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While you can find reality TV shows with the click of a button, finding reality TV jobs is rarely so simple. In fact, reality TV production jobs can be downright elusive if you don’t know where to look.
In this post, we’ll help you get your search started right with an in-depth exploration of how to find reality TV jobs. We’ll show you where to look, who to ask, and what to expect when working in reality TV.
Reality TV crew jobs come in all shapes and sizes. They range from reality TV producer jobs down to reality TV production assistant jobs with the whole range of crew positions in between.
In other words, reality TV production jobs are as varied as production itself. Just as in narrative production, available positions can vary dramatically from shoot to shoot.
However, it would be a mistake to think of narrative and reality TV production jobs as being the same or even similar. The production of reality TV is its own beast, complete with a unique set of norms and characteristics that set it apart from narrative counterparts.
Reality TV production assistant jobs, for example, are more open-ended than narrative production assistant positions. Reality PAs aren’t confined to any single department and often wear multiple hats through the course of a given shoot.
One minute, they may be setting up craft services. The next, they could be moving camera gear or helping with art department tasks.
The same concept applies other reality TV production jobs, especially producers.
The role of narrative producers is largely strategic and managerial. By contrast, reality TV producer jobs tend to be far more hands-on. Yes, they’ll still make decisions on strategy and administration, but you might also catch them interviewing talent or running a camera.
Reality TV producer jobs require a Swiss Army Knife approach to production. Their fundamental responsibility is to simply get the job done.
This basic nature of reality TV production carries an important lesson for finding reality TV jobs. Whether you’re seeking reality TV production jobs, reality TV casting jobs, or reality TV post-production jobs, it’s best to search with an open mind and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
On that note, let’s talk about where you can find reality TV jobs.
Job websites specific to the entertainment industry offer a straightforward way to search for work in reality TV.
Most job sites come with search functionality, enabling you to hone in on the exact types of work you want. If you decide you want to search for reality TV casting jobs instead of reality TV producer jobs, it only takes a few clicks or keystrokes to get you on the right track.
Each site has its own advantages and characteristics. Finding the right one for you is a matter of objectives and preferences. Here are some recommendations to get you started:
Staff Me Up is one of the best online sources for production gigs of any kind. Staff Me Up combines the functionality of a social network with the convenience of a job board. This innovative design choice results in an employment database that is both more personal and more secure than an average competitor.
Every posting on the Staff Me Up job board comes directly from an actual employer, meaning that there are no junk jobs automatically recycled from other sites. The board also comes with search filters built specifically for media production to further help users cut through the noise.
With Staff Me Up, it’s free to search for and apply for jobs. However, the site does offer premium membership plans packed with special perks that might streamline your reality TV job hunt.
EntertainmentCareers.net calls itself “a community of curated jobs from vetted employers.” For more than 23 years, the site has provided an active board of manually screened employment opportunities within the entertainment industry.
EntertainmentCareers.net allows users to search for gigs by keyword or scan available jobs by hand. The site maintains a subcategory for unscripted and reality TV crew jobs. It can help you focus on the right listings while still affording you access to unexpected opportunities within the unscripted community.
The job board run by EntertainmentCareers.net includes roles on set, in the office, and beyond. No matter what positions you’re seeking in reality TV, EntertainmentCareers.net is worth a look.
Backstage stands tall among the best casting websites for working actors. It’s one of the largest and most well-known boards for casting calls on the internet.
Backstage wasn’t originally designed for finding reality TV jobs, but it still provides a powerful resource for unscripted jobseekers. The site’s connection to the casting community makes it an important source of information on reality TV casting jobs, and Backstage now also provides unique listings for production crew positions.
For reality crew gigs, Backstage does not offer the same volume or variety of opportunity as a traditional production job board. However, its unique demographic and elevated industry prestige make for a resource that’s impossible to ignore.
Media Match & Music Jobs Network is an online networking community that brings its subscribers the latest opportunities in film, TV, music, and gaming. Media Match is a global organization with teams based in Los Angeles, London, Dublin, and Rio de Janeiro.
Media Match provides comprehensive search options along with additional filters to zero in on opportunities that are perfectly tailored to you. To get full access to the jobs board and application tools, users will need to purchase premium membership at a cost of either $18/month or $119/year.
The Tracking Board has long been a source of Hollywood insider news and project tracking information. The site built its reputation by tapping into the spec screenplay market, but its unique audience made The Tracking Board a natural fit for industry employment information.
The Tracking Board brings agents, executives, and industry newcomers alike into a single location. The site serves as a meeting point and mediator for the exchange of information and opportunity.
Today, The Tracking Board’s Job Market is updated with dozens of new positions every week. Note that these listings tend to lean towards full-time office jobs, not physical production gigs.
If you’re interested in working directly for a production company or producer, The Tracking Board might be just the resource you’re looking for.
Employment websites not built exclusively for the entertainment industry present a trade-off. On one hand, they lack the focus that comes with a site specialized in production.
On the other hand, they offer a more open-ended approach to discovering new employment opportunities.
Generalized job search websites often cast a wider net than industry-specific competitors. A higher volume and wider variety of individuals become active in their networks. Therefore, these sites present users with a chance to forge connections and find jobs that they likely would not have otherwise.
Here are a few major employment sites worth your attention:
ZipRecruiter started as a platform for helping small businesses identify ideal job candidates, but it’s since exploded into one of the largest online employment resources available. ZipRecruiter connects millions of job seekers with millions of employers across the U.S. and Canada.
The AI-driven technology at the core of ZipRecruiter optimizes the search experience for both jobseekers and employers. If you’re looking for a reality TV producer position, ZipRecruiter might offer the best way to connect you to your next ideal opportunity.
Indeed touts itself as “the #1 job site in the world” and the company has the numbers to prove it. With over 300 million unique monthly visitors, Indeed is armed with well-established expertise in connecting jobseekers to meaningful employment opportunities.
In practice, Indeed functions like a standard job board, but its high volume of user activity sets it apart from similar competitors. Indeed provides access to a mass market database of employment opportunities, complete with a wide array of search and application features.
From in-office positions at reality TV production companies to reality TV producer jobs in the field, Indeed can help you cast the widest net possible when searching for reality TV jobs.
As always in the entertainment industry, the best ways to find work boil down to networking. Whether you’re searching for reality TV crew jobs or reality TV casting jobs, the most direct route to employment is contacting the person or organization in charge of hiring.
Of course, making the right connection is easier said than done. Let’s take a look at a few routes you might take to stronger networking opportunities and more reality TV jobs.
Personal connections should always be your starting point for finding reality TV jobs. It’s an obvious point, but your friends and acquaintances know you better than someone you’ve never met. For that reason alone, they’ll be more likely to hire or recommend you.
Even if your current network is relatively small, it’s still the best place to get started. Personal connections will be more motivated to help you generate new opportunities and more likely to share connections that might be beneficial to your career. You almost certainly know someone who knows someone who knows someone who can tap you into reality TV jobs.
Alumni networks are an ideal source for reality TV jobs or contacts because they come with a built-in connection. If you share an alma mater with someone, you share common ground with them. That common ground gives you an immediate leg up when seeking reality TV crew jobs.
If you don’t know how to access your alumni network, keep an eye out for alumni events. Depending on the institution, you may be able to identify alumni events specific to the production industry or to some of your other interests.
Networking events can be an effective source of reality TV jobs because their entire purpose is to bring people together. If you’re looking for the best reality TV jobs in Los Angeles, why not check out the best networking events Los Angeles has to offer? If you’re searching for the best reality TV jobs NYC can muster, why not seek out the best networking events NYC has on tap?
Your mileage may vary between different networking events, and it’s important to maintain a healthy perspective. While your main goal might be to find reality TV producer jobs or reality TV casting jobs, that won’t be the main goal of an individual event.
Try to focus instead on building connections from event to event and conversation to conversation. Over time, these connections will inevitably lead to more or better employment opportunities.
Of course, we can’t mention networking without mentioning social networking. While Facebook groups allow you to network without leaving your home, their real power is in scheduling networking events to visit in the real world.
Two of our favorites are Media Mavens and Women Working in Reality TV, but you can find more from around the world at Amy Clarke’s list of Most Valuable Filmmaking Facebook Groups to Join. Some of them are built specifically around certain demographics (women, people of color), other are open to anyone. All will put you in touch with new friends who share the same dream you do.
At the end of the day, that's what networking is about -- finding people who share the dream and helping each other achieved the dream. You won't make it to success stepping on others. You'll make it helping others up.
While it may not be the most direct path to an employment opportunity, it’s a good idea to reach out to production companies whose work you admire. They may not have jobs available at the moment, but expressing sincere interest is an easy way to establish contact.
However, be careful with your approach. Professional media organizations are generally wary of cold calls and emails. Therefore, reaching out requires finesse. It’s a good idea to be open and specific, but never be pushy. The idea is to make a healthy connection that could yield opportunities down the line.
Finding reality TV jobs can be challenging, but it should be easier now that you know where to start your search. With an open mind and a strong work ethic, you’ll be prepping for your next reality TV gig in no time.
For a more personal insight on reality TV employment, find out how to produce unscripted television with Irad Eyal or let Margot Ransom teach you how to approach unscripted production accounting.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. We’re a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada.
