Hollywood Executive Assistant

What is the best career path advice or source for career path advice/strategy to go from EA at a top private equity firm to EA with devevlopment potential with a production company?

Asked by Angela Marie almost 12 years ago

Hi Angela Marie, What a great question! It’s great you are already an EA from a reputable company. The next step is to jump industries and focus on the creative. If you’ve worked for the top dog at the equity firm and have a lot of experience, it’s usually understood that you are so talented you can work in any industry. Since you have already worked at a well known company, you are half way there. Don’t rule out temping for studios or thru agencies that cater solely to the creative industries, accepting contract work, or volunteering while you have your current job to get different experience, exposure, and to meet new people with regard to film, tv, Hollywood, entertainment, or even other industries quasi-related to storytelling and character arcs - commercials, music videos, video gaming. Google for the UTA list and sign up for all email lists and job boards for the entertainment industry, network with people you know, send your resume and cover letter snail mail to every company you want to work at to the attn of the recruiting department, and establish an online presence so headhunters find you via LinkedIn and job sites. You want to be in their database and searchable thru their list address/contacts book. I’ve heard of people even interning. And believe it or not, Craigslist has a lot of jobs for the creative industries because it’s cheap to post there and look for staff. The hurdles to overcome are to get experience within Hollywood/entertainment as a foot in the door and/or hope to go right into the development/writing/producing side. You’re most likely going to get a lot of interviews for the business side of the entertainment industry as you try to switch fields - CFO’s EA at a major entertainment company, production/film companies that are just starting out and need funding, or internet start ups. The flip side is to try to get a job directly as a writer’s assistant, at a talent agency as an EA/script reader, or be an assistant to a creative executive (Executive Producer, Producer, etc) or the story department. You want to establish relationships outside of the finance world because fitting into a different culture of the media/arts is important. Finance can be perceived as very stuffy, black and white, and sequential and non-chaotic. It’s all about numbers which are pretty clear cut. Much of any business, but especially Hollywood, is working with people whose company you enjoy so your soft skills and personality will be a big factor in hiring. Be passionate about tv or film beyond having a favorite show. Most people in the business are obsessed with their chosen field and their knowledge and breadth of information spans knowing more than just current, popular stuff. Afterall, thousands of people want to be in the industry, but those that do make it, eat, live, and breathe their art - sometimes even unpaid because they forego their usual pay rate or collect their paycheck only if the project is successful. You have most likely established yourself as a solid, experienced EA, but you should also be open to doing a little personal assistant work, wearing a lot of hats, and being open to learning about everything. It’s up to you to find the opportunities, create your own luck, be humble/hungry, play the numbers game to your favor, and just try, try, try. Be strategic about your transition and job hunt and plan it well, even financially... I hope I’ve answered your question and if not, write me another follow up question. Here is more information on my blog that might be useful to you. http://musingsofahighlevelexecutiveassistant.blogspot.com/2011/07/realities-of-job-hunting-as-high-level.html http://musingsofahighlevelexecutiveassistant.blogspot.com/2011/07/10-tests-administered-during-job.html http://musingsofahighlevelexecutiveassistant.blogspot.com/2012/07/7-ways-your-finances-matter-when-job.html http://musingsofahighlevelexecutiveassistant.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-thank-you-card-launched-my-career.html

What qualifications / skills should I require on a job description for a GREAT executive assistant for my small food consulting company?

Asked by MLMCI over 11 years ago

Dear MLMCI,

Sorry I have been behind in answering questions. I do realize you also asked another question, which I haven’t forgotten.

I think this is a great question, so I hope my answer is helpful to you. I have never worked at a food consulting company, per se, but I did waitress for a couple of years, I am a foodie, I work with food vendors a lot, and I strongly believe in customer service being vital in ANY role regardless of job title or company. I’ll answer you question in severals ways just to be thorough. So here are 3 tips:

1) List qualifications, skills, value, principles, a list of daily tasks, and other related info.

Paint a great picture of your ideal EA and your company’s mission statement using your personality and core values. Keep in mind,if you want the assistant to stay forever or not get promoted, write CAREER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. Or if you want to promote them mention, the right assistant will be promoted after 2-3 years. Some useful key words you can use are: great problem solver, able to think a few steps ahead, attention to detail and ability to see the bigger picture, multitasker, great with logistics, smart, proactive, personable, friendly, empathetic, sympathetic, foodie, appreciates good food, collaborate, partnership, manage, point person, workflow, and knowledge of x, y, z software programs, gatekeeper, face of our company, first and last point of contact, whatever it takes attitude, green, hungry, great listener, customer service oriented, etc… Then write a list specific list of daily, weekly tasks, or a % breakdown of what the role entails. It can be 50% daily calendar management, travel, phones, and coordinating client meetings, 25% expense reports, accounting, and misc special projects, 15% vendor and client management, 10% personal executive assistant duties such as picking up lunch, tasting samples, etc. To get you started...

Small Food Consulting Company is looking for a stellar Executive Assistant to join our team! If you love food, partnering with clients and executives, and being “the face” of our company, please continue reading. We are seeking an Executive Assistant with X - X years of experience. We also want someone who is __________, _________, and __________.

2) Personal referrals are good bet.

When people get an interview through someone they have a connection with, the sense of obligation, to be really hard working, and to do well is much more heightened because they don’t want to let anyone down or look bad. Even though you don’t know them directly or too well, some close degree of separation is better than no connection. This is not to say a total stranger can’t be good, but most AMAZING employees already have jobs and have no shortages of headhunters trying to recruit them away. So, to find a great EA, find someone young, new to the industry, or looking to switch fields - they will be greener, hungrier, and hopefully more passionate than anyone just looking for any job.

3) I answered a similar question on my blog and wrote 10 TIPS so please look at this answer too! It is much more in depth and helpful.

http://musingsofahighlevelexecutiveassistant.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-screen-and-interview-2nd.html

What should I pay a GREAT executive assistant? Live in AR, relatively large city and run a consulting group.

Asked by MLMCI over 11 years ago

Dear MLMCI,

http://www1.salary.com/Executive-Assistant-Salary.html

This graph should be pretty helpful. There are other sites that are also good to consult like glassdoors. I’m more curious how big your company is and how much revenue your company generates. This matters because it translates to how busy, stressful, how much experience you need them to have, and if you need a specialized Executive Assistant. Top EAs that work for a famous CEO (think Google, Fortune 100 companies) make as much as low level executives in middle management and have titles like Chief of Staff sometimes.

The most popular question on this column is about salary and this is the answer I wrote:

Q

How much can the best executive assistants earn in a year?

Asked by regan999 on 05/10/2012

A

The salary of an EA depends on what city you work in, how big your company is, and a zillion other factors that come into play just like any other job. The entertainment industry is mostly in Los Angeles, but pockets do exist elsewhere in the nation so you will see a fluctuation. Like any other field, the more experience you have under your belt the more you will get paid. It's not uncommon for an EA who has been in the industry forever and who works for someone very, very, very high profile to make a comfortable living - as if they themselves were a regular lower-ranking executive or part of management. Keep in mind, these types of executive assistants are very, very few and far between. Will you get paid mid-six figures as an EA - no. Is the job sometimes well-paying enough that it attracts those who don't want to climb the corporate ladder while reaping some of the benefits as if they were - yes. All in all, there's a part of you that has to want this job bad enough and love it enough to excel in it. Otherwise, sometimes the job can be a little challenging that most people only pursue it to pay their dues or be a writer on the side. It is never their life goal to grow up to be an executive assistant. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Do you have to be an encyclopedia of names, films, tv shows, in order to be an assistant? I feel like there is so much content and sometimes when people drop names if. you don't know them does that hurt your ability to be an assistant?

Asked by Jerry over 4 years ago

Hi, Jerry!  Thank you so much for this great question.  Sorry it took me so long to respond.  While you do not have to know every single name and greenlit project, you'd want to have your pulse on the industry and adjacent ones like music, social media stars, Broadway, and really just pop culture.  I once met with an iconic producer and asked them their favorite shows and they admitted they didn't actually watch a lot of TV, but did have a favorite or two, so I felt much better.  There is just too much content for anyone to know everything.  The one thing I do caution about is, if you work in entertainment and leave for a completely unrelated industry for too long and want to come back, some people might be hesitant to interview you for being out of the game too long.  They wonder if you've been keeping up.  It's why I always felt hesitant about pivoting in my career unless I was absolutely sure.  I've written about that on my other blog, Musings of a High-Level Executive Assistant.  If you're just starting out, it's a different story because they won't need to ask why you left in the first place.  The best thing you can do is follow what's popular, see what's trending on social media, have your favorite shows you can talk about, and read the trades (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, but also follow other breaking news and entertainment sites like TMZ, Perez Hilton, and a handful more).  Treat everyone with kindness because it's the right thing to do and because this industry is TINY.  The good news is, you are probably already doing much of this because it's a natural interest of yours anyway.  I hope you are staying safe and well during COVID!    

I just started a new position as the EA to a CEO. What tips to you have to management a very busy calendar?

Asked by dmarshall64 over 10 years ago

Hi,
I love your blogs & really appreciate all of your input! I have been a senior EA for 20+ years. Support a C-Level, but struggle when directs of directs on down come to me for things. We are lacking 'group admins'. Need encouragement in this area.

Asked by Rachel S. - Alias :) over 11 years ago

My boss has requested for me to manage his mailbox which I am not sure how to do it and would appreciate some advice. I am also concern as he is not responsive on emails. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your help.

Best regards,
Amber

Asked by Amber almost 8 years ago