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Trying to Make a Comeback
It took me a few years to land my first job in TV. After four productive and educational unpaid internships, I was hired as a studio production technician. For six years, I was a Chyron operator, felt valued by my colleagues and managers and generally enjoyed my job. After a while, it became clear that my position would soon be automated, so I decided to take the leap and cross-train in hopes of becoming a producer (something I dreamed of doing since I was a kid). I was over the moon when I was hired as an associate producer, then eventually a line producer. The job was fast-paced and challenging, but fulfilling. After another six years at the same station, things started changing. My news family started to deteriorate, with colleagues quitting left and right. Then, I felt more pressure to one up myself day after day, burning myself out in the process. I was also tired of working overnights and on holidays with no end in sight. I soon decided to take a break and try working in another industry. Now three years later, I feel unfulfilled and ashamed for giving up on the career I invested so much of my life on. Has anyone else out there left the industry for a while and gotten back in? If so, do you have any advice for rebranding myself and my skills? Thanks in advance!
Hi Erin! Rebranding yourself is AMAZING because no corporation or other decision maker brands you! You get to choose what you stand for, what message you advocate for, what kind of people you want to help. The ball is in YOUR court, not some company that wants to put you in a box that they think will help them sell.
Have you thought about, what demographic do you want to impact and serve? (Young girls being taken advantage of by unpaid internships, women in production, etc)
How can you use your insight and experiences to TRULY help them? (How to identify when you are not getting paid and people are just taking advantage, how to negotiate a salary or a paid position, how to show value or learn skills that make you indispensible etc)
What method can you use to teach it? (digital course? youtube channel? personal coaching?)
You got this, it is already inside of you just waiting to make an impact and help someone who is in the same shoes you used to be!!!