Avoid These Common Mistakes!

After 15 years of running MFJF here are some frequent mistakes we notice our members making. Use this list to ensure you avoid them and therefore get maximum value from your MFJF Subscription.

1. Undecided on your career route. The most common mistake is trying to do too many things at once. Many aspiring filmmakers say they want to be a writer, director, editor and cinematographer all at the same time. While it is great to have a wide range of interests, building a professional career usually requires focus. The film industry rewards specialists. Most professionals develop expertise in a particular department or area and spend years refining their skills. Once established, professionals may expand into other roles, but early in a career, trying to pursue multiple paths at once makes it harder to build momentum in any one direction.

2. 30% of members use MFJF for just 1 month. They apply for just 2-3 jobs and assume as they haven’t heard back they shouldn’t continue with their membership. They don’t use any workshops, mentoring or career advice. It takes on average 2 years to gain consistent paid work, involving multiple career advice sessions, applications, research, frustrations and successes. You have to start thinking this is a long term game with no quick fixes for success.

3. Just Hitting Apply! Another common mistake is applying for every job opportunity that appears. When someone tells us they have applied for hundreds of jobs but never received an interview, it often indicates that the applications were not carefully targeted and they have not read the MFJF Career Stages Guidelines. Simply clicking ‘apply’ on every job that appears interesting rarely leads to success. Recruiters can easily spot applications that are half hearted and speculative. Who would you pick? The clearly passionate determined candidate or the general CV that doesn’t display any long term ambition? If your CV does not clearly demonstrate relevant experience or skills, it is unlikely to stand out among the many applications they receive. Instead of applying for everything, it is far more effective to apply strategically. Focus on roles that match your skills, experience and career goals. Fewer, more targeted applications are far more effective than mass applying.

4. Applying before you are ready is another classic issue. And the biggest waste of your money! And most do this! Please understand your chances of success will be so much higher if you take your time, research, up skill yourself, seek advice and get a plan. Once again follow the MFJF Career Stage Guidelines, do NOT apply for a job until you are a Stage 2 candidate. Moving to Stage 2 is via self certification, you decide when you are ready. But we offer a simple test: Do you know what skills and experience are required for your chosen career path? Do you know what a good CV looks like? If you have answered Yes, then you are ready assuming you have those skills and have that CV looking good and filled up with those relevant skills and experiences…is yours ready?

5. Less than 10% of MFJF Members actually use the Career Advice Service! Yes, it’s crazy! Fewer still book Mentor Sessions with the various industry professionals we have volunteering their time on the site. It is vital you speak with experienced professionals to get advice and guidance. You don’t know what you don’t know! Our most impactful service is the 1:1 Career Guidance as you can apply the advice beyond using MFJF, to all your applications and networking.

6. If you are at university, you must start gaining industry experience now! Do not wait until you graduate. Real work experience will boost your CV, your knowledge and your confidence and put you ahead of your peers. By that I mean work experiences at companies and volunteering on short films. Volunteer now whilst you are living cheaply at uni before life gets expensive and build that network so you can have a flying start to your career when you graduate.

7. Finally, the film industry sucks! Why? Because for the first few years of your career, whilst you battle to establish yourself, you will not be paid much, if at all. And typically you will be living in London which is bloody expensive. You will get frustrated, you will get down. Applying for work is a lonely and tiresome business. Of course, a career in the film industry is your end goal and they are incredible, and worth it, but you need to be ready to sacrifice to get there. Get a Survival Job to pay your bills that also allows you to quickly nip off and take jobs with little to no notice. A job with a long notice period is not going to help you. You need the flexibility to accept jobs quickly.

By avoiding these common mistakes and approaching your career with focus and strategy, you significantly improve your chances of success.

If you’re unsure whether your CV and applications are actually aligned with what the industry is looking for, early guidance can make a significant difference.

My First Job In Film helps early-career filmmakers focus their direction, refine their applications, and build the experience needed to become competitive in the industry. Book your 1:1 now to fast track your career.