I don't know about you, but in the last few years my career’s been pummeled by a redundancy, a pandemic and a global strike.

From all that, plus tons of LinkedIn chats, I see 4 problems people in post face right now.

1) Post is getting more fragmented. Work's harder to find.

Projects go to people who are well-connected, have good track records and can show they're a safe pair of hands.

They do the work well, within budget and without pissing anyone off.

Some people are great at this. Many are not.

The showing it bit, I mean.

If you're staff, you might think this doesn't affect you. You've got a job.

Yes. True. But.

Most freelancers I know, didn't choose to go freelance. We got made redundant.

Usually with no warning.

Unlike production, where it's been the default for years, freelance is new for many in post.

It can be an eye-opener for those relying on 'being really good' or 'having loads of experience'.

Sorry to say, but you'll compete with lots of people who can do the same job. For less. And well enough that clients can't tell the difference.

If you don't believe me, take a look at LinkedIn. On a daily basis people say they’ve got 2 decades of experience but haven't worked in the last year.

These days, you have to be able to market yourself, understand costs, handle clients and generally be mindful of everyone else's problems. Oh, yes, and do your actual job.

In other words, you need to think like a one-person business.

Even if you're staff.

Because very few staff do this.

These are skills set you apart. Do it right, you'll attract work, you’ll become invaluable.

There are fewer things companies want more than people who bring in work.

This is why the people who get paid lots, get paid lots.

Better chances of promotion.

Better chances of getting new jobs.

Better chance of being able to pay the bills, if bad brown news hits the fan.

Most people leave this WAY too late to learn.

2) Your network is how you get work

People complain that the industry is all about who you know. Hardly any jobs get advertised, let's not forget.

Fair or unfair, it's what I've found.

I know people who've hardly worked in the last five years. They're very vocal about this unfairness on social media.

I also know people who've not stopped working in the last five years. They're very active in social, well, life.

That's not a co-incidence.

Whether you want freelance work, a job, a promotion, knowing the right people really, really, really helps.

People who might text you about jobs. People who mention your name when asked for recommendations.

(FYI, 95% of my work in the last 5 years came this way. Others say the same. I've done polls and that.)

But building a network takes time.

Now, if you're any sort of sane, you've read 'building a network' and done a little sickette in your mouth.

Because 'building a network' is the sort of phrase that an overpriced management consultant would use on a Powerpoint slide in 1996.

In reality it’s just finding more people you like, you trust, and you'd be happy to work with.

Making friends, basically.

And that definitely takes time.

What you DON'T want to do is wait until you need those contacts, and then try to befriend people.

Because that becomes painfully obvious.

Build those relationships long, long before you need favours.

AVOID THIS TRAP:

Most peoples’ networks consist of past colleagues. That's a narrow slice of the industry.

They tend to hang out with people who do the same job. That's natural. You have things in common.

While this is great for chitchat and sharing client horror stories, it's less helpful for income. Because in the nicest possible way, those people are your competition.

You want friends who get asked, eg, 'do you know a good colourist?' and they say 'yep, I know just the person'. Then ping you a text.

Not friends who say, 'yep, I can do that'. Then do the job themselves.

3) Remote working is common now.

And it's great. Fewer 3 hour per day commutes.

But being isolated is less great

Studies are already showing a creeping feeling of loneliness.

More importantly - building relationships is harder.

No more 8 hours in a room together, eating lunch, having coffee. The little incidental chats during renders. Finding out the things you have in common.

Remote is much more transactional.

Is this done?

Not yet.

Tell me when it is.

Will do.

At in-person events, people catch up with those they already know, or they meet people briefly.

There’s this pressure to be TERRIBLY INTERESTING in the 7 minutes before the next talk. While getting jabbed in the back every 30 seconds as people try to get past. Checking the time every two minutes because they've a train to catch.

Fine for a quick catchup.

But not very relaxing, not particularly effective and not exactly conducive to making NEW friends.

Especially when, in post, let's be honest, many of us are introverts and this doesn't come naturally.

4) More AI means ALL of this becomes more important

Q. So, how exactly does WRAPPP help with any of this?

Excellent question, glad we got to that.