Ep244: How Marc Wiltshire Optimized His Cold Outreach Strategies to Land His Dream Job

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Today’s guest is Marc Wiltshire who is a television editor and a valued member of the Optimizer community. Marc had been working on high profile shows like Star, Our Kind of People, Bel-Air and Wu-Tang: An American Saga. In our conversation, Marc shares his journey of living in Singapore for 4 years to study in film school, to moving to LA, knowing no one, to then getting consistent work on high profile projects. From the outside perspective, we can say that Marc is just one ‘lucky’ person. But he played a big role in making his own luck.
Marc is one of the many editors who decided to take the traditional path of becoming an Assistant Editor first before becoming an editor. But what’s different is Marc’s mindset, which allowed him to shorten his 5-year plan to 2 years. In our conversation, find out why Marc didn’t view taking an AE job as stepping down, but he actually considered a move up.
You’ll also hear how Marc landed his dream job of cutting Wu-Tang with the help of the Optimizer program. We go in depth into the mindset shift he needed to nail one of the toughest interviews of his career.
This student case study with Marc will show you all the necessary tools you need to create your own luck and keep landing your next dream job.
00:00 Introduction
00:00 The Journey to Becoming an Assistant Editor
00:28 Interview with Television Editor Mark Wiltshire
00:53 Mark's Early Career and Community Involvement
03:00 Mark's Origin Story: From Canada to Hollywood
03:17 The Value of Community and Mentorship
03:59 Mark's Unconventional Journey to Hollywood
07:45 The Decision to Become an Assistant Editor
08:27 The Challenges and Struggles of Breaking into the Industry
08:34 The Importance of Persistence and Networking
09:50 The Transition from Assistant to Editor
11:39 The Importance of Hard Work and Dedication
12:50 The Role of Luck in Career Advancement
13:52 The Reality of Working as an Assistant Editor
18:11 The Importance of Choosing the Right Opportunities
19:43 The Journey to the Editor's Chair
21:13 The Challenges of Moving Up in the Industry
22:31 The Value of Mentorship and Building Relationships
27:09 The Struggles of Landing the Second Editing Job
36:57 The Decision to Return to Assistant Editing
38:22 The Journey Begins: First Steps into the Industry
38:28 The Power of Networking: Landing the First Job
38:33 Expanding Horizons: Learning from Different Shows
39:26 Unexpected Opportunities: The Power of Being Adaptable
39:56 Facing Challenges: Navigating the Impact of the Pandemic
40:05 Resilience and Persistence: Bouncing Back from Setbacks
40:25 Embracing New Opportunities: The Journey to HBO
40:54 The Value of Hard Work: Proving Oneself in the Industry
41:59 Recognition and Reward: The Fruits of Dedication
42:15 Reflections on Luck and Hard Work
42:54 The Power of Persistence: Navigating Career Trajectories
43:23 The Importance of Staying Connected: Landing the Next Job
44:07 The Art of the Interview: Securing the Position
44:40 Back in the Editing Chair: The Journey Continues
46:08 Reflections on the Industry: The Importance of Relationships
49:11 The Power of Preparation: Landing the Dream Job
51:15 The Importance of Providing Value: Acing the Interview
01:10:11 The Power of Positivity and Kindness in the Industry
01:13:00 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Ep234: [CASE STUDY] How to Make the Most of Slow Work Periods and Make a Career Pivot | with Malinda Zehner Guerra
Continue to Listen & Learn
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Ep243: [CASE STUDY] Beyond NCIS: Abandoning Job Security (Without Burning a Bridge), Optimizing Unemployment, & Embracing Fear of the Unknown | with Luke Brown
Ep137: How to Negotiate Your Real Value (and Advocate For Yourself) As an Assistant Editor | with Scott Jacobs
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Thank you for watching - I really appreciate it :)
Be well,
Zack Arnold, ACE
Founder & Coach at Optimize Yourself, inc.