If you have documentary employment to offer, it can be challenging to find reliable, talented filmmakers and professionals who will make the most of your project. Making the most of documentary and nonfiction film jobs when you're hiring means finding the candidates that will really bring your story to life. You need to find professionals who have the technical filmmaking skills as well as the artistic vision needed for your project.

Making the most of documentary and nonfiction film jobs as an employer means going beyond the obvious places when posting your documentary film internships or jobs. You must do some legwork to find aspiring documentary filmmakers who have real skill and you need to pre-screen prospective employees to avoid facing a daunting array of mediocre resumes. When hiring for documentary and nonfiction film jobs, consider:

1. Attending classes to pre-screen documentary and nonfiction filmmaking students and to get a peek at what prospective employees are creating.

2. Visiting online forums to meet candidates looking for a documentary film career.

3. Placing your documentary job opportunities online for maximum visibility.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Enroll in a nonfiction film class to meet the best and brightest students seeking documentary jobs

Taking a course lets you meet students who are seeking a documentary career, which allows you to pre-screen and make job offers before others have a chance to find the new talent.

I recommend: The New York Film Academy offers a program in documentary film making as well as weekend workshops. The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University offers continuing education courses in documentary filmmaking and a bachelor’s program in the subject.

Network online with people who are seeking careers in documentary filmmaking

When a candidate applies for documentary film employment, a resume and a cover letter don't always tell you everything you need to know. Networking on online forums aimed at documentary filmmakers lets you get to know -- and allows you to pre-screen -- potential candidates. Many forums also allow you to post your job openings at no cost.

I recommend: The Digital Video Information Network has a forum with a "Documentary Techniques" section that allows filmmakers of all experience levels to interact. Documentary Films features an active forum with many areas of interest, including "Documentary Film Discussion" and "Filmmaker Resources." Their "Classifieds" section includes links to jobs and internships.

Place an ad on documentary job listings to attract a large pool of candidates

Placing ads on documentary job listings shouldn't be your only method of recruiting because it may yield an overabundance of replies -- not all of them from qualified candidates. If you have the resources to work with a large pool of potential employees, however, online listings are a good choice.

I recommend: Mandy.com lists many openings in the international film and TV industries, including documentary jobs. Employers can post job ads after completing a short, free registration. The Maslow Media Group offers staffing services for filmmakers and media professionals, including nonfiction filmmakers. Simply contact the company to discuss your needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When filling documentary film jobs, including documentary production jobs, always ask candidates which cameras they have experience using and ask for reels or film samples. That way, you can be sure that your potential employee is familiar with the medium you are using and has some experience.

It can be difficult to find jobs for documentary filmmakers. After all, in most cases you want to make your own documentary, so what you really need is funding. Nonetheless, there are plenty of documentary jobs that don't revolve entirely around being the director.

It takes years of experience in documentary and nonfiction film jobs before someone is willing to give you the money to fund your own project. Fortunately, the types of jobs available throughout your documentary career are usually fun.

If you are interested in pursuing documentary film jobs:

1. Study in school to start your documentary film career. Colleges and universities are the perfect place to get your feet wet and learn about the industry.

2. Join professional organizations and network to find the best documentary and nonfiction film jobs. In this industry, many people get jobs through word of mouth and knowing the right people.

3. Start early and do not be afraid to work for little or no pay. Careers in documentary filmmaking require experience and significant knowledge. If you

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a documentary film internship to gain experience and connections

Some people shun internships because they are unpaid, but if you can afford to do it, an internship is a great way for you to learn the ropes of the documentary industry. It's also common in the industry for people to get jobs through networking and an internship is likely to give you the connections you need.

I recommend: Documentary Educational Resources offers a limited number of internships throughout the year. Global Media Adventures offers documentary film internships abroad, which is a great way to learn the trade.

Find and apply for documentary job openings through online job boards

While much of the filmmaking industry is located in New York City or Los Angeles, you can find jobs located throughout the country. Use job boards online to find a position in your area.

I recommend: Search through the many job listings at Jobster to find your perfect job. Media-Match also offers listings for documentary production jobs. ProductionHUB, Showbizjobs.com and Variety also list documentary production jobs.

Search for teaching jobs in documentary filmmaking

Many jobs in documentary production are short term, including just one project at a time. If you prefer more steady work, you should consider teaching your skills to other students.

I recommend: Juju lists film-teaching positions that are ideal for those with documentary filmmaking experience. You can also search positions at HigherEdJobs.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want documentary employment, it's a good idea to live in a major filmmaking center, such as New York City or Los Angeles. While it's true that jobs do exist outside of these cities, you'll find that there are more opportunities within them.

If your company is involved in making nonfiction films, training for documentary and nonfiction film jobs helps you gain the experience you need to create films in house. If you have documentary jobs to fill, training for documentary and nonfiction film jobs lets you understand what qualifications you need to find in an employee and allows you to network in the field to find the perfect candidate.

If your company will be filling documentary film jobs or will be creating nonfiction films, getting good training is important. Getting training for a documentary career allows you to understand how films are put together so that you can put together quality films for your company. Getting training also allows you to work with your employees more fully to develop the best films possible. When seeking training, consider:

1. Studying at a respected degree program to really understand what careers in documentary require.

2. Finding internships to get hands-on training you can really use to create documentaries.

3. Taking some short-term classes to fill your documentary job openings and to get expertise to create your own films.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend a documentary program to get documentary production jobs

Attending a quality documentary program allows you to build the skills and understanding needed for documentary job opportunities. Such programs can take a few years but will fully prepare you to make your own films and to pursue a documentary film career. Attending a program is often required for production and director jobs.

I recommend: The University of California at Berkeley has a highly-esteemed journalism school. The school does offer a documentary program. Stanford University has a prestigious MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree in Documentary Film.

Get a documentary employment internship for networking and skills training

You can seek out a documentary film internship in conjunction with formal study or instead of it. A documentary film internship allows you to try on documentary employment by working on a documentary film. Most internships are unpaid but give you the opportunity to get hands-on training and to meet professionals in the field.

I recommend: American Documentary offers an internship in documentary film making. Admissions for the internships are rolling, so if you are interested you can apply at any time. Women’s Independent Cinema (WI Cinema) creates many documentaries and are often looking for interns.

Take short classes to brush up on the skills needed in jobs for documentary filmmakers

If you want to fill documentary jobs or just want to build your skills in documentary film-making, short courses are an excellent option. They allow you to meet bright students who can help you with your next documentary project. Short courses can also allow you to hone the skills you need to start creating your own documentaries.

I recommend: The Maine Media Workshops offer short courses in documentary film making. Classes include courses in wildlife documentary, interviews and other related subjects. The Houston Institute for Culture often offers documentary classes as well as more general film and digital classes that may be of interest to documentary film makers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to train for a documentary film career or want to find qualified candidates for your own job openings, keep in mind that documentaries require three skill sets: filmmaking abilities, journalistic abilities and technical abilities. Keep in mind that someone who specialized in documentary filmmaking in journalism school may not have honed his technical skills, while a filmmaker may not have the journalistic skills to get unbiased interviews.

If you are interested in documentary and non-fiction film jobs, learning documentary and non-fiction film jobs key terms is essential. Understanding documentary and non-fiction film jobs key terms allows you to comprehend the various roles that people play on a set to create a non-fiction or documentary film, and learning the key terms also lets you determine which positions might be right for your interests and skills. Understanding the genre and the positions available sets you on the path to a successful documentary or non-fiction film career.

Action Steps
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Documentary film

A documentary film tries to capture a story with reality, using real people rather than actors and, in many cases, real scenes rather than a script.

I recommend: wiseGEEK has a useful and detailed description of documentary film. The AMC Filmsite has a useful definition of the documentary film, an explanation of the types of documentaries that are made and a listing of popular documentaries.

Cinema verite

Cinema verite refers to a type of documentary where realistic and true events are combined with minimal equipment and interview techniques.

I recommend: Maitres-fous.net offers a comprehensive definition of cinema verite that includes some historical context.

Documentary and non-fiction film internships

Documentary and non-fiction film internships are either paid or unpaid positions that allow you to work with a film company or a documentary filmmaker. The aim of these positions is to get you the skills and experience you need, so remuneration is not great even where it is available. However, internships often will help you land paid positions and professional jobs in documentary and non-fiction film.

I recommend: The Documentary Institute with the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida has a definition of a documentary internship, as well as a list of places where filmmakers can seek internships.

Documentary and non-fiction film editor

Like all film editors, documentary and non-fiction film editors review all the available versions of each scene and select the best scenes. They also check for continuity and decide which scenes can be shortened.

I recommend: Education-Portal.com has a description of the film editor position that includes education requirements and other details.

Documentary film director

All film directors, including documentary film directors, direct the cameras and determine what the final film will look like. Directors are essentially in charge of the filming.

I recommend: WILDsound has a detailed description of what a film director is.

Documentary and non-fiction film producer

The producer of the documentary of non-fiction film is like any film producer. He or she raises money for the film, hires the main personnel for the film, sees that the film is distributed and oversees the making of the film.

I recommend: The Producers Guild of America offers a detailed peek into the life of a film producer.