At the end of 2016, we introduced a brand new MFJF website, packed to the gills with information and resources to help you find your first foothold in the film industry. We populated it with career and application advice, example CVs and career plans but despite this, we still find CVs with the same old errors; those errors are hindering your chances of working in the film industry.

As a means for us to provide feedback, we ask recruiters questions after viewing CVs from our members. This feedback is posted in the MFJF Facebook group. We also use recruiter feedback to make sure all our advice and information is consistent with what the film industry are looking for in a candidate, be that production or non-production roles.

Over the past few months, recruiters and the MFJF team have noticed a few trends in your profiles and applications that can no longer be ignored. It really is very basic stuff, which we have addressed on the website and in the MFJF Facebook group, but believe us when we say, silly mistakes can make a huge difference to the way recruiters view your CV and cover letter. So make sure you are not committing any of these errors, and give yourself the best possible chance of finding success.

#5. Name and Spelling Errors

Please write your full name on the application. Your first and your last names. It’s that simple. Recently, some of you have got a little lazy and only included your first names on your applications, only you know why this is acceptable.  We can see you have a second name via our database, so why miss it out? It looks shoddy, lazy and unprofessional. So unless you are Prince, Madonna or another 80's pop icon, please add your full name.

It sounds absurd to have to say this but make sure you have actually spelt your name correctly, believe us it has been known for candidates not to. These are exactly the sorts of things that can have a hugely detrimental effect on your chances of success. Check your application, give it to someone else to check, then check it again. Spelling mistakes are at the top of the pile when it comes to application no-nos.  Recruiters hate spelling mistakes and inconsistencies.

#4. Profile

When employers are shortlisting their candidates, they also have access to your profile. In fact, it’s your profile they see first, which is why it’s so vital to fill in your profile in its entirety. Yes, it can take a bit of time, but your MFJF profile is your calling card as a candidate. There are two ways in which employers use the MFJF service. The first - and least used - is to email over all your CVs in one go. The production or company will take it from there, handing the relevant CVs to the HoDs or relevant parties.

The second is online. Employers use the service to log into their section of the website and view all your CVs online. This is the preferred method for most recruiters. So, when they view the candidates, the first thing they see is your profile. They can then filter from the profile itself; do you have a driving licence? Are you based in Manchester? How many production credits do you have?

Next employers look through your application questions, which is why you need to make sure you never give one-word answers, or think that writing “see my CV” is acceptable. Always make sure you give the fullest possible answers and don’t think you are repeating yourself, remember they probably haven’t seen your CV yet. Keep your answers positive, for example, if they ask if you are “based in Bristol” don’t respond in the negative. A simple, I am willing to relocate for the position as I have family who lives in the area; don’t start the answer with “I am not based in Bristol but …”. There are reasons recruiters set these application questions, it’s so they can filter through candidates. You want to be in the maybe pile rather than the no chance pile.

Then it’s your CV and cover letter. By the time recruiters are opening CVs, they will have filtered through all the application, and it can be your CV and cover that are the deciding factor. Which is why we endless remind you to keep it relevant, concise and customised for the role you are applying for. It also needs to be consistent with your profile. If you update a CV make sure to update your profile too. Yes, profiles are time-consuming, as are job applications. But you need to inject some rigour into the process, or you really aren’t going to last long in this industry.   

If you are going to include a picture with your profile, a nice head and shoulders shot if you please; no hand in from of the face or picture of your poodle. If you would rather not show your face that’s absolutely fine, just don’t upload a picture. Odd or ‘wacky’ pictures in an attempt to try and convey your personality, or creativity, might not have the desired effect and can be deemed unprofessional. 

#3. Join the Facebook group

Seriously, it takes all of five seconds. If you are reading this and haven’t done so yet, please, do it for us, join the group. So, what happens in the Facebook group?

• We provide career guidance.

• Offer CV and cover letter support.

• If you have any questions about an MFJF application you can ask us, including more information about a job posting.

• We post recruiter feedback for each job we advertise.

• There is someone on hand weekdays 9 - 5 to answer any questions you have.

For those of you who get frustrated, not knowing what has happened to an application, the Facebook group is your platform to find out. If you just want to check in with us, you can do that too. For those of you who have no idea what to put on your first CV or how to even begin, come and join the group. For those of you who simply have no idea what role or career path you wish to entertain - read the website - and then join the group.

On top of supplying career information, support and application feedback to MFJF members, the Facebook group is also a place where you can share your stories. If you feel worried about living outside London, for example, or if you are moving to the UK and want to find out where would be the best place to base yourself. Members of the MFJF group are based all over the country and willing to share their local knowledge with others. So if in doubt, reach out and ask someone, were all here to help.

#2. Location

Employers are not interested in where you grew up, they want to know if you are based close to the location, remember, companies very rarely pay accommodation for junior members of the crew. So, when you’re setting up your profile, make sure to include where you are currently based, not where you have been based over the course of your life. On your CV, if you’re based in Bournemouth that should also be mirrored in your profile. If you move don't forget to amend your details.

If the job you are applying for is miles away from your current residence, give yourself a chance by simply stating  “Based in Bournemouth but with access to accommodation in London and Liverpool” on your CV. In your application questions, accentuate the positive by confirming you are “able to relocate and provide your own accommodation” if that is the case. Just make sure you actually have something in place before you apply, four weeks can be a long time living out of your Renault Scenic!   

1#.  Take time on your applications

When you apply for a position it is not on a first come first serve basis. Just because you get your CV in as soon as the job is advertised, does not mean you are going to be successful because your is the first CV on the list. In fact, it’s quite the contrary, you are more likely doing yourself a disservice. If you have a week to apply, take your time and apply properly using the CV and cover letter advice on the website. Employers can assess which candidates have taken the time to fully understand the role and the area of the industry they work in, those are the candidates who often go on to find their application successful.

If we have written this once, we have written it a thousand times, look at the job spec, the requirements and use your initiative; think about what is required to get the job. For example, if it's a receptionist for a post-production facility, they want to know you have an understanding of post production, have some admin and phone skills and perhaps have worked in an admin role in a post production facility before; they don't want to know about your editing abilities. If you are applying for the role of a floor runner, they won’t be interested in your directing showreel - they want a floor runner. If a full job spec has been provided, use it and make sure you have customised your CV and cover letter to address all the points.  

For most of you, this will all be obvious. For those of you who are making these errors - you know who you are - please just take a moment to reflect on your applications. We want you to succeed too, so read it, heed it and start to make some changes.