Career advice question

AFC-911 · 02-10-2010, 05:56 AM

Hi everyone,

Like many people, I currently don't have a job. I do however, work freelance gigs from time to time that pay pretty well. (I also join paid focus groups, which are awesome!)

I work in the TV production field & I haven't gotten a gig since I shot some Kart races at Daytona in late December. Local opportunities in my field is fairly limited and I will have to move to NY or LA eventually.

My question is, I have an opportunity to work in a cruise line as a photog that will require a 6 month commitment.

On the plus side, I will be getting paid.

On the negative side, this will not get me further in my career nor would it allow me to interview for jobs.

Do you guys think that taking this would be hurtful in the long run, even though it might be financially helpful in the immediate future?

FWIW, here's a link to my website: Arvin Charles' Resume Reel - About Me

berettafan · 02-10-2010, 06:02 AM

i'd be curious to see if industry insiders (pretty sure there are some here) would consider the cruise line job as labeling you as a hack.

would be a relatively fun gig though!

m21sniper · 02-10-2010, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFC-911

Hi everyone,

Like many people, I currently don't have a job. I do however, work freelance gigs from time to time that pay pretty well. (I also join paid focus groups, which are awesome!)

I work in the TV production field & I haven't gotten a gig since I shot some Kart races at Daytona in late December. Local opportunities in my field is fairly limited and I will have to move to NY or LA eventually.

My question is, I have an opportunity to work in a cruise line as a photog that will require a 6 month commitment.

On the plus side, I will be getting paid.

On the negative side, this will not get me further in my career nor would it allow me to interview for jobs.

Do you guys think that taking this would be hurtful in the long run, even though it might be financially helpful in the immediate future?

FWIW, here's a link to my website: Arvin Charles' Resume Reel - About Me

Hey how's the paid focus group thing work?

As far as the cruise line thing, go for it.

jwasbury · 02-10-2010, 06:13 AM

You can leave the cruise ship experience off the resume and say you were taking time off travelling if you think it may hurt you...

I personally don't see how it would. As someone who does some hiring, I understand that the economy is bad. I'd rather see that you were working for the last 6 months (even if its not exactly an "on-topic" job), and not just looking for work. It shows that you're hungry and not willing to stagnate.

The 6 month commitment part means you may miss some opportunities, but you seem to think that in your field those opportunities are in NY and LA and you are in FL at the moment.

I have a musician friend who has done the cruise ship thing (played in a jazz ensemble). It was a pretty nice gig, he had no expenses, room and board was taken care of.

Dave L · 02-10-2010, 06:32 AM

I would take the 6 month gig. When I was laid off I took a 3 month contract and it bought me some time to contemplate my future and make some plans. It also provided some income and did help me get the job I have now. The job I have now sucks but its a job and will carry me through to September when the the Dave2.0 project begins.

If it really is a huge step down from a career perspective just tell the interviewer you did some freelance work while crusing around the world for 6 months.

Dave L · 06:43 AM

at the very least it will buy you 6 months and hopefully the economy will improve a little more.

stomachmonkey · 02-10-2010, 06:34 AM

How old are you? You appear to be in your mid/late twenties?

Economy is not great.

Doubt things are going to do a complete reversal in 6 months.

If I were young, single, I'd do the cruise ship thing.

And it can work on your resume.

I've taken many cruises, ship photogs work their butts off.

They have a strict schedule to hit, timeliness is ciritical, you need to be where you need to be when you need to be there, being late is lost revenue for you and the cruise line. You need to interface with a variety of people from all walks of life, some whose English may not be that great so ability to communicate and direct them for the desired result is a desirable skill to have. The pace of the job will only help hone your skills, you won't have the luxury of taking all day for a shoot.

I think there are a lot of things that would come out of it that you could turn into positive credentials.

It's all in your attitude and how you approach it. If you look at it as a way to get by till the economy gets better then that's all you'll get out of it. If you look at it as an adventure and focus on the things that will benefit you down the road then you will have really gained something valuable.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Don't know if they are hiring or if you are willing to move, but these guys(Scott & Mike) have been in business for years and pretty much do it all, from the Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics, movies, TV, commercials to infomercials. I think they still have 2 studios.

Jonas Jensen Studios

A couple of great guys also.

Rikao4 · 02-10-2010, 06:57 AM

and you could possibly met the guy/gal who is in the biz..
sometimes it's who not what..

Rika

AFC-911 · 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmmac

Don't know if they are hiring or if you are willing to move, but these guys(Scott & Mike) have been in business for years and pretty much do it all, from the Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics, movies, TV, commercials to infomercials. I think they still have 2 studios.

Jonas Jensen Studios

A couple of great guys also.

Hell yes, I'm willing to move. I've accepted that fact that I will have to move for my job a long time ago. I've been lucky enough to start at a pretty big market.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

How old are you? You appear to be in your mid/late twenties?

27

Quote:

I've taken many cruises, ship photogs work their butts off.

They have a strict schedule to hit, timeliness is ciritical, you need to be where you need to be when you need to be there, being late is lost revenue for you and the cruise line. You need to interface with a variety of people from all walks of life, some whose English may not be that great so ability to communicate and direct them for the desired result is a desirable skill to have. The pace of the job will only help hone your skills, you won't have the luxury of taking all day for a shoot.

I have directed (while TD'ing) sports & digital shorts, so no problems on communication. I find actors to be more of a pain to work than foreigners.

(And I mean that in the nicest way possible since my best friends are actors...)

As a side note, still photography & travel are my favorite hobbies, so a part of me is really excited for this opportunity.

Quote:

I think there are a lot of things that would come out of it that you could turn into positive credentials.

It's all in your attitude and how you approach it. If you look at it as a way to get by till the economy gets better then that's all you'll get out of it. If you look at it as an adventure and focus on the things that will benefit you down the road then you will have really gained something valuable.

I'm not just looking at it as a way to get by. I like the perk of traveling! I can never get enough of that.

On a more serious note, I do get concerned about what jobs I take & I put on my resume. One of the advice that I was given (a former Gannett big shot) was to make every decision be a part of getting you close to your goals.

This potential gig, as far as I can tell, doesn't get me any closer to getting my career on track. And I really, really want to get that going so I don't have to worry as much about getting my life together.

stomachmonkey · 02-10-2010, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFC-911

This potential gig, as far as I can tell, doesn't get me any closer to getting my career on track. And I really, really want to get that going so I don't have to worry as much about getting my life together.

Sounds like you answered your own question, which really, only you can.

You sound like a focused, driven person.

Those attributes will serve you well.

Don't forget a shout out to Pelican when you accept your first Oscar.

Good luck.

TGTIW · 02-10-2010, 07:26 AM

I would take the job. Unfortunatley the industry isn't currently providing the options that will allow you to make every move a positive one for your career, and this seems to be at least related. Being freelance, time gaps in your work is to be expected, so I wouldn't worry about that. I would however, take the restaurant job off your resume, it really only makes you seem young and lacking experience.

hcariss · hcariss's Garage

I work in production. The business is changing faster than anyone can conceive of. I think its really important to be able to provide content now. I would take the gig and find a way to put your other skills to use on the trip. Suggest something, pitch an idea that can work on the cruise, this way if you can get something off the ground you can note on your resume the job you were hired for and whatever it is you created.
Make the pitch professional looking, and back it up with good quality facts, even if they don't go for it people in the business really respond to innovative thinkers.
If your idea makes money and the company who hired you are pleased thats one bonus point, but believe me when its on your resume people will want to know what and how you did which is another big bonus point.
Usually in a fast evolving environment like TV, innovation presented correctly is very very well received especially if they think money can be made. TV will become far more about event creation, and specific demand.

So you can't spend all your off hours looking at the chicks by the pool but I think you could make this opportunity a resume builder.

MRM · 07:37 AM

As someone who does look at resumes and helps decide who to hire, I suggest taking the cruise position unless you have a better bird in the hand. Having a job, any job, when you are applying for new positions, makes you a better candidate than someone who does not have a job, no matter how valid the reason is.

There are several important reasons for this. First, employers strongly believe that the single factor that predicts success at work is a strong desire to do the work. Everyone considered for the job will be competent. Everyone who gets in the door to be considered will be capable. The one who gets the job is the one who looks like he has good skills, transferable experience, and demonstrates the burning desire to WORK.

It's easier to demonstrate a burning desire to work when you have a work history. In fact, if you take the cruise ship oportunity, I would recommend staying for a whole year. Working for less than a year makes some employers think you're not stable and will jump from one position to another. A one year stay shows some stability.

I would strongly prefer to see a candidate with a gap in his resume (filled in by consulting gigs) then full year of cruise experience, with applications going out before the end of the year. I would not like a candidate with a gap in the resume and no job occupying his time. A little better, but not as good as having a full year on your resume, would be a six month contract, followed by another gap in the resume. In other words, the full year looks a lot better and it gives you time at the end of the year to send out applications with a substantial job history while still employed.

Plus, as is said above, even if you're on a cruise ship, you can still network. You could do a blog and post your work on it, you could take ship and shore photos for your own portfolio, you could produce porn shorts on the side. Oops, scratch the last one. You get the idea.

Take the job, keep it until you get a better job, keep that one until you get a better job, open your own business full time when you have the skills and financial foundation. That's a good path to success. But you need a job, any job, first.

AFC-911 · 02-10-2010, 07:36 AM

Sounds like most of you are leaning towards taking the job (as a stopgap at the very least)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGTIW

I would take the job. Unfortunatley the industry isn't currently providing the options that will allow you to make every move a positive one for your career, and this seems to be at least related. Being freelance, time gaps in your work is to be expected, so I wouldn't worry about that. I would however, take the restaurant job off your resume, it really only makes you seem young and lacking experience.

I've been laid off twice (one company was bought out, the other had budget cuts). My restaurant job is the only one on there that lasted for more than a year...That's the only reason it's there.

Any hiring managers care to chime in on that one? Shall it stay or should it go?

Gogar · 02-10-2010, 07:43 AM

My $.02

The cruise ship gig will NOT be as much fun as you think, but there's nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand, it is MUCH easier to consider a limited-term job like this when you're 27, as opposed to when you're 37. So if you ever wanted to do it, do it now, because it's going to be much much harder to get out and do it later in your life.

stomachmonkey · 02-10-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFC-911

Any hiring managers care to chime in on that one? Shall it stay or should it go?

The point we are trying to make is that any work experience is experience. Again, restaurant work requires punctuality and reliability.

I can take just about any job and find something about it that can be turned into positive resume fodder.

Year ago I hired a new video editor. He had been employed at the local news station. Budget cuts got him. He was waiting tables to pay the bills. I did not hold that against him. I don't hire talent based of resumes and portfolios, I make them "audition", freelance for a couple of weeks so I can assess their skills and "fit" with the rest of the group.

This was a gig this kid really wanted but he still had obligations to the restaurant and he worked his tail off to meet them.

That was a big thing for me, that he would not leave his current employer in a lurch for his own personal gain.

Head416 · Head416's Garage

We're all different, but...

I was recently unemployed for about 6 months. For me, as long as I could keep my head above water, no temp gig was worth taking if it interfered with my ability to obtain a permanent position.

I figured after the temp gig I'd just be in the same place as I started in, so what would be the point? It would be like it never happened - I'd be in the same spot, just the date on the calendar would be different.

HarryD · 02-10-2010, 08:21 AM

Take the job and embrace it. any experience is good experience and it may lead you to opportunities you never thought of before.

Like others noted, jobs on Cruise ships are no picnics. My wife and i have been on numerous ones and the staff works very hard. The fact you will deal with people from all over the world will enhance your statue compared to others.

Be aware, they got you in a place where you cannot hide and you will work to meet their deadlines and under their timelines. Much of the work will be repetitive (after all, each cruise is new to the guests but the same to you). Your best hope is to make it your own. Many of the photographers we met were fun to be with and added fun to our trip. You can be one of those guys.

You will have the opportunity to learn how to be fast and productive.

AFC-911 · 02-10-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

As someone who does look at resumes and helps decide who to hire, I suggest taking the cruise position unless you have a better bird in the hand. Having a job, any job, when you are applying for new positions, makes you a better candidate than someone who does not have a job, no matter how valid the reason is.

I currently don't have any other offers at the moment. However, I am still waiting to hear back from several production companies (out of state).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head416

We're all different, but...

I was recently unemployed for about 6 months. For me, as long as I could keep my head above water, no temp gig was worth taking if it interfered with my ability to obtain a permanent position.

I figured after the temp gig I'd just be in the same place as I started in, so what would be the point? It would be like it never happened - I'd be in the same spot, just the date on the calendar would be different.

I see your point, but I only have $500 left at the bank. I don't have any debt, though...

I do need a job soon. I've put off finding a job outside my field as long as I could.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryD

Like others noted, jobs on Cruise ships are no picnics. My wife and i have been on numerous ones and the staff works very hard.

I realize that. One of my friends is a photog at a cruise ship. He is a real still photographer though. He was shooting College Football the last time I did an ESPN gig.

He does say it's like college all over again after your shift ends...Could be fun.