Raw talent: looking for eager, new employees? Try hiring a recent college grad - School Days - Brief Article

Post, April, 2003 by James Gregory

ORLANDO -- Entry-level talent is a largely untapped resource available to media production employers. A complicated and increasingly technical industry like post production has a constant need for skilled operators to fill new and existing positions. As universities and colleges begin to cater directly to technical positions with specialized degree programs, more and more college students are graduating with the skills needed to start their careers in production-related fields. Possessing more than just raw knowledge, the practical skills they bring into the workplace allow them to quickly acclimate, become productive and contribute meaningfully to their employer.

Hiring entry-level employees in artistic and technical fields such as film and audio production can provoke hesitance for some facilities. The most common question is, "Why should I hire someone with no experience?" This may seem like one of the most obvious drawbacks for hiring entry-level talent, but companies often see a lack of previous experience as a definite benefit. "One of the big things that employers always talk about is being able to get somebody who's a sponge, who's willing and ready and open to learning their way," says Linda Thornton, placement industry outreach manager at Full Sail Real World Education (www.fullsail.com). "They haven't already developed their own habits, they're still very humble, passionate and full of energy" Full Sail is an accredited college located in Orlando that offers degree programs in entertainment technology and media production.

Media colleges like Full Sail are a valuable resource for employers. Their placement departments can work to customize the search for talent, selecting the best candidate for the specific situation, job and facility. What is the secret to an education at a specialized college? "It's the philosophy," says Bruce Stambler, president and CEO of Burbank, CA's Soundstorm (The Fast and the Furious, Star Trek: Nemesis). "Full Sail people are just really hungry to learn everything, and they come in to work at a facility like mine with a really good attitude."

The challenge for hiring often lies in knowing what to look for in lieu of professional experience. "Attitude is number one," says Ken Schwab of Fox News (www. foxnews.com) in New York "They need to come into it with a positive attitude. It's first and foremost" While someone's personality can tell you a lot about how they'll fit into the dynamic of your company a foundation in skills specific to your business is just as essential. "A lot of it does depend on attitude, but knowledge of what they're doing is also very important," says Ross Cibella of Century III (www.century3.com), a full service facility and design house in Orlando. "Things we look for are raw talent, commitment, loyalty, a hard work ethic, and knowledge of the equipment, industry and products that they might have to create with. When they come out knowing your specific equipment that's a huge plus," adds Cibella.

LEARNING CURVE

Once firmly entrenched, the benefits of hiring trained entry-level employees are immediately obvious, With their technical aptitude, the learning curve for someone graduating from a specialized education is usually very smooth.' 'They tend to be trained much better on the equipment, and they tend to have been trained by people who are in the industry," says Cibella. Schwab adds, "There are real bonuses. You get a lot of people who are eager and hungry to learn."

So what is it these fresh faces have over seasoned veterans? "A willingness to work a lot of hours," says Debbie Summers, HR administrative manager for Altamonte Springs, FL's Ballistic Pixel (www.balisticpixel.com). "Being able to work under deadline, and being able to accept criticism."

Technical colleges provide their graduates with essential skills and industry knowledge, making them better prepared to enter the job market, Many leading companies are taking advantage of this resource and discovering the benefits--made easier by the efforts of motivated college placement departments. "To be able to use a service like ours makes the hiring process much more efficient for employers," says Full Sail's Thornton, "We put them in touch with graduates that have been hand selected to fill their needs."