When I left university two years ago I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. My only thoughts were: I want to be involved in film, I want to wake up excited and I DO NOT want an office job.

Of course, I ended up working in an office for the next 18 months.

So how did I go from clueless to… film editor for an arts magazine; one of the judges on the panel for the 2011 London Film Festival; and to secure funding to make a documentary?

Well, let me start at the beginning. When I left UCL with a Literature BA and a Film Studies MA in Autumn 2009 like most graduates I had absolutely zero idea what I wanted, and even less of a clue how I was going to achieve it.

For six months after finishing I had my own mini “Gap Year” aka unemployment. Among other things, I spent this time training for a half marathon, but I just couldn’t ignore a gnawing sense that I had to DO something, GROW UP, get a steady job and pack away these silly ambitions.

All this time not working left me broke, so office temping seemed like a good short-term option. Surprisingly weeks flew by but the feeling of being a sell-out didn’t fade.

One Saturday I decided to visit the BFI Southbank. The Future Film Club was running a DIY filmmaking weekend there so I bought a ticket and took part. It was lots of fun and I made some friends. It didn’t seem like a big deal but looking back it was what made all the difference.

As I got more involved with the Future Film meetings, I started volunteering at film festivals, going to networking events and meeting people just like me. It reignited my aspirations and showed me that little steps towards your passions were more effective than big short-term fixes.

I continued to seek opportunities and started writing for an online magazine. Although unpaid, they offered free film screenings in exchange for my reviews.

Weirdly the more proactive I was, the more I realised how many opportunities there are out there. My friend asked me to film and edit her business’ videos, and an old university colleague had read my online articles and asked me to be head of film in her magazine. And phew, today I finally feel like I am on the right track!

Here are my Top 10 Tips to kick starting your film career:

1. Regard yourself as a brand/business: Approach things from a marketing point of view. What is unique about me that the world needs to know? Explore these ideas and use them to form the basis of your brand. And then seek out chances to promote yourself. Ask yourself: Will a guest blog on friend’s website expose me to a wider audience? Personally I like to synergise things so being a film reviewer exposes me to plenty of innovative films that in turn inspire my scripts.

2. Join an organisation: Find local, national or online communities in your field. The Future Film Club is part of the BFI and runs workshops and other fun stuff for 16-25 year olds.  These groups build your confidence, provide mentorship and give you access to networking events. It all plays a part in your success. Other great sites I recommend are The Bigger Idea, Step2TV, IdeasTap and Mandy.com for job opportunities.

3. Set monthly goals: When we have a big dream like I want to be a Hollywood director it seems impossible. But if you say, this month I want to make a short film and actually do it, then next month your goal could be to enter it into a contest. This way your workload is manageable and each month brings you closer to your goal.

4. Seize opportunities: Generally these are low or non-paid jobs. Grab them for the experience and make sure you’re rewarded somehow for the work you put in. Maybe your travel is reimbursed or you get to see free films. Use it as a stepping-stone to demonstrate your skills and bulk up your CV.

5. Use your free time: If you’re still at school or university and don’t have to worry about moving out or getting a job, then I recommend making use of your spare time. You will miss the free time to work on projects – especially on weekdays – when you’re in full-time employment. It isn’t impossible but it’s a lot of juggling.

6. Invest in yourself: Spend time practicing the skills you need to get ahead. This includes your career skills like editing, directing or writing but also “life skills”. The last few years have pushed me into public speaking and working the room at networking events. Doing this has improved all areas of my life as well as my career. Practice what you need to progress.

7. Useful contacts: Keep a record of useful contacts with details like date, event, conversation and an unrelated fact about them (which you can use as an ice breaker later). For example, Hi Jim, It’s Christabel from the directing workshop last week. Did you buy your mum’s present in time for the party? Anyway I had an idea for a short film…

8. Cyber territory: Get yourself either one or all of these – Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, LinkedIn. Use these platforms to promote, discuss or feature aspects of your business. New videos, blogs, vlogs and everything else should be included here. Put up an online CV for prospects to view. This can be a lifesaver when you don’t have a hard copy during random opportunities.

9. Convert opportunities: Harvest your best skills and rename them to fit a professional framework. For example my film reviews qualify me as a “film critic”. This looks fantastic any CV but remember you must be able to do these things. I can actually critique films and provide an informed opinion but no one would ever know that if I didn’t give myself that title. Don’t be shy to promote your talents.

10. Play with it: Have fun, smile and don’t be obsessed with the end product. Play with ideas. Remember this is meant to be a passion not a punishment. Remind yourself why you wanted to get into the film industry and leave time for other unrelated pursuits – a balanced life is important!

Hope this helps you guys out. I'll post more tips when I can :)