Where to find interns

[renec]

I'm in the Dallas market, and we often just allow interns to come to us. I don't think we've ever really advertised.

Personal referrals are always best, and interns go through a moderately tough interview before they are allowed to join up.

It helps that we're in a position to be patient and go a while between interns if we need to. I don't know if that's your situation or not.

[Dan Smith]

My first thought was local schools and universities. You said you tried your Alma Mater, what was your point of contact? At my school many of the departments have RSS feeds with internship opportunities. If contacting departments doesn't get the response you want maybe through professors that might remember you. I've had a few professors approach me to work on projects for someone else because that person had contacted them asking for a recommendation. I'd do the same for for other schools. Maybe even try high schools if age isn't that big of a deal. I'm constantly surprised by products put out by high schoolers, who have been learning on the internet for years.

Another thought would be contacting other studios or production companies. Some of them might have some potential interns to hook you up with. Does your previous intern have any friends that might be interested? Looking for those avenues to get personal references will be the best (as has been said.)

Good luck.

[Dz7]

Thomas, I've read a lot of your posts and I want to firstly say that you seem like a very genuine fellow. A lot of people still would like to believe that volunteer coffee runners and floor scrubbers are "a great education" in today's information filled society. It seems you understand the economic climate and the need for subsistence.

I would suggest posting in the jobs offered section of this site, I'm sure you'll have an influx of people in your area. It shocks me that you're not swimming in responses.

Good luck!

[brew]

I'm sure you can find someone that fits that bill within the Oberlin U and CIM communities. I'd just go to the music/audio programs and post a flyer--why wait for some bum middleman?

Also, better to email than call people these days. Often schools have listserv's for jobs that they just forward emails to.

I wouldn't go to Craigslist for a job search--65% wackos. Sounds like you got one. Why don't you post your copy here, if people are responding for high-paying jobs, is something being miscommunicated?

[philper]

I have a friend who teaches music and ProTools etc at a local community college. He has a very good eye for talent, and I've met several good interns/entry level people through him. I'd suggest cultivating such a person at your local CC and asking for that person's help in identifying talent. You can tell them what you want in an intern (and what you don't want)--if they have taught the prospective intern for awhile they will have a decent idea of their work habits, dedication, etc..

phil p

[soundboy]

Isn't there a Buckeye film program? That's where I would put up notices.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Thanks for all the GREAT replies.

The suggestions are all GREAT!

I have been in contact with some of the film schools around here and we have gotten some response in the past from their students. A lot of the film students today seem to be looking for a job where they can "create great films and REALLY use their creative skills" and unfortunately a lot of the stuff we do is commercials for local businesses and video taping live concerts. Many of the film students seem to feel that this type of work is below them. After talking to them I get the idea that they want to start their careers as the DP for Brian De Palma or Martin Scorsese and work downward from there.

I also get a lot of audio students looking for jobs where all they want to do is sit in front of a very large audio console (preferably NEVE or SSL) and do recordings all day long. Again that is something we are not doing here.

This is a small operation and we do what we can to make money. It is a great place to learn and a great place to get a demo reel together but I guess today, even with the current economic situations, a lot of students would rather go home and stay with their parents after graduation than get a real job.

We offer a relaxed atmosphere and a fun place to work.

I tried posting the job in the appropriate section of this forum but it has never shown up. I guess I have to get a moderators permission to post the job. How do I do that?

[philper]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Thanks for all the GREAT replies.

The suggestions are all GREAT!

I have been in contact with some of the film schools around here and we have gotten some response in the past from their students. A lot of the film students today seem to be looking for a job where they can "create great films and REALLY use their creative skills" and unfortunately a lot of the stuff we do is commercials for local businesses and video taping live concerts. Many of the film students seem to feel that this type of work is below them. After talking to them I get the idea that they want to start their careers as the DP for Brian De Palma or Martin Scorsese and work downward from there.

I also get a lot of audio students looking for jobs where all they want to do is sit in front of a very large audio console (preferably NEVE or SSL) and do recordings all day long. Again that is something we are not doing here.

This is a small operation and we do what we can to make money. It is a great place to learn and a great place to get a demo reel together but I guess today, even with the current economic situations, a lot of students would rather go home and stay with their parents after graduation than get a real job.

We offer a relaxed atmosphere and a fun place to work.

I tried posting the job in the appropriate section of this forum but it has never shown up. I guess I have to get a moderators permission to post the job. How do I do that?

I hear you about kids from art schools or "recording institutes" etc--many of them have some money so they can continue to hallucinate about their future in the big money world of pro audio. That's why I suggested Community Colleges (2 year schools)--the people I've gotten from that pool have been FAR more realistic about their prospects, much more self-motivated, way more cognizant of how the biz really works and are grateful for any opportunity to work on any sort of "real" job in any capacity, for free or cheap. Seriously--give this a try. I've read a lot of your posts on this subject and you are very clear about what your company needs (and doesn't need) in the way of entry level help--convey those ideas to an instructor at the local JayCee or two. I've found that they are really eager to get their best students as much experience as possible.

phil p

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by philper

I hear you about kids from art schools or "recording institutes" etc--many of them have some money so they can continue to hallucinate about their future in the big money world of pro audio. That's why I suggested Community Colleges (2 year schools)--the people I've gotten from that pool have been FAR more realistic about their prospects, much more self-motivated, way more cognizant of how the biz really works and are grateful for any opportunity to work on any sort of "real" job in any capacity, for free or cheap. Seriously--give this a try. I've read a lot of your posts on this subject and you are very clear about what your company needs (and doesn't need) in the way of entry level help--convey those ideas to an instructor at the local JayCee or two. I've found that they are really eager to get their best students as much experience as possible.

phil p

Thanks! I know you are right about the people being more realistic when they are coming from a community college and don't have a lot of money.

I employed a student from the local college to do some office work and he told me at the end of the first day that he could not work the rest of the week as I had asked him to since his friends were coming back and he wanted to party with them. I guess when you go to a $55,000 a year school you don't have to worry about money.

I have been trying to contact the two local community colleges in this area but I have not heard back from either one. I will keep on calling and emailing until I find someone I can talk to about interns. It seems like because this is just before school starts a lot of the people who work in these colleges are taking some time off or are busy getting ready for the semester to start.

Thanks again!!!

[Dz7]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Thanks! I know you are right about the people being more realistic when they are coming from a community college and don't have a lot of money.

I employed a student from the local college to do some office work and he told me at the end of the first day that he could not work the rest of the week as I had asked him to since his friends were coming back and he wanted to party with them. I guess when you go to a $55,000 a year school you don't have to worry about money.

I have been trying to contact the two local community colleges in this area but I have not heard back from either one. I will keep on calling and emailing until I find someone I can talk to about interns. It seems like because this is just before school starts a lot of the people who work in these colleges are taking some time off or are busy getting ready for the semester to start.

Thanks again!!!

I'm still amazed you're having trouble with this...if you want to forward me some of the correspondence you've been sending out I wouldn't mind taking a look at it (I copywrite professionally). Perhaps there's some things we can spruce up.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Dz7

PM Sent

Thanks in advance!

[philper]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Thanks! I know you are right about the people being more realistic when they are coming from a community college and don't have a lot of money.

I employed a student from the local college to do some office work and he told me at the end of the first day that he could not work the rest of the week as I had asked him to since his friends were coming back and he wanted to party with them. I guess when you go to a $55,000 a year school you don't have to worry about money.

I have been trying to contact the two local community colleges in this area but I have not heard back from either one. I will keep on calling and emailing until I find someone I can talk to about interns. It seems like because this is just before school starts a lot of the people who work in these colleges are taking some time off or are busy getting ready for the semester to start.

Thanks again!!!

I'd advise finding out who the relevant instructors are and trying to contact them directly, not through the college bureaucracy.

phil p

[Thomas W. Bethe]

I did contact the local community college and they are going to be sending me some resumes of their top students so I can hopefully find someone.

So far not much response to our ads. One person living in Abu Dhabi wanted me to hire him and front him the money for airfare and accommodations - not going to happen. Another guy looks great but he has a commitment for the whole school year. A couple of local people with NO EXPERIENCE contacted me but I think they were looking for any job just to make money. I don't have time or the money to try and teach someone the basics of audio and video and of course they want to be paid for their "learning time". This is the hardest search I have ever done in the 18 years we have been in business. Usually we get five or six applicants from the local college but this year nothing so far.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

[philper]

Sorry you are having such a tough go with this. Maybe it's just the economics at present--one guy I've been working with, very smart, just wasn't able to keep paying his rent doing various dinky sound jobs and paid internships and took a job as a barista. He's not happy about how that limits his avail for sound work, but he had no choice.

phil p

[Joe Haze]

80k??? WOW!

[Pedantic Sound]

Originally Posted by philper

Sorry you are having such a tough go with this. Maybe it's just the economics at present--one guy I've been working with, very smart, just wasn't able to keep paying his rent doing various dinky sound jobs and paid internships and took a job as a barista. He's not happy about how that limits his avail for sound work, but he had no choice.

phil p

Trying to break into the audio post world on your own is very difficult (tho it's still no music industry :P). I quickly learned that trying to live off post gigs alone was not going to go very well. People routinely have a budget of a couple of hundred dollars to for a couple of weeks work.

Just for fun, I decided to see what I was up against, so I post a gig on CL and Mandy saying I had a 20 minute short that needed an edit/mix done to it with a budget a $200. I got probably 30 responses in 24 hours, some of them from people who actually had some expensive rigs.

I still do post work, but it's either the very rare occasion where it's something that comes to me that actually has something of a budget, or I get a call from an established post house where I freelance now and again.

Anywho, people would kill for a paid internship in this industry, I'm sure you will find someone soon.

[NickNagurka]

Thomas, I can likely put you into contact with with some faculty at the University of Michigan. Send me a PM when you get the chance, and maybe we can work something out.

I'd apply myself, if I weren't already committed to the freelancing game!

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Still not having much luck finding an intern.

We never heard back from the local community college.

I posted the opening on Craigslist and got a lot of spam emails offering all kinds of things some of them were even legal. We also got some emails from people all over the world. They saw the ad and wanted to get a work visa and come to the USA. One gentlemen wanted me to pay for his airfare, his food and lodging while he was here and pay him a salary on top of that. We also got a lot of people who were so desperate they were applying for any job available. One young lady's work experience was managing a coffee shop and had no back ground in audio or video. I also got a applicant who was very nice but was looking for a second career and was really more of a graphic designer than an audio or video intern. He seemed to do most of his work back in the 70's and was not current with software or hardware.

We have gotten a couple of people who look good but no one that is a "gotta have" person.

I have never had so much trouble finding a good intern. Normally we put up an ad on the college's classifieds and have 10 applicants. Not this time. Not sure what is going on. Maybe everyone is gainfully employed or they are all waiting for a phone call from Spielberg or Cameron and can't be bothered until then.

Oh well I will keep looking

[gregkraus]

Thomas,

I live in Ohio near Toledo and notice your post. I have experience in sound, music and video/film. I started in the music world and have transitioned in to the production and post production for video and film. I have work on a couple of films in post production sound and this is my ultimate goal / dream job. I also understand the importance of dealing with clients and meeting their needs. I would love to meet and discuss the position you have available. PM me if you are interested and I will get you my contact info.

Thanks,

Greg Kraus

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Send me your phone number and email address in a PM and we can talk. Thanks for thinking about us. I would love to talk to you.

[Frank S.]

Contact the Career Development team at Full Sail. They've always been good at getting me people. They can give you a hand full of resumes to pick and choose from.

A lot of people give schools like Full Sail grief, but as a F.S. grad I can tell you that the people that WANT to learn DO learn. There are always some bad apples, but there are also gems...

If you need a specific person to contact just let me know. I'll get you a name and number.

[charles maynes]

contact-


The University of North Carolina School of the Arts- Film School

USC, UCLA and CSUN also have great film schools.

Lucasfilm does pay their interns, but many places in LA dont. for someone to ask 80k and benefits is not an intern.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies.

I would like to find someone fairly soon.

I had two applicants yesterday. Both of them were very nice people but neither of them had any experience in video. Both were willing to learn but without any training or practical experience it would be a very long, very expensive road to get them to the place where they could be productive and "useful" to the operation.

I have been advised by my mentor to contact the Cleveland Film Society and to post our ad on their website so I will do that today.

With all the people out of work and all the people asking for interning I would not think this would be such a problem.

Still looking

[RecRoom]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

I had two applicants yesterday. Both of them were very nice people but neither of them had any experience in video. Both were willing to learn but without any training or practical experience it would be a very long, very expensive road to get them to the place where they could be productive and "useful" to the operation.

All due respect, but are you looking for someone as an intern or just someone to work for free? Generally, I would consider an intern as a blank slate. If you're looking for someone that you don't have to train, then to me you should be paying them.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by RecRoom

All due respect, but are you looking for someone as an intern or just someone to work for free? Generally, I would consider an intern as a blank slate. If you're looking for someone that you don't have to train, then to me you should be paying them.

This is a PAID position and we have always paid our interns. Here is the posting on this very web board if you are at all interested. Audio/Video intern wanted

I have always believed in paying the interns that work for us. ALL the 35 interns I have had since we started into business 17 years ago have been paid a good hourly wage.

I am not sure why you made the assumption that this was a non paid position???maybe you don't pay your interns???

[RecRoom]

No offense meant... we just have a difference in nomenclature, that's all. I always thought an intern got school credit and/or meals. That's generally the way it works here. I've never had an intern and all the internships I've seen are non-paid. Some of the studios I've worked at had Production Assistants that got paid (albeit pretty low). Maybe that's the difference.

Maybe you'd have better luck advertising the position as a Production Assistant?

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by RecRoom

No offense meant... we just have a difference in nomenclature, that's all. I always thought an intern got school credit and/or meals. That's generally the way it works here. I've never had an intern and all the internships I've seen are non-paid. Some of the studios I've worked at had Production Assistants that got paid (albeit pretty low). Maybe that's the difference.

Maybe you'd have better luck advertising the position as a Production Assistant?

Good thought but due to the town were I live and their rules and regulations I can only have/hire interns working here. Long story but....I wish it was not that way.