Our industry has long thrived on word of mouth and personal recommendations. But what do you do when you’re looking for video producer jobs?

As a freelance producer who has always been a tad uncomfortable with self-promotion, I’ve increasingly found myself turning to the web for new connections, clients and talent.

I’ve had some great and not-so-great experiences hiring and being hired, so hopefully my successes and missteps will be helpful to you when it comes to deciding which sites to scan on the daily.

Finding Video Producer Jobs

Ready? Ok, let’s brave the interwebs and find you a gig.

video producer jobs

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are the closest thing you can get to attending a networking mixer without having to leave your house or awkwardly sip a themed cocktail.

Since Facebook already acts as a virtual reflection of your social network, it’s a great way to track down opportunities and have friends within those groups endorse you via likes, tags or comments.

This makes the application process a little more personal and booking a gig a lot more likely.

PROS:

Both client & applicants have a face

You can see the profile of the person or company posting the job, and clients can see yours. That doesn’t necessarily eliminate the need for due diligence, but does add a layer of verification and security.

Receive personal recommendations

Friends can instantly tag you in job posts that seem relevant to your skill set and vice versa. A lot of groups have an endorsement system where you can “Like” or “+1” a user in the comments to recommend them for said gig.

video producer jobs

CONS:

Jobs posts can be a needle in a haystack

You really have to be on the prowl to find the right opportunity, in the right group, at the right time. Job posts are easily lost in the mass of information, questions, and rants pumped through group boards or your personal feed.

   

DMs land in the forgotten inbox

Unlike more traditional job posts that include an avenue for email correspondence, you will most likely have to send a Direct Message and pray the client knows how to open their secret “Message Requests” inbox.

video producer jobs

ProductionHub

ProductionHub has been in the game a long time and caters specifically to our industry, which is obviously a huge plus. They have an extensive network of professionals (150,000+) which means there is a lot of traffic routed through their site.

PROS:

Plenty of listings

Because they have such a wide reaching network, tons of jobs are listed on the daily, all in a wide variety of production-related fields.

An actual human you can call

Their team is made of people that have worked in the industry and their lines have real human operators that will take your questions.

CONS:

Pay-for-Placement profiles

If users pay a monthly fee ($59.99) their profiles are featured more prominently, which skews search results and applications in their favor regardless of qualification and experience.

A lot of competition and less gatekeeping

In addition to dealing with featured profiles (should you decide not to pay for premium) your resume is going to be tossed in a gigantic pool of applicants.

Unlike Facebook, where some anonymity is lost and merit is gained through existing connections, ProductionHub is still a little more like the virtual Wild West.

video producer jobs

Craigslist 

I can already hear the groans, so hear me out: This is the OG job site and admittedly also the most seedy one. There are a lot of “unpaid internships” and “exposure bucks” posts that we as an industry should not tolerate.

Craigslist is not anyone’s first choice, but it does bear mentioning because sometimes – and especially if you’re still looking to break in on some level – there are some opportunities to be found.

There are old school producers that still post on the site because they are familiar with it, and if you’re willing to dig for ‘em you just might be rewarded.

PROS:

Not as competitive

Because of the relatively BIG Cons (see below) you’re not dealing with as many qualified individuals applying to one job.

CONS:

Slightly sketchy

You really have to do your due diligence to a) find a job that’s worth your time and b) confirm it actually is what it says it is.

Not catering specifically to our industry

Craigslist casts a very broad net and is not built for film. That means posts follow few guidelines and often don’t contain the full set of information needed for a job.

StaffMeUp

StaffMeUp used to be focused on reality jobs only (formerly RealityStaff.com), but has since expanded and features job in a wide range of media related fields. They have a free membership and optional “level-ups” if you find you use their services more frequently.

PROS:

Notable clients

StaffMeUp boasts some regular postings by large studios like VICE, Pilgrim Studios, and Discovery.

Variety of locations

We know production hotbeds like Atlanta, LA, and NYC always need crew, but StaffMeUp offers a surprising amount of gigs in other locations, like Seattle, Charleston or Baltimore.

CONS:

   

Limit on applications

If you stick with the free version you will be limited to five job applications per month.

Separate client & vendor accounts

StaffMeUp differentiates between freelancer and employer profiles, which is difficult for those of us who wear both hats.

Wrangle

Wrangle is new to the game and the only site that combines both the project management and staffing workflow in one streamlined platform. They are currently only accessible if you are invited to be a part of their private beta.

PROS:

The community is invite-only

All our users must be referred by an existing member and/or vetted through an application form. Also, anyone who is repeatedly flagged as posting unpaid or underpaid jobs risks being ejected from the community.

Access to project management tools

Users can pick kits, negotiate rates, group message the team, hold or book freelancers, all from a project dashboard.

Hire & be hired from one account

You don’t have to decide whether you are a “client” or “vendor” in the traditional sense. Every approved member can hire or be hired into projects.

Options to give feedback

Member can give anonymous feedback after collaborations so clients or freelancers that are repeatedly unprofessional are flagged.

CONS:

Let’s look at some of the cons.

The community is invite-only

We know that’s in the Pro’s column as well, but there is of course a downside to that. If you don’t already have a significant body of work, you may not be admitted.

Still in its early stages

The platform is still beta testing, so there are several features that still need to be built out.

Still stuck when looking for that next job? Here are some other options!

Film/Video Job Sites

Freelancing Sites

Video Producer Jobs: Wrapping Up

Finally, most importantly, just don’t give up. Being a freelancer is tough and film is notoriously one of the toughest industries to find consistent work in. Wishing everyone the best of luck on your job hunt!

We hope you’ve found this article on finding video producer jobs helpful. Bookmark this article so that you remember these places the next time you’re looking for a video producer job.

This article was written by Lena Strothe. I am the co-founder of the new technology platform for filmmakers, Wrangle.