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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:54 pm 
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I am puzzled as to what they teach you in school.
Aside from some technical knowledge and other things, writing a resume and applying for a job should be at the top of the program!

I've probably received close to 100 emails in the last 2 months from photography students who were seeking a 1 day-week placement.

It is very unfortunate those who teach failed to explain their students how to apply for a job.

I'll give rough stats to make a point:

95% failed to make their email personal
85% did not know who they are contacting starting their email with Hi,Hello and Hey there.
99% did not include a website. A second year photography student who doesn't have some kind of a website in 2010 is NOT serious about photography!!
20% included their regular resume(you know, I work at starbucks from 2008-present..). Why would I care about that. Show me your PHOTOGRAPHY RESUME!!
80% did not have their full names
50% had emails like skaterhater@....com or "warlock69@.....com
70% did not include their phone numbers

In most cases their emails looked like this:
"Hi there,
I am a 2nd year photography student and as a part of our program we have to work for a wedding photographer for 1 day and then you can provide a written feedback to our teachers. No payment will be needed.
Please let me know if you are interested.

Thanks,
John"


You can be an amazing photographer,but if you can't communicate properly then you won't be able to find a job.
If an immigrant such as myself can write a somewhat decent email, college/university students must know that as well.



If you are one of those students, perhaps you can pass this message to your teachers and hopefully they will start teaching things that are as important.
You must know how to apply for a job based on the chosen field. Applying for a commercial/advertising job is very different than say applying for a job for a wedding or portrait studio. I hope it's all being taught to you!!!

Cheers!


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:44 pm 
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Hi Dmitri,

I'm currently at Humber which is a school that I am sure you have gotten these types of students emailing you from. So far I have only been there 5 weeks but from what I have seen it is pretty lacking in what they teach in terms of how to go about looking for that placement. We are required to take a Business writing course also which makes it even more pathetic that these students are not sending you proper emails with all information needed. The course it self is in our 2nd semester and focuses SOLELY on business writing such as writing proper emails, letters, resumes dedicated to our chosen field, etc. This basically means that it should be well in their minds while writing emails over the summer to you and to other photographers and studios. I will make sure to hand your comments to someone in the program in order to help everyone out.

Thanks for the information and the great detail you went into.

Cheers,
Scott


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:44 pm 
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college/university is very overrated :D


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:45 pm 
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PotatoEYE wrote:
college/university is very overrated :D


I wouldn't say overrated, but it seems like people are graduating without any kind of standards.

It is scary though, I work HR and recruit lots of fresh grads from all sorts of backgrounds. Its true I have to consider certain points beyond the resume....but its hard to think past a terrible resume that clearly doesn't show effort.

If I was applying to work for Dimitri Markine, I would be harassing him by spamming him with photos, websites, portfolio, and finding ways to get his attention and stand out.

There are great photographers out there but it takes someone with good overall skills in business, communication, marketing, to be successful.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:21 am 
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I understand where you're coming from, but... its a 1-day placement. To me, that's the equivalent of someone saying, "hey, can I tag along one day?". Why would I waste my time going through resume's and critiquing peoples portfolios for them to tag along for a day? It's like take your kids to work day, who cares.

If they aspire to shoot weddings in the future, sure it makes sense to make contacts and seem more professional, but if that's not the case, its just homework to them.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:56 am 
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BaRTiMuS wrote:
I understand where you're coming from, but... its a 1-day placement. To me, that's the equivalent of someone saying, "hey, can I tag along one day?". Why would I waste my time going through resume's and critiquing peoples portfolios for them to tag along for a day? It's like take your kids to work day, who cares.

If they aspire to shoot weddings in the future, sure it makes sense to make contacts and seem more professional, but if that's not the case, its just homework to them.


I think the OP point is: If this is the way most second year college students looks at his or her assignments then they need to do better.

It's a bit more serious then take your kids to work. It's about learning if only for the day what it is to be a professional photographer. Scott (above) has the right attitude in taking Dmitri posting positively as a way to improve.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:29 am 
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BaRTiMuS wrote:
I understand where you're coming from, but... its a 1-day placement. To me, that's the equivalent of someone saying, "hey, can I tag along one day?". Why would I waste my time going through resume's and critiquing peoples portfolios for them to tag along for a day? It's like take your kids to work day, who cares.

If they aspire to shoot weddings in the future, sure it makes sense to make contacts and seem more professional, but if that's not the case, its just homework to them.



It does seem harmless and easy,but it's not. They always have a lot of questions and I also need to fill up a review form for their professors. I most definitely can not use any of their photographs,so there's absolutely no benefit to me in doing all of this. If I really would need an extra pair of hands, I'd rather pay and hire someone with experience, who I don't have to baby all day long.
It's not easy to work in pairs THE RIGHT WAY and someone with little to no knowledge of this, will be getting in the way.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:45 am 
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Nice feedback on what your experiencing Dmitri. Would you consider communicating to the teacher your frustrations and comments?

For anything else, spam folder always works but I guess you are in the lookout for talent as well.

Randy


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:53 am 
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I went to Ryerson for Theatre/Production -- I know its a slightly different field -- and while they did have a "talk" about things like writing resume's, and doing your taxes - there wasn't a whole lot of time dedicated to talking about those issues which are important to the business of being in the industry.

Aside from those basic skills, a lot of job seeking is about networking. I have found this to be true even with my photographic work.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:58 am 
Getting back to Dmitri's original question about resume writing and such, there are probably resources available for students to get this. I know during my time, the recruitment office on campus provided this exactly for students looking for jobs. It's not part of any curriculum or course, but the resource is there for the student to take advantage of and whether the student wants to take it or not, that's their own decision.

Students who don't take advantage of this service, well that's their own loss. It also indicates the character of the individual I say, a lack of self-initiative.

In the end, students need to learn that there is competition out there for jobs, this applies for EVERYTHING. You need to sell yourself and make yourself stand out from everybody else, otherwise your request for a job or what not is just going to get filed away in the trash. Continuously spamming somebody for opportunities won't help, you'll be a nuisance. It's the first impression that counts.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:47 am 
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:36 pm 
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DmitriM wrote:
BaRTiMuS wrote:
I understand where you're coming from, but... its a 1-day placement. To me, that's the equivalent of someone saying, "hey, can I tag along one day?". Why would I waste my time going through resume's and critiquing peoples portfolios for them to tag along for a day? It's like take your kids to work day, who cares.

If they aspire to shoot weddings in the future, sure it makes sense to make contacts and seem more professional, but if that's not the case, its just homework to them.



It does seem harmless and easy,but it's not. They always have a lot of questions and I also need to fill up a review form for their professors. I most definitely can not use any of their photographs,so there's absolutely no benefit to me in doing all of this. If I really would need an extra pair of hands, I'd rather pay and hire someone with experience, who I don't have to baby all day long.
It's not easy to work in pairs THE RIGHT WAY and someone with little to no knowledge of this, will be getting in the way.


I see your point, it seems like way more hassle then its worth. I couldn't imagine some bozo showing up to a wedding shoot dressed and acting inappropriately.


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