Most Important Skills for a Producer at Major Media Company
Danielle, a Producer at a major media company, emphasizes the importance of multitasking in "calm[ing] stormy waters" of competing demands and decisive judgment, even if imperfect. The ability to adapt communication style using "customer service skills," combined with proactive leadership and independent judgment, are also crucial for success in their role.
Multitasking, Decision-Making, Customer Service, Proactiveness, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Danielle Witz
Producer
Major Media Company
Occidental College
History, Art History
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Multitasking and remaining calm under pressure are crucial skills for managing various demands simultaneously.
2. Decisiveness is key, acknowledging that not every decision will be perfect but the ability to move forward is essential.
3. Strong customer service skills, adaptability, and proactive problem-solving are vital for navigating diverse personalities and situations effectively.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
If I think back on what skills have helped me the most in my job, I think one is being able to multitask. You need to be able to hold a lot of information in your head at the same time and not get overwhelmed.
This is especially true when you're trying to work on one thing, but you have the studio calling you on the phone, your creative producers messaging you, and your production team popping into your office with questions. So, you really need to be able to remain calm in stormy waters. A lot of my job involves handling all those different things happening simultaneously.
Another important skill is decision-making. Sometimes you'll make the wrong decision, and that's fine. You won't make the right decision 100% of the time, but you need to be able to decide and use your best judgment to carve a path forward.
A bit of customer service is also important. I often think about my first job as a waitress at Ruby's Diner and how often I'm employing those customer service skills and personality. You have to be able to put on a happy face and read the room with people.
You also need to adapt how you talk or approach a situation based on the "temperature" of the room or meeting you've walked into. Being proactive is another important aspect of my job. It's about not waiting for someone to tell you what to do.
Instead, you should be able to observe your surroundings, trust your own judgment, and take the lead. I think those are some of the skills that are very helpful in this job.