Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Parkinson.
Hi Krista, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Like many of today’s college students, I graduated with a communications degree but with no idea of how to start working in the entertainment business. I moved to LA and thought I’d just “figure it out.” With some help from my grandfather, who was not in entertainment but was a natural networker, I ended up getting hired at the iconic William Morris Agency (now called WME). I started as an “in-house temp” (aka “floater”), and within a couple of years, I was promoted to the position of Talent Agent, representing and finding jobs for creative people like hosts, actors, writers, directors, producers, etc. Most notably, I was on teams representing Ryan Seacrest, Jeannie Mai, Tony Hawk, Courteney Cox, and more! I then worked in development as the VP of Tony Hawk’s production company “900 Films” and in entertainment finance as the SVP of a company where Mark Cuban was an original investor. As a matter of fact, while there, I helped him get a role on “Entourage,” which led to his major success on “Shark Tank.”
Those experiences, especially my time at William Morris, gave me a foundation for a solid career in entertainment. They taught me how to help someone connect to themselves, their dreams, and the people who can make them happen. They taught me that having the right team is essential for success. Most importantly, they taught me what my passion was: helping people get hired. Whether it was our billionaire investor boss or a friend’s daughter who was recently graduating, I’d help out wherever I could.
I then created a syllabus and taught my first class called “Breaking Into the Entertainment Business” as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, the nation’s top film school. The class started with 25 students and grew to over 100 over a few years. However, I knew that my message of how to get your first job or internship in entertainment resonated beyond this one classroom, so I founded http://mygradsgetjobs.com, a personalized career strategy and coaching company that empowers college students and recent graduates to target and lands their first internships and jobs in the entertainment industry.
In just a few years, I’m proud to have successfully launched over 800 young careers working as assistants to talent agents, production assistants, interns, and other positions at prestigious entertainment companies in both LA and NYC. These companies include The Ellen DeGeneres Show, HBO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and elite talent agencies like CAA, UTA, ICM, WME, and Gersh.
I’m also excited to announce that I recently launched two new products. First, I have GetHiredinHollywood.com, an online course where in just five modules, you’ll learn my method to help you get hired and launch your career with no fancy connections! Through this course, you’ll learn how to create an amazing submission package that stands out from a pile and how to network like a pro. On top of that, you’ll gain access to my Hollywood community through “Coffee With KP – Live,” a 1-hour virtual group “coffee” meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am PT to get all your industry questions answered in real-time!
I also have “Coffee With KP: On Demand,” a platform filled with video recordings of nearly 100 informational meetings with industry pros if you missed any “Coffee With KP – Live” events. Our guests range from showrunners of hit series to heads of studios, to agents and managers from places like CAA, UTA, WME, Gersh, and 3 Arts.
Nothing makes me happier than seeing one of my clients get hired, and that’s what My Grads Get Jobs is all about, getting you HIRED.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Before my time at WME, I lived a very different life.
I am originally from Indio, California (before Coachella made it cool) and was raised in a strict culture. I went to Brigham Young University and moved out to Los Angeles at age 23 with no fancy connections. Until that point, I had lived a somewhat sheltered life. I then moved into my first apartment in Hollywood with a roommate I had only known for four days before moving in with her and was hired as a temp at the then William Morris Agency (now WME).
Because of my background, I always felt like the biggest outsider in Hollywood (to put it in perspective, I didn’t have my first alcoholic drink until I was 30 and tried coffee at 34!). But this is exactly why I love helping college students and recent grads get jobs in Hollywood! We all struggle with finding our place, and I can identify with not fitting in. However, I didn’t change myself to fit in. Instead, I found a way to be more of myself. That’s why I do what I do now. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a fancy film degree or are from a connected family. I can show anyone how to build an authentic professional network through the methods I teach.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help launch the most valuable startups in the world: careers. I currently own my own business and get to teach students at prestigious universities (Yale, USC, AFI, Columbia College Chicago, NYU, etc.) how to land their first jobs and internships in entertainment. I have coaching clients whom I help target and find the right jobs for them. Most importantly, I’ve created a thriving community of like-minded people who are ambitious, hard-working, talented, and ready to launch. I had no idea such a job even existed, and as my life unfolded, my passion and purpose became clear. I’ve never worked so hard at anything in my life—and I love it! I want to help as many people as possible “Get Hired In Hollywood.” It does not matter your age, socioeconomic status, ethnic background, location, religious beliefs, etc. If you are eager, enthusiastic, and serious about a career in entertainment, I want to help you make your dreams come true.
I’ve created several key services that have helped over 800 people (and soon to be YOU) get their first jobs in the entertainment business.
1. Coffee With KP – Live
Coffee With KP is a one-hour group informational meeting with industry professionals over a virtual coffee chat. They take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am PT. Since the stay-at-home orders were in place, I’ve hosted over 100 1-hour daily zoom sessions where I invited my industry friends to talk about what they do, how they do it, and how you—my entertainment job seekers— will do it too. It was a way to stay connected to your career goals and get introduced to industry professionals in a non-intimidating and super fun way. It has been nothing short of magical, and I’d love for you to be part of the magic too!
2. Coffee With KP – On Demand
Coffee With KP – On Demand is an online video library that includes nearly 100 video and audio recordings of informational meetings with industry professionals over Zoom, each hosted by me. My past guests include:
Oscar-Nominated Editor from “Ford v. Ferrari,” “Walk the Line,” “Deadpool,” “The Greatest Showman,” & more.
Showrunners like Doug Ellin, the creator of “Entourage”.
Emmy-Nominated Directors from “The Hate U Give,” “This is Us,” “Power,” “The Mindy Project,” “Sense 8,” & more.
Agents, Managers, and Publicists from WME, CAA, UTA, ICM, Gersh, 3 Arts, BGE, Align PR, & more.
Production Companies like Hello Sunshine, Kinetic, and more.
TV Stars and Personalities like Mark Cuban, Nely Galán, Kevin Frazier, Taylor Dayne, and the “Bachelor’s” Ben Higgins.
HR Specialists from Discovery, Valence Media, and more!
3. GetHiredInHollywood.com
College may have taught you some of the skills needed to perform your first Hollywood job, but it didn’t teach you how to land it without fancy connections! The Get Hired In Hollywood online course teaches my “H.I.R.E.D.” method to getting a job in the entertainment business. We’ll be moving this course online soon, so even more people can have access to it! By taking this course, you’ll learn…
How to clarify your career vision
How to build your professional network
How to create a KILLER one-page resume
How to create your video cover letter
How to interview like a pro
What to expect in your first job
By taking “Get Hired In Hollywood,” you will get every edge possible to land your dream job! This is a results-focused course that is intended to give you the tools to be job-ready while making your job search easier and more fun!
4. Private Coaching
Need 1-on-1 expert guidance? I’m here to help! Whether you’re a college student looking to get your first internship or a seasoned professional looking to level up your career, I’ll give you personalized advice and expertise through my private coaching services. Just send me a copy of your resume, and we can set up a complimentary 20-minute zoom.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
There is a season to everything in life.
In your 20s, you learn.
In your 30s, you earn.
In your 40s, you “burn” out if you aren’t careful, so you only want to fan the flames of what is really your life’s mission.
Passion is a flame. It isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s what you do with it. It can be good if you use that fire to build something you’re proud of. On the other hand, if you don’t alchemize it into action, you burn out.
Whatever is going on in your life, use each season to the max! And if this “season” in your life isn’t where you want to be, just know that change will come.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@mygradsgetjobs.com
- Website: mygradsgetjobs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krista.parkinson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyGradsGetJobs
