleaner (yup, I am turning into someone I never thought I would be. She is called Caroline and arrives tomorrow - at 1830 - which is fine, cos I am finishing at 1800, right?!).

This blog will have been way more therapeutic to me than it is of use to you I am sure -but I hope that is shows you this: even those of us who appear to be 'doing well' in the game, are battling. TV is an uncertain game - but what you can be certain of is you will have to learn to balance it along with other elements of your life. It is rarely 9 to 5. You rarely only do what is on your job description. You and only you are responsible for ensuring you don't let the other schizzle slide.

So on that note, I am off to get a pedicure. Then I am going to B&Q. I need to buy some filler.... on one of those rare very drunken Friday's I accidentally smashed my door handle through a wall. 6 weeks ago. Yup, that shit needs fixing!!!

*Tulip is not her name. It's a gorgeous name but it isn't very her - I hope she identifies herself and giggles at my choice of pseudo-name for her....

** I PROMISE - PINKY PROMISE - to write an ace and useful blog by Wednesday of this week

*** #TVMINGLING SPRING BREAK HAS BEEN RE-ORGANISED - TICKET DETAILS OUT FRIDAY 28 MARCH

**** Thank you for standing by me -I promise to be better here on :)

Should you negotiate your rate?

When you apply for a role - if you are not in one of the few fortunate ones where the rate is fairly standardised and accepted without question - there is always likely to be the dreaded question of 'what is your current rate?'.

I say dreaded because - in my experience - people generally feel slightly uncomfortable talking about money. I don't think we should - but somehow we do.

If you are going for a production or editorial role you generally know that the others who have applied could potentially undercut you - so you want to give a competitive price - yet equally you feel you have advanced in skill range and thus want to increase your own income. It's bloody tough!

There is also the cat and mouse game of assuming the PM/Exec/etc will offer you a lesser rate than you ask for - and thus you add a 'safe £50' to cover yourself if they do (with a bonus pay rise if they don't!).

Wouldn't it be so much easier if things were standardised I hear you cry?! Well, yes and no.

Lets say - for the sake of discussion - two researchers meet for a coffee: one has just stepped up and one has been researching for 12 months. They discuss pay - the researcher who has more 'on the job' experience discovers she is earning £50.00 less a week than the NQ. This can be super frustrating BUT it is important to remember several things when setting your rate/assuming you are being duffed over:

1. GENRE - the area of TV you work in will greatly affect how much you are paid. As an example - a drama runner will work on average 15 hours a week more than a TV office runner, and as such, it should be reflected in their pay. The factual AP will generally earn less than his/her entertainment AP peers - factual TV tends to have less of a budget (tends - don't start shouting at me).

2. ACTUAL ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE - now, this one upsets some folk. They cry out that they may have other, relevant skills/ a stronger academic record/ produce better results. I understand - I have been there guys - but generally, it is accepted that the more on the job experience you have the higher your rate. So - for example - the NQ researcher gets £450 and the researcher with 2 years experience gets £550, etc. That is life.

As I said - I do understand that this can be frustrating - I remember working on a job with a Coordinator once when I was a Coordinator - she was getting £75 a week more than me... as she had 7 years more Coord experience. Now in my mind I was thinking hang on a minute, if she isn't ready to step up after 7 years she can't be that great (remember this is my personal opinion - not saying you must all have progressed within a certain time frame, this was simply how I honestly felt) - however, she had earned her rate by dedicating time to the role and gaining small increments and that was how it was. Simples.

3. LOCATION - geographically, if you do make the decision to accept a role outside of London you must GENERALLY be prepared to take a small cut in rate. Equally, if you make the move to London - do not be afraid to ask for more. London staff and crew tend to earn more. I am earning less as a PM in Manchester than I do in London - am I working any less? Hell no... it's just how it has worked out.

4. HISTORY - if you have worked at a company before they may be more inclined to up your rate from the last time they hired you - meaning you find it easier to secure a pay rise. This is not always the case - but it can help.

5. CONFIDENCE - when asked your rate (so long as you are being fair and not asking for something insane) hold your head high, look the person asking said question in the eye, smile and say firmly (albeit politely) 'my rate is £xx'. The second you introduce 'I would like it to be...' 'I think I deserve...' etc into the conversation, you open the floodgates for... NEGOTIATION!

So - should you negotiate your rate? YES! If you make a request and it is accepted - jackpot! if however they offer you less do have the safety net of knowing it is ok to try and negotiate somewhere in between. If they don't have the money - they will simply tell you, and then you can make the decision as to whether there are any other advantages to the role and whether you can still afford to live.

Sometimes a £25 hit can be worth it if you can gain new skills - i.e. being taught how to shoot, etc.

GOOD LUCK... go get the rate you deserve!

'Assumption'... friend or foe?

Before I worked in television I made a lot of assumptions about those who did - I won't be honest about them all, you will probably all stop reading here and now. I will be honest though and say I made them. Which is quite rare for me - as I generally try and live my life making assumptions as little as possible.

Now don't get me wrong - I do not mean that I avoid obvious assumptions... 

Walking home at night if I have have two paths to take - one dark, intimidating and unknown, and the other better lit, with other folk in sight and safer 'looking' - I will assume my safety is more likely on the latter route...

If my other half pours a large drink at home before a night out, I generally assume he is on a session for the duration...

If my debit card gets declined in the shops, I will assume I have run out of money. This does happen to me sometimes (Must. Stop. Overspending)

I don't however assume things are a given just because they are on offer in the here and now, and I don't assume someone will be a certain way/shape/size simply based upon - well, assumption.

I have found myself the victim of assumption in my 'television life' a few times of late - and it made me realise that there are some key things we all must remember - and also heightened my awareness that we do, in TV (as I am sure in all areas of life/work), assume often.

1. Just because you are successful, excellent at your job and held in high regard, do not assume you will always be in work and will never have to face the 'fear' you often see others going through. 

I was really fortunate this year in that I have not had any gaps in employment - however it has been hairy at times. I realised that I just assumed that there would always be a work offer because there always had been - and actually as a result I have not had the sense to save for that inevitable rainy day. I am not impressed with myself. Please don't think I am arrogant nor that I assumed I would always be offered a job - just that I assumed something would always turn up and therefore never realistically considered how I would manage financially in life had it not. I am always very keen to give advice - and now I am giving some to myself (that I share with you) - no matter how fortunate you have been to date, do not assume that will always be the case (hope however it will be). Put a little away. I intend to, starting.... next month (I just blew a fair few pennies on a new dress so have to wait til the next pay day).

Seriously though - after a recent incident involving a broken leg and 2 weeks of unexpected unpaid leave, I realised the stupidity of having never 'put away'.

I met someone recently who told me he would never not work - 'they love me. I can literally sit on my arse and do fu*k all and get paid. I tell you, they love me' [the companies who hire him]. One day I will run one of those companies and all arrogant moos can assume they will be out the back door! Dick.

2. Never make an assumption about the personal values of another in the industry - especially if you have yet to be given the opportunity to get to know them. It is very easy to feel like you know someone simply because you have formed a relationship with them in a basic Twitter (or a.n.other social site) chat, or because you share an office space. I credit myself for not making this mistake very often - and 'assumed' most were the same - yet twice this week I have been insulted by flippant comments thrown at me by others who have simply made them on nothing but assumption. One about my personal nature and another about my methods of work practice. Both were wrong.

If you do not know someone incredibly well, either take the time to get to know the facts or reality, or say nothing. We might make television, create artistic masterpieces and claim top notch rating figures just 'like that'... we do not however have the power of knowing others as we do ourselves. By all means, observe, form opinion on actuality - but never assume.

3. DO assume that you should always be treated with respect in the workplace. I was saddened to meet a young man recently who - upon my asking why he allowed his colleagues to openly mock almost everything about him - told me that he had 'always assumed they would... I mean look at me'. I was outraged. When you take on a post in a company - whether you are in the highest or lowest role there appears to be, you should take it on with pride and safe in the knowledge that you were given it because you are capable and deserving. Even if you have your own confidence battles - you must assume that you will be given respect by your peers. If you are not - then don' assume - as my young man then told me - that, that is just as it is in TV... as far as I am concerned, I do not think it matters what the industry is, no member of staff deserves to be ridiculed and made to feel like hats just how it is.

4. Avoid assuming that change is bad. Working in Production it is my job to adapt to the practices of a new show, company or Line Manager. Sometimes however it is my job to show one of the above that perhaps their practices are the thing that need adapting. We have a preference for doing things in life - in both business and pleasure. We generally - even if not consciously aware of it - assume that the way we do something is the best way/ the most efficient way/ the only way... in work, ensure you listen to why someone else is doing something before you assume it isn't the way they should. Yes - it may turn out that your initial assumption was correct - but every once in a while you might just learn something. In assuming you give nothing else a chance - and without a chance, we do not learn.

Anyhow - that is basically all I wanted to say about that. BTW on the thread of assumption...

1. I do not have short hair. It is tied up in my picture.

2. I am not orange - I had a spray tan for a night out. I do not go to work like this. 

3. Apparently there is no such thing as a baby pigeon... assumed by lack of sighting. There is - I had three dumped on my balcony at uni. Do not assume things aren't true just because you cannot immediately see them.

4. I - like all of you I am sure - am not invincible. Be kind to each other.

It's interesting because people assume that because I'm famous, I know all famous people [Daniel Radcliffe]

Ho ho ho... did you hear about what happened at the Christmas Party?!

This one is for you all – tis the season to be jolly. With your friends. With your family. With your colleagues – to a lesser extent.

The Christmas Party can be a cracking day/night out – but don’t enjoy it so much that the joke afterwards, is on you!

Equally – do go and enjoy it!

The crimbo do is supposed to be the ‘highlight of the year’, ‘a way of saying thanks to the staff’, an opportunity to ‘get to know your colleagues in a more informal environment’... according to the top dogs (no top dog in particular). I think it is a great opportunity to show you are human by having a few free drinks, a boogy with the boss and leave with your dignity still intact!

There are so many horror stories about how so-and-so did such-and-such last year and got sacked/never came back/etc that for those of you new to a company or indeed the industry may even question if you should risk going to the party. You must. Equally, there will be some who do not like their colleagues as anything other than that – a colleague, and prefer not to mix business with pleasure. You must go too. Even if just for a fleeting visit. A no show at all will always be noticed no matter how new/shy/old/young/boring you (think you) are.

Why is it so important you ask? Managers are always looking for team players – and the Christmas party is a great way to get your face known around the company (make sure it is just your face though...) and besides when else can you talk freely with the Head of HR/MD/post boy... by its very nature the Christmas Party (at the early stages) is a melting pot where all barriers come down and you get to relax. This really is to your advantage (well, at the very least not detrimental to you) as long as you observe some simple boundaries...

The Do’s!

• Go! Have fun. Talk to people, smile and laugh. It IS the season to be merry!
• Listen to people when they talk to you – don’t do that awful media fake ‘mmm that sounds great’ [so awkward when someone just told you they are going through a divorce/their dog just died]
• Make thoughtful introductions – they will go a long way to some. Do not use this as an opportunity to dump the office dud but actually consider who so and so may like to meet/hasn’t met yet
• Make a positive impact – make people smile and laugh. You want to leave this party having made a positive impact – you can absolutely be the one who suggests a great ice breaker or the first round of tequilas; do not be the booze hound in the gutter waving your empty shot glass at the MD in his/her departing car
• Talk about things which are upbeat and interesting as opposed to the usual work dry chat or moans about the crap quality of the stationary (etc)
• Dance/sing karaoke/join in on the action – to show willing. Don’t hog the mic all night... especially if you sound like dog sh*t!

The Don’ts (in my opinion)

• Talk incessantly about work – this is a social occasion and nobody wants to hear your strategy ideas over wine!
• Boast about your new promotion/salary increase
• Ask for a promotion/salary increase – just because the boss has had a few sherries...
• Take a souvenir from the venue ( or if you must, do not get caught)
• At no time is it ever cool to show off your exotic/erotic dance moves... keep them in the bedroom (if at all!)
• Reciprocate advances from married colleagues. It will end badly. Cheating is not cool and i think both parties are very naughty
• Forget to check that your dress/skirt/whatever is where it should be – I went to a party once where a poor girl spent half an hour wandering around with her spanx on display to the whole office (it was not me...)*
• Snog anyone you may not ‘like’ in the morning. Or give BJs on the back of the coach home. Everyone will talk about it afterwards!!!

The Don’ts (as kindly donated by some of my gorgeous followers on Twitter – thanks all!)

• Shout random words every ten minutes and think it is really funny. You will just be ‘that dick who kept shouting dog’...
• Give the crappy gift you got in last year’s office Secret Santa to someone in your office. Awkward...
• Get really drunk and tell people how you really feel about them!
• Photocopy your arse
• Cop off with your boss
• Take someone home... can be mega awkward...

Remember that successful networking is based upon what people say about you when you are not there. What do you want your co-workers to be saying about you after the party?!?

• On that vein... I did once (pre TV, a long time ago) wear chicken fillets in my bra to a Christmas Party (for a very posh law firm) and then proceed to crazy dance with my boss – during which one fillet worked its way out of my strapless bra and dress and flew across the dance-floor. I kid you not.