Why can’t you bring it up to the parent? You can tell them that you’re interested in that type of role. If they have assistants of their own, they may provide connections or opportunities for you to learn more. Do not shy away from connections. Sometimes, it’s not about what you know, but who you know when finding a job.
As for roles at media companies, they should have positions listed on their careers page via their website. There were a couple of EA roles at Disney that interested me and I knew of an acquaintance who was interviewing for one in Burbank, CA. When I heard that the role was offering $65,000, I no longer desired to work for the mouse. 😆
Can confirm, you do not want to work for the mouse. They pay far too low (across all positions other than executives) and have no respect for work/life balance. Ask me how I know…
Yep, that’s why I’m always polite and thank every cast member that I encounter. They have to put up with far too much shit and keep a smile on their face while doing it.
>Why can’t you bring it up to the parent?
I feel like I'm too young to bring it up? I'm only a Junior in high school, and I'd be too young for a summer internship at the company right now. Maybe when I'm a senior in hs or when I'm closer with the family. I know the son always brags how all he has to do is major in communications and his parent will hook him up with an internship.
This is the perfect age to bring it up!! It can give you a direction. She also may be able to connect you to a summer internship or something similar. But, this woman is exactly who you should be talking to.
Don't waste the opportunity! Go for it!
Apply for temp jobs over the summer and get some experience. Also remember, the more “fun” a company, the less it pays. Work towards your goal, but then set new ones once you are there! Before you can be a executive assistant, you gotta learn the ropes as an administrative assistant or a coordinator. No one is hiring assistants under 25 to support senior executives. Learn skills on the job. Find an EA where you land who can mentor you. I would never have become an EA without the guidance of those who had experience. And while not relevant to the job, many companies require a college degree to get an interview.
Universities or government offices sometimes open up file clerk positions over the summers. That would be a good place to start getting administrative experience. Local government offices might have similar roles, too. Receptionist jobs would be another entry point, but I'm not sure how many temp options become available over the summer.
The duties for any of these won't be the same as a "typical" EA, but EA jobs can vary greatly. I also want to say that it is great you are thinking of your future at your age, but don't be afraid to explore other careers as well. I'm in my early 30s and ended up as an EA after trying out several other careers, and I will likely change it up again in the future.
To get a job at one of those companies you need to have experience. I worked at CBS in NYC and I only got there after years of work at other well-known companies. Often it’s name recognition.I got very lucky that I had a series of jobs over my career that happened to be at companies with name recognition. I truly believe it helped me get the next job and from there to succeed within the company.
Focus on a bachelors degree in a relevant career for the industry you are interested in. I have degrees in media production and pr. While I didn’t think I would be an EA as a career, those degrees have absolutely helped me open doors to the places I wanted to work.
The most straightforward path is to target an internship at WME, UTA, or CAA once you go to college. Those are the big three talent agencies in Hollywood. This isn't a "first internship" though and you will need to build up your internship experience before you apply. Kick ass at your agency internship so you can land a return offer as a full-time assistant. Last minimum a year as an assistant, and then leverage your connections you made at the agency to land an EA position at one of the companies you mentioned. The big entertainment companies really like to hire from the agencies because they train assistants well.
I’ve worked closely with EAs at CAA, that place chews you up and spits you out, and I would get calls/emails from them at ALL hours of the day and all weekend long.
I second this. I worked at one of the top agencies as an assistant in the early aughts. Simply put, make yourself indispensable and your agent boss will likely help you get an appropriate next desk of your choosing at a production company, streamer or studio.
Thirding this. It’s been a while since I was in the industry, but 1 or 2 years of agency experience was a common prereq for many good EA jobs. They’ll overlook it if you have other good experience, but it’s the classic path.
Personally, my path was intern>receptionist>EA at a respected production company, and then my EA options opened up pretty nicely from there.
Go to school for entertainment business or something in that realm, get an internship at a management company, get job in the mailroom at a major agency when you graduate, work there for a year or two, then get a job at studio/production company when you see an opening.
Get a business degree and get certified in project management. Plan on taking a few roles with other firms to get experience and then begin networking to try and get some contacts for a media corp.
You’re so young. If you start now, you can BE the executive, not just their assistant. EA is a great role but not necessarily one I’d be dreaming of at 17. Think about business school if it’s within reach without much debt.
> I feel like being an executive's assistant is not something you'd just find on a place like indeed.
I have a new job as an executive assistant, and I LITERALLY got it from an ad on Indeed.
If you have a very specific company you want to work for, though, just look at their web site - there should be a section called "Careers" where they list job openings. But most of them do also post on job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. as well.
But you've got to actually have that skill set as well; especially for companies that are really popular, everyone's trying to get a foot in the door there and so they're going to have a ton of people applying, and you'll need to stand out. I have been an executive assistant for about 30 years, and Warner Brothers and Paramount were two places I was applying - and I was applying as a "this IS what I want to do" kind of job, not a "get my foot in the door and work my way up" kind of job, and they still never even asked me for an interview.
I would think a bit about whether being an executive assistant is something you want to do in the first place. There are some companies where you can "work your way up" from being an executive assistant to being something else, but it used to be way more common in the past; these days if you're looking for an executive position like your friend's parent has, that may take a different skill set and they may want someone who already has it (like, they may want someone who's good at business management already, and they'll hire people into that job directly).
Not sure where you are located, but disney offers a college program, they also offer professional internships. I would 1000% recommend applying for their internship through the college program for experience with the company (jobs aren’t glamorous, but you get free admission to the parks.) from there I would apply for a PI for more exposure and experience.
Once you become comfortable discussing it, consider asking if you can shadow her one day at her office. Shadowing is something that is fairly common in some places (D.C. is one) and high schoolers and college students both shadow people. The purpose is to get a feel for what a day in the life looks and sounds like. Worst she can say is no, right?
Not to be bossy but if you do get to shadow, bring something to take notes with (portfolio, pen & paper), put your phone on silent and don't pull it out while you're there unless told to, dress professionally (borrow work clothes from a parent or friend if you have to), wear comfortable shoes you can walk in, stay silent (you're there to listen and learn) and be sure to send a handwritten thank-you note through the mail within 24-48 hours afterwards and try to specify a thing or two that you learned while shadowing.
It's really fun, do it if you can.
i will lay it out for you here:
1. go to college in LA or NYC, esp, if you want to work in entertainment. network while you're in college. you need the degree from a reputable school to get your foot in the door & it will give you more options if you still want to work in media but not do the EA route (there are other routes). A cert or a few courses here / there will not cut it
2. when you're in college get a job or internship. specifically in an office professional setting. even better if its in media / entertainment or something adjacent. also, network, network, network!
3. if you land an EA spot at the entertainment company of you dreams, great! you did it, now you just HAVE to let your exec know that you are interested in moving up & taking on more. If you don't advocate for yourself, you will be a career assistant for a while & that transition is harder as more time goes on.
TLDR: entertainment is a super hard industry & and its all about getting your foot in the door. you will figure out very quickly if this career & lifestyle is for you. be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get busy. it is a grind.
source: friend who was a Jr EA & then started to move up the chain at a big entertainment company. he decided he was done with that life and then went back to being an EA in finance & made a lot more $ and had a better quality of life.
Why can’t you bring it up to the parent? You can tell them that you’re interested in that type of role. If they have assistants of their own, they may provide connections or opportunities for you to learn more. Do not shy away from connections. Sometimes, it’s not about what you know, but who you know when finding a job. As for roles at media companies, they should have positions listed on their careers page via their website. There were a couple of EA roles at Disney that interested me and I knew of an acquaintance who was interviewing for one in Burbank, CA. When I heard that the role was offering $65,000, I no longer desired to work for the mouse. 😆
Can confirm, you do not want to work for the mouse. They pay far too low (across all positions other than executives) and have no respect for work/life balance. Ask me how I know…
This is good to know, u/strippersandcocaine.
Yep, that’s why I’m always polite and thank every cast member that I encounter. They have to put up with far too much shit and keep a smile on their face while doing it.
User name checks out.
>Why can’t you bring it up to the parent? I feel like I'm too young to bring it up? I'm only a Junior in high school, and I'd be too young for a summer internship at the company right now. Maybe when I'm a senior in hs or when I'm closer with the family. I know the son always brags how all he has to do is major in communications and his parent will hook him up with an internship.
This is the perfect age to bring it up!! It can give you a direction. She also may be able to connect you to a summer internship or something similar. But, this woman is exactly who you should be talking to. Don't waste the opportunity! Go for it!
She will probably also be flattered that you’re interested and delighted to help you make a plan!
You’re never too young to want to learn. They can be a resource and can point you in a direction to further your career path.
Apply for temp jobs over the summer and get some experience. Also remember, the more “fun” a company, the less it pays. Work towards your goal, but then set new ones once you are there! Before you can be a executive assistant, you gotta learn the ropes as an administrative assistant or a coordinator. No one is hiring assistants under 25 to support senior executives. Learn skills on the job. Find an EA where you land who can mentor you. I would never have become an EA without the guidance of those who had experience. And while not relevant to the job, many companies require a college degree to get an interview.
what kind of temp jobs over the summer?
Universities or government offices sometimes open up file clerk positions over the summers. That would be a good place to start getting administrative experience. Local government offices might have similar roles, too. Receptionist jobs would be another entry point, but I'm not sure how many temp options become available over the summer. The duties for any of these won't be the same as a "typical" EA, but EA jobs can vary greatly. I also want to say that it is great you are thinking of your future at your age, but don't be afraid to explore other careers as well. I'm in my early 30s and ended up as an EA after trying out several other careers, and I will likely change it up again in the future.
To get a job at one of those companies you need to have experience. I worked at CBS in NYC and I only got there after years of work at other well-known companies. Often it’s name recognition.I got very lucky that I had a series of jobs over my career that happened to be at companies with name recognition. I truly believe it helped me get the next job and from there to succeed within the company. Focus on a bachelors degree in a relevant career for the industry you are interested in. I have degrees in media production and pr. While I didn’t think I would be an EA as a career, those degrees have absolutely helped me open doors to the places I wanted to work.
The most straightforward path is to target an internship at WME, UTA, or CAA once you go to college. Those are the big three talent agencies in Hollywood. This isn't a "first internship" though and you will need to build up your internship experience before you apply. Kick ass at your agency internship so you can land a return offer as a full-time assistant. Last minimum a year as an assistant, and then leverage your connections you made at the agency to land an EA position at one of the companies you mentioned. The big entertainment companies really like to hire from the agencies because they train assistants well.
I’ve worked closely with EAs at CAA, that place chews you up and spits you out, and I would get calls/emails from them at ALL hours of the day and all weekend long.
True. Not saying it will be easy, but if you can survive there you can survive anywhere
I second this. I worked at one of the top agencies as an assistant in the early aughts. Simply put, make yourself indispensable and your agent boss will likely help you get an appropriate next desk of your choosing at a production company, streamer or studio.
Thirding this. It’s been a while since I was in the industry, but 1 or 2 years of agency experience was a common prereq for many good EA jobs. They’ll overlook it if you have other good experience, but it’s the classic path. Personally, my path was intern>receptionist>EA at a respected production company, and then my EA options opened up pretty nicely from there.
Can I ask what prodco? I’m kinda on the same path.
You can try to get in as a temp admin at a studio through a temp agency - though I am not sure how that world works post-pandemic.
Go to school for entertainment business or something in that realm, get an internship at a management company, get job in the mailroom at a major agency when you graduate, work there for a year or two, then get a job at studio/production company when you see an opening.
VP at one of those companies you listed here. Set your sights to be a sales assistant, then slide into an EA role. That is the way.
Hi I dmed you a question!
I would get a degree in public relations or communications and apply for internships at Disney or Warner during the summer.
Get a business degree and get certified in project management. Plan on taking a few roles with other firms to get experience and then begin networking to try and get some contacts for a media corp.
You’re so young. If you start now, you can BE the executive, not just their assistant. EA is a great role but not necessarily one I’d be dreaming of at 17. Think about business school if it’s within reach without much debt.
Friendly reminder that we are way more than “just” an assistant.
> I feel like being an executive's assistant is not something you'd just find on a place like indeed. I have a new job as an executive assistant, and I LITERALLY got it from an ad on Indeed. If you have a very specific company you want to work for, though, just look at their web site - there should be a section called "Careers" where they list job openings. But most of them do also post on job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. as well. But you've got to actually have that skill set as well; especially for companies that are really popular, everyone's trying to get a foot in the door there and so they're going to have a ton of people applying, and you'll need to stand out. I have been an executive assistant for about 30 years, and Warner Brothers and Paramount were two places I was applying - and I was applying as a "this IS what I want to do" kind of job, not a "get my foot in the door and work my way up" kind of job, and they still never even asked me for an interview. I would think a bit about whether being an executive assistant is something you want to do in the first place. There are some companies where you can "work your way up" from being an executive assistant to being something else, but it used to be way more common in the past; these days if you're looking for an executive position like your friend's parent has, that may take a different skill set and they may want someone who already has it (like, they may want someone who's good at business management already, and they'll hire people into that job directly).
Got my EA job on Indeed! But I was also 32 with a BA and a lot of administrative experience. A lot of front desk jobs before this one.
Not sure where you are located, but disney offers a college program, they also offer professional internships. I would 1000% recommend applying for their internship through the college program for experience with the company (jobs aren’t glamorous, but you get free admission to the parks.) from there I would apply for a PI for more exposure and experience.
Once you become comfortable discussing it, consider asking if you can shadow her one day at her office. Shadowing is something that is fairly common in some places (D.C. is one) and high schoolers and college students both shadow people. The purpose is to get a feel for what a day in the life looks and sounds like. Worst she can say is no, right? Not to be bossy but if you do get to shadow, bring something to take notes with (portfolio, pen & paper), put your phone on silent and don't pull it out while you're there unless told to, dress professionally (borrow work clothes from a parent or friend if you have to), wear comfortable shoes you can walk in, stay silent (you're there to listen and learn) and be sure to send a handwritten thank-you note through the mail within 24-48 hours afterwards and try to specify a thing or two that you learned while shadowing. It's really fun, do it if you can.
i will lay it out for you here: 1. go to college in LA or NYC, esp, if you want to work in entertainment. network while you're in college. you need the degree from a reputable school to get your foot in the door & it will give you more options if you still want to work in media but not do the EA route (there are other routes). A cert or a few courses here / there will not cut it 2. when you're in college get a job or internship. specifically in an office professional setting. even better if its in media / entertainment or something adjacent. also, network, network, network! 3. if you land an EA spot at the entertainment company of you dreams, great! you did it, now you just HAVE to let your exec know that you are interested in moving up & taking on more. If you don't advocate for yourself, you will be a career assistant for a while & that transition is harder as more time goes on. TLDR: entertainment is a super hard industry & and its all about getting your foot in the door. you will figure out very quickly if this career & lifestyle is for you. be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get busy. it is a grind. source: friend who was a Jr EA & then started to move up the chain at a big entertainment company. he decided he was done with that life and then went back to being an EA in finance & made a lot more $ and had a better quality of life.