A big percentage of our industry spends time looking for the next gig. Having a system for job hunting reduces worry and avoids repeating the same actions. Think of it as an action plan or your go-to blueprint. 

Personal Presentation

Appropriate clothing for the work you want to do goes a long way. You want to get an interview, so you want to be well presented in a suitable manner. 

Having suitable work footwear goes a long way. For example, comfortable shoes that can get you through the day would be essential for a makeup artist working on a film set. 

With your clothing and footwear in mind, plan your work wardrobe and ensure you have what you need. 

Other parts of a personal presentation would include wearing makeup, styling your hair and if a man wants to be clean-shaven. Knowing how you would like to present your image will take the stress out of the other steps. 

Building A Resume

For this example, we will focus on one type of job application. A lot of people do have a separate resume that targets a specific job, which calls for different skills and experience. 

Know what job you want to build your resume for, for example, we will stick with a makeup artist. You want to list your skills under the skills section, separate from your education and training (maybe a diploma in makeup). Training could include work experience or be part of your education. 

Then you build the “experience” section. Then, followed by your referees or references, make sure you ask them before adding them. If you don’t have many, the following would work: a librarian, a lecturer who got to know you, someone you did work experience with or somewhere you did some voluntary work. These work positions all hold a bit of weight and look presentable. 

Therefore, your resume would have the following categories, in this order;

• Skills
• Education and Training
• Experience
• References

The skills should reflect what they are looking for.

• Teamwork is a skill; you enjoy working with others, and you respect others’ opinions.
• Creativity as a skill. You can think outside the box, how a makeup artist could tell a story by creating a scene or a character. The other requirements of a makeup artist would be to visualise what a director might want and bring that concept to life.
• Communication. How are your phone, text messaging, email, and meeting skills up to speed? In most emails, unless stated otherwise, people appreciate a greeting, a brief 2-3 sentence message, and a sign-off. 
• Punctuation. This one might seem obvious, but showing up on time and in general is half the battle. This starts with the interview and the application closing date.

Check the skills required in the position advertisement, or, if cold canvassing, do a bit of research and polish those skills to make a good impression whilst including them in a resume. 

Indeed has a basic overview of building a resume.me and how to do it.

A Cover Letter

Even if you have an agent, having a tailored cover letter for each different position will give you an edge. 

Indeed, basic cover letter ideas. 

A cover letter is basically an introduction. Using a name looks more professional than “To Whom It May Concern”. In the digital world, you can find out the manager of the department or the name of the person who manages your application. 

Building An Online Presence

LinkedIn offers the opportunity to build an online resume and showcase skills. You can build your own website to showcase a portfolio of work, or, if you are a writer or an actor, to direct your career. 

Keep in mind to update your online profile every 3-6 months. 

Overall, the number one thing is that many people spend time looking for work, and that is normal. If you think you need a side gig to keep cash flow up between jobs, then that’s probably a smart thing to do. Find something you can do that fits with your work schedule. From seasonal work to freelance work. It’s up to you what you can manage.

Breaking down the steps of job hunting isn’t hard, it just takes a bit of organisation, and you’re on your way.