Preparing for opportunity - Post Script - Pavement Inc - Brief Article

Post, August, 2002 by Marc Loftus

Rick Cordero knows all about staffing a post facility. As a former GM of the BVI Group in Miami and its visual effects division Deep Blue Sea, Cordero was constantly faced with finding good talent and then recruiting them to come to his shop. Recognizing the need for a creative talent resource, he opened Pavement - a headhunting service for the commercial production, post and TV markets - back in 1999 and saw immediate success, placing 20 talented individuals throughout South Florida within the first few months.

Things have slowed in Miami over the past year and Cordero decided to take his business back to New York City where his career began 21 years ago at Editel. He officially opened Pavement New York (www.pavementinc.com) in June and thinks he can help both the city's studios and creatives make a love connection.

New York, as most know, has seen a considerable shake up over the past few months, much of which has been documented in Post's pages and on our Web site. So with the many closings and layoffs, can Cordero help pros find work? He seems to think so.

"Companies are always looking for good talent. It doesn't matter how slow it is," says Cordero. "If you land a good talent, that most likely is going to draw you some business. I have an open relationship with a couple of companies who say, 'Rick, if you see anybody who is right for our company, you call me.'"

And, of course, that works both ways.

The key to landing an opportunity - or missing out on one - often comes down to preparation, says Cordero. "A lot of people aren't prepared for the opportunity when it comes. If it's a producer, I have to wait a week and a half for a resume. If it's an editor, I have to wait two weeks for them to do a reel. And they've been working at the place for six years. What have you been doing for six years?"

Cordero will be holding a free seminar at his 5th Avenue office on August 28th titled "Keeping Yourself Marketable in Today's Post Production Climate," offering attendees advice on how to take advantage of opportunity when it knocks.