The #1 Soft Skill That Will Get You Hired MORE on Set

I get asked all the time, “What can I do to set myself apart from the crowd of PAs I’m working with so I get hired again?” Which is a valid question because you have to make the most of that one day you just got. You want to turn that one day into several. Someone opened the door, took a chance on you and now you have to work to get that next day.

That’s a lot of pressure! So let’s get practical on how to get hired again.

It’s not kissing up, or making sure that you make best friends with your Key PA. (Please don’t do this – just be a regular person guys, I mean make friends, but don’t get crazy.)

People think breaking into film is all about talent, gear, or knowing the right people. But the #1 thing that gets you rehired again and again isn’t technical at all, or something you think. you need to be born with – it’s reliability.

And this is not only for Set PAs this is every position in film. Reliability will help you in your film career regardless of what you do.

Why Soft Skills Matter

Film is a team sport. On set, no one wants to work with a brilliant jerk, or someone who flakes. Your skill or the “someone you know” gets you the job once, maybe a few times if you’re lucky, but reliability gets you hired again, and again.

What Reliability Looks Like on Set

• Showing up early and ready.

I’m not a fan of showing up to work early and expecting PAs to work before they are on the clock. What this means is that you are there early enough to get yourself together to be READY and actually on set at your call time. You’re not trying to find parking, or getting breakfast, or fumbling with your surveillance when your call time hits. You have to give yourself enough time to get the lay of the land, get food, and get your surveillance on and be actually where they need you at the time they need you. This goes so far when it comes to the PAs I choose to hire again. So many times I have to deal with PAs who are lost, or overslept, or is a breakfast when Im looking for them at their call time. Those PAs get lower on the list of my calls when I need to hire.

And don’t get me started on those folks who show up HOURS late and think it’s no big deal.

• Following through on what you said you’d do.

I love a good confirmation when a task I gave you is done! Make a habit of it. It shows you’re a good communicator and that you can stay focused.

• Staying consistent under pressure.

We all make mistakes. As a PA new to film expect to make them as well. It’s ok – making one mistake isn’t going to get you fired, (and if it does congrats you’ve be baptized into film!) How you rebound from that mistake and what you learn from it matters the most. Don’t start to spiral, and have it effect everything you do after that.

• Anticipating needs instead of waiting to be told.

Now this might take a few hours if you’re really observant and really paying attention, but if you can start to anticipate needs this is the next level of a great Set PA and someone I really want around on set!

What Unreliability Looks Like

• Canceling last minute.

OMG please don’t do this, especially on your first day! Move mountains to make it to set if it’s your first day with a new team.

• Complaining constantly.

THIS! This to the fullest extend possible. Crew complain a lot and the last thing an AD or a Key PA needs is a brand new PA that is complaining. This is not to be confused with asking questions if you don’t understand something. Completely different.

• Ignoring texts or emails.

Man this is a big one! So many things are communicated through emails and text in film it get a bit overwhelming sometimes, but make sure to respond, and confirm you got that call sheet when it’s sent to you. It makes me feel better when I get those confirmations.

How to Build Reliability

• Always confirm details when booked.

• If something goes wrong, own it fast and fix it.

• Communicate clearly and early.

• Be the person people don’t have to worry about. (If you remember anything from this post I want it to be this!)

Technical skills, talent, and who you know matter, but they’re not rare. What is rare is someone who’s steady, dependable, and trustworthy under pressure. Be that person, and you’ll keep getting called back guaranteed! And if you need more guidance on what a PA does and what’s expected onset as a Set take my Set PA course in NYC or Online.