How can I be the best intern I can be?
July 15, 2012 2:31 PM Subscribe
I just started an internship at a casting agency. How can I be the best intern I can be?
I'm in my late twenties and finally graduated from undergrad this spring. I'm interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, but haven't decided exactly what career path interests me most. At the moment I'm considering a career in casting, so I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be an intern at a local casting agency.
I had a couple of other internships in my early twenties that didn't lead anywhere, partly because I was still in school and partly because I didn't put enough work into them.
My internship right now is two days a week, which is good because it leaves me time for a part time job.
I've already been there for two days, and from what I gather about the place it will difficult for me to stand out as an intern:
1) there are twelve other interns, but only about 4 others working on the days when I'm there. I'm working as hard as I can but so are about half of the others.
2) it's mostly clerical work and even though I'm smart and good with abstract and creative thinking, practical skills are not my strong suit (I have ADHD). I can do a decent job if I concentrate like hell but I'm liable to make the occasional careless error, so I don't think I will stand out by being the most perfect intern. That said I'm doing my very best and the first two days went smoothly.
Luckily, the people who work there are generally really nice. They don't abuse their interns.
I feel that I'll have to find more creative ways to stand out, but I haven't yet figured out the best angle. I also suspect there are common mistakes interns make inadvertently I may be able to avoid by getting advice from others.
There are frequent down times at the office where there is nothing for us to do, and I think it would be good if I could find a way to use this time productively. I have asked them a couple of times if there is anything I can do during the lulls and they told me they didn't have anything and to just sit tight. Sometimes I worry when I ask if there's anything I can do that I am being a nuisance or coming off as too eager.
The office where I'm working often runs short on actors to fill minority roles (like say Asians in their 40s), and one idea I had was to do some street casting of my own, building a folder of photos and contact info of people who fit these hard to find descriptions. I'm worried that might seem a little insane and over eager to them, though.
They occasionally promote interns into full time paid positions, and it would be great if I could land such a job, especially if I decide I want to become a casting director.
So what makes a good intern? Any ideas for creative approaches I can use to stand out?
I'm in my late twenties and finally graduated from undergrad this spring. I'm interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, but haven't decided exactly what career path interests me most. At the moment I'm considering a career in casting, so I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be an intern at a local casting agency.
I had a couple of other internships in my early twenties that didn't lead anywhere, partly because I was still in school and partly because I didn't put enough work into them.
My internship right now is two days a week, which is good because it leaves me time for a part time job.
I've already been there for two days, and from what I gather about the place it will difficult for me to stand out as an intern:
1) there are twelve other interns, but only about 4 others working on the days when I'm there. I'm working as hard as I can but so are about half of the others.
2) it's mostly clerical work and even though I'm smart and good with abstract and creative thinking, practical skills are not my strong suit (I have ADHD). I can do a decent job if I concentrate like hell but I'm liable to make the occasional careless error, so I don't think I will stand out by being the most perfect intern. That said I'm doing my very best and the first two days went smoothly.
Luckily, the people who work there are generally really nice. They don't abuse their interns.
I feel that I'll have to find more creative ways to stand out, but I haven't yet figured out the best angle. I also suspect there are common mistakes interns make inadvertently I may be able to avoid by getting advice from others.
There are frequent down times at the office where there is nothing for us to do, and I think it would be good if I could find a way to use this time productively. I have asked them a couple of times if there is anything I can do during the lulls and they told me they didn't have anything and to just sit tight. Sometimes I worry when I ask if there's anything I can do that I am being a nuisance or coming off as too eager.
The office where I'm working often runs short on actors to fill minority roles (like say Asians in their 40s), and one idea I had was to do some street casting of my own, building a folder of photos and contact info of people who fit these hard to find descriptions. I'm worried that might seem a little insane and over eager to them, though.
They occasionally promote interns into full time paid positions, and it would be great if I could land such a job, especially if I decide I want to become a casting director.
So what makes a good intern? Any ideas for creative approaches I can use to stand out?
My best internship advice is to try to be low-maintenance. There's an unavoidable amount of in-the-wayness you have to do (at least in the beginning of any internship) to learn the ropes, but as soon as you are able to start being a little independent, people will love you.
posted by Zephyrial at 4:33 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Zephyrial at 4:33 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
A good intern is a good intern, regardless of the field.
1. work hard
2. arrive early, stay late
3. remember people's names and be interested in the jobs
4. make friends with secretaries and janitors - they have more power than it seems
5. be polite and friendly
6. listen more - speak less
posted by Flood at 4:45 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
1. work hard
2. arrive early, stay late
3. remember people's names and be interested in the jobs
4. make friends with secretaries and janitors - they have more power than it seems
5. be polite and friendly
6. listen more - speak less
posted by Flood at 4:45 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
there are twelve other interns
When I was an intern in the entertainment industry under similar circumstances, I discovered that there are two types of interns. The first type are interns who do their internship to the minimum requirements, endeavor not to bother anyone, and then go home. The second type are interns who are there to make the absolute most out of the experience. They stay longer hours if there's a call to, volunteer for tasks that might require them to be there on days or times they're not normally scheduled, are proactive about tasks, ask questions, put themselves out there, make friends*, and generally make themselves indispensable around the office.
Guess which type of intern tends to get hired permanently or recommended for other work?
it's mostly clerical work
Welcome to the entry level of the entertainment industry. I've been doing this for seven years, and most of what I do is still clerical work.
Look, if your goal is to make a movie, you should be concentrating on getting funding and making connections to do that. If you want to write or direct or design or do something else creative, start working towards doing that now.
If your goal is to work your way up to eventually become a casting director through a job at a casting agency? I hope you really love clerical work, because that's what you will spend many years of your career doing.
Re standing out at clerical work. The issue there isn't to be the Best At Clerical Work. A monkey can do clerical work. There's no such thing as the "best" at it. What is impressive is if you are proactive. If you notice a file bin piled high, file it. If you notice someone higher up than you spending an ungodly amount of time at the copier, ask if you can make copies. If you notice that someone doesn't know how the fax machine works, jump in and help out (or better, offer to send the fax and follow up that it was received). Basically, if you see someone above the level of Intern drowning in clerical work, volunteer to take care of it for them. They may tell you they can't hand it off to you for whatever reason, but they will remember that you volunteered.
BTW, this sort of thing will be noticed and regarded highly FAR MORE than schemes for how to solve huge problems that the agency has. Chances are, huge problems are huge because people who are a lot more experienced than you are have thrown a bunch of ideas against the wall, and none of them have stuck. Now, it's possible that the issue is that nobody has time to do the task properly, and all that is needed is manpower (AKA an intern), or that you are some kind of casting savant and see clearly the solution nobody else has tried yet. But chances are, that's not the case. I mean, by all means, voice your idea to your supervisor if you really believe in it. But be prepared to be shot down, and know that the path to distinguishing yourself to these people is not to Solve All The Problems, but simply to be a proactive and dedicated worker.
*This is friends in general, not brown nosing. If your fellow interns know who you are, your supervisor(s) probably will, too. On my internship, a fellow intern and I collaborated on a lighting effect that ultimately made its way into the finished film. We didn't Solve Some Impossible Problem, we were just two friends who put our heads together to accomplish a task. That couldn't have happened if I'd seen my fellow interns as competition rather than peers.
posted by Sara C. at 4:50 PM on July 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
When I was an intern in the entertainment industry under similar circumstances, I discovered that there are two types of interns. The first type are interns who do their internship to the minimum requirements, endeavor not to bother anyone, and then go home. The second type are interns who are there to make the absolute most out of the experience. They stay longer hours if there's a call to, volunteer for tasks that might require them to be there on days or times they're not normally scheduled, are proactive about tasks, ask questions, put themselves out there, make friends*, and generally make themselves indispensable around the office.
Guess which type of intern tends to get hired permanently or recommended for other work?
it's mostly clerical work
Welcome to the entry level of the entertainment industry. I've been doing this for seven years, and most of what I do is still clerical work.
Look, if your goal is to make a movie, you should be concentrating on getting funding and making connections to do that. If you want to write or direct or design or do something else creative, start working towards doing that now.
If your goal is to work your way up to eventually become a casting director through a job at a casting agency? I hope you really love clerical work, because that's what you will spend many years of your career doing.
Re standing out at clerical work. The issue there isn't to be the Best At Clerical Work. A monkey can do clerical work. There's no such thing as the "best" at it. What is impressive is if you are proactive. If you notice a file bin piled high, file it. If you notice someone higher up than you spending an ungodly amount of time at the copier, ask if you can make copies. If you notice that someone doesn't know how the fax machine works, jump in and help out (or better, offer to send the fax and follow up that it was received). Basically, if you see someone above the level of Intern drowning in clerical work, volunteer to take care of it for them. They may tell you they can't hand it off to you for whatever reason, but they will remember that you volunteered.
BTW, this sort of thing will be noticed and regarded highly FAR MORE than schemes for how to solve huge problems that the agency has. Chances are, huge problems are huge because people who are a lot more experienced than you are have thrown a bunch of ideas against the wall, and none of them have stuck. Now, it's possible that the issue is that nobody has time to do the task properly, and all that is needed is manpower (AKA an intern), or that you are some kind of casting savant and see clearly the solution nobody else has tried yet. But chances are, that's not the case. I mean, by all means, voice your idea to your supervisor if you really believe in it. But be prepared to be shot down, and know that the path to distinguishing yourself to these people is not to Solve All The Problems, but simply to be a proactive and dedicated worker.
*This is friends in general, not brown nosing. If your fellow interns know who you are, your supervisor(s) probably will, too. On my internship, a fellow intern and I collaborated on a lighting effect that ultimately made its way into the finished film. We didn't Solve Some Impossible Problem, we were just two friends who put our heads together to accomplish a task. That couldn't have happened if I'd seen my fellow interns as competition rather than peers.
posted by Sara C. at 4:50 PM on July 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
A monkey can do clerical work. There's no such thing as the "best" at it. What is impressive is if you are proactive. If you notice a file bin piled high, file it. If you notice someone higher up than you spending an ungodly amount of time at the copier, ask if you can make copies. If you notice that someone doesn't know how the fax machine works, jump in and help out (or better, offer to send the fax and follow up that it was received).
I'll respectfully disagree that a monkey can do clerical work - I've done clerical work over the years and have also had clerical staff working for me, and there is definitely such a thing as "best" at it. If you can spell properly and know how to properly format a business letter, you're already several steps ahead of much of the "I rely on spell check" crowd. An excellent clerical worker can compose a formal, polite and concise letter for the boss when he grunts "Send a letter saying 'thanks but no thanks' to these bozos" and hands you a stack of rejected script submissions that he feels deserve a step up from a form letter. In my experience knowing how to change the toner in the copy and fax machines and how to fix minor mechanical problems was also a plus and made you "in demand" in the office. If you're asked to do grunt work, do it efficiently and promptly and it will be noted. Eventually they'll start calling on timsneezed for time-sensitive tasks because they know the work will get done. And that's how you get your name bandied about among Those Who Matter.
posted by Oriole Adams at 5:34 PM on July 15, 2012
I'll respectfully disagree that a monkey can do clerical work - I've done clerical work over the years and have also had clerical staff working for me, and there is definitely such a thing as "best" at it. If you can spell properly and know how to properly format a business letter, you're already several steps ahead of much of the "I rely on spell check" crowd. An excellent clerical worker can compose a formal, polite and concise letter for the boss when he grunts "Send a letter saying 'thanks but no thanks' to these bozos" and hands you a stack of rejected script submissions that he feels deserve a step up from a form letter. In my experience knowing how to change the toner in the copy and fax machines and how to fix minor mechanical problems was also a plus and made you "in demand" in the office. If you're asked to do grunt work, do it efficiently and promptly and it will be noted. Eventually they'll start calling on timsneezed for time-sensitive tasks because they know the work will get done. And that's how you get your name bandied about among Those Who Matter.
posted by Oriole Adams at 5:34 PM on July 15, 2012
I wouldn't bring in cookies or baked goods, or at least not more than once. You and the other interns are presumably getting by financially by the skin of your teeth (unless supported by your parents), and not only a) can you probably not truly afford to just drop $30 on other people regularly, b) the *look* of dropping $30 on other people regularly, in an office situation where you're all poor, is just weird.
I would go out of my way to make friends with the other interns. The ones you work with and, if possible, the ones who work on other days. (If you can manage to socialize/network with other people at other companies at the similar stage of your career -- ie interns or maybe assistants -- all the better.) If you're thinking of this internship as a cutthroat thing, I-need-to-get-the-one-open-job-there-will-be-and-no-one-else-better-dare, that will be obnoxious and unlikely to be successful. Instead, put yourself out there socially as much as possible -- again, with other companies if possible. Turn that one company with one open job into five companies with five open jobs.
If a real job is not staring you in the face, try to get another internship. Two internships are twice the contacts. If you can do them concurrently, that would be amazing. Frequently relatively small companies in the industry are informal about their internships, and can be understanding about you working nights -- if such a schedule is your work schedule -- and needing to work around paying work schedule to fit your internship in.
You have one goal in your internship: to learn? Sure, but really. Nah -- to get a job. People want to hire people they will want to work with every day. Be the guy that everyone likes. Don't be (too) show-offy, definitely don't be stand-offish, and don't say rude things about other people. Once again: be the guy that everyone likes.
posted by lewedswiver at 7:16 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would go out of my way to make friends with the other interns. The ones you work with and, if possible, the ones who work on other days. (If you can manage to socialize/network with other people at other companies at the similar stage of your career -- ie interns or maybe assistants -- all the better.) If you're thinking of this internship as a cutthroat thing, I-need-to-get-the-one-open-job-there-will-be-and-no-one-else-better-dare, that will be obnoxious and unlikely to be successful. Instead, put yourself out there socially as much as possible -- again, with other companies if possible. Turn that one company with one open job into five companies with five open jobs.
If a real job is not staring you in the face, try to get another internship. Two internships are twice the contacts. If you can do them concurrently, that would be amazing. Frequently relatively small companies in the industry are informal about their internships, and can be understanding about you working nights -- if such a schedule is your work schedule -- and needing to work around paying work schedule to fit your internship in.
You have one goal in your internship: to learn? Sure, but really. Nah -- to get a job. People want to hire people they will want to work with every day. Be the guy that everyone likes. Don't be (too) show-offy, definitely don't be stand-offish, and don't say rude things about other people. Once again: be the guy that everyone likes.
posted by lewedswiver at 7:16 PM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I find that being delightful to be around is probably the best way to stand out. Always be happy to do the most mundane task. Be on top of cleaning the break room and be sure there's always a fresh pot of coffee. In downtimes, just wipe stuff down. Never look like you're playing on your phone. As they said in my first job at Jack-in-the-Box, "If there's time to lean, there's time to clean."
Don't kiss up to the partners/higher ups, help out the folks who are directly above you in the food chain, the admins. Buddy up with any admin you can and see if they can funnel their tasks to you. You'll always be busy and you'll be busy doing things for people who will be truly grateful.
Offer to be the one to get the lunch, to run the errand, to pick someone up at the airport. Don't bitch, moan or complain about anything to anyone. If someone wants to do so with you, be as positive as you can while plotting to make your escape.
Use your internship to make contacts, friends and to learn how things work in Hollywood.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:15 AM on July 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Don't kiss up to the partners/higher ups, help out the folks who are directly above you in the food chain, the admins. Buddy up with any admin you can and see if they can funnel their tasks to you. You'll always be busy and you'll be busy doing things for people who will be truly grateful.
Offer to be the one to get the lunch, to run the errand, to pick someone up at the airport. Don't bitch, moan or complain about anything to anyone. If someone wants to do so with you, be as positive as you can while plotting to make your escape.
Use your internship to make contacts, friends and to learn how things work in Hollywood.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:15 AM on July 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
When you mess up, acknowledge it and fix it, but don't go "oh my god oh my god oh my god I'm so sorry I'll fix this thing aaaaah aaaah aaaaah". If you're recognizant but discreet about your error, people will probably just forget about it.
posted by threeants at 6:45 AM on July 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by threeants at 6:45 AM on July 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Update. I've been using the advice from this thread and they seem to love me so far, so thanks guys!
posted by timsneezed at 7:54 PM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by timsneezed at 7:54 PM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
-When you're asked to do something, over-deliver. My favorite assistant was tasked with finding some rental properties for a work retreat. She presented us with a packet (both digital and hard-copy) with a nice cover page, photos of each property, important info like price and location, and pros/cons. An average intern would have just printed out a list.
-Try to anticipate your bosses and do things for them that they didn't realize they wanted. Like, if you hear them lamenting to each other that the local lunch options are played out, compile a list of alternatives they might like to try. Clean the dirty shelves of the fridge. Your street casting idea seems like it'd be well-received, as long as you don't look like you spent a weird amount of time/effort on it.
-Don't be too much of a presence in the office. By which I mean, don't be overzealous about becoming a part of the gang, cracking jokes, etc. It makes you seem overly comfortable. By all means, be fun to talk to and chipper and all that, but leave them wanting more, not less.
posted by malhouse at 3:42 PM on July 15, 2012 [5 favorites]