If you’re an actor who has recently completed drama school, what’s the best way to approach the months after graduating? Making your way in the industry as a young graduate can be quite daunting, especially when you’re looking for work immediately after graduating.

For the latest Spotlight podcast, we speak to Jessica Pidsley, who won the Highly Commended award at the 2009 Spotlight Prize.

As a recent graduate, Jessica shares her experiences from the months immediately after graduation, along with advice on how to stay positive, network, and why you shouldn’t panic if the roles and auditions don’t immediately arrive.

How should an actor prepare when auditioning for a commercial? How do they differ from a standard casting? What can an actor do to ensure they have the best chance of landing the role? In our latest podcast, casting director Thom Hammond gives us his advice on how best to approach commercial castings.

Thom was formerly Spotlight’s Casting Rooms and Studios Manager and is now one half of Hammond Cox casting. He has worked with hundreds of actors auditioning for commercials and offers a unique insight into what commercial casting directors are looking for.

Our latest Spotlight podcast looks at the casting process for children’s television. Find out how a typical children’s television casting works, what makes a young performer stand out in a screen audition, and what part showreels play in the process.

For the podcast, we speak to leading children’s television casting director Kerrie Mailey. Kerrie has cast a number of popular CBBC shows including The 4 O’Clock Club, Dani’s House, Sadie J and Postcode, as well as the more adult Bedlam for Sky. In this podcast, Kerrie offers up advice on all aspects of television castings for children and young performers.

For our latest Spotlight podcast we’re joined by leading casting director Jessica Ronane to discuss all aspects of children’s casting for theatre.

In the podcast, Jessica speaks to us about how children can prepare for auditions, how parents can help their child during the casting process, and the considerations around casting a show where the children’s roles are shared between a number of young performers.

Jessica has worked across a range of high-profile projects for stage and screen and cast the lead roles in Billy Elliot The Musical and Matilda The Musical. She is currently in the process of casting a stage adaptation of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

For the latest Spotlight podcast we’re joined by leading casting director Suzanne Smith to discuss how actors can improve their chances of success when auditioning for television programmes and productions in the USA.

Suzanne has worked with some of the biggest names in film and television, including Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Paul W S Anderson and has cast many high-profile productions such as Black Hawk Down, House, Band Of Brothers and The Pacific, winning Emmys for the latter two productions.

In the podcast, Suzanne discusses how actors can ensure they’re prepared for TV auditions, as well as what performers need to be aware of if they’re auditioning for an American television show and film – and why being based in the States isn’t necessarily a requirement.

What does an actor need to know about auditioning for Shakespeare? And how can you bring a fresh look to some of the most famous roles in theatre?

In our latest Spotlight podcast, The Globe’s head of casting, Charlotte Bevan, discusses how actors can master Shakespeare language and characters, as well as tips to ensure you’re full prepared for your audition, and how to impress a casting director.

Don’t miss this valuable insight into the world of the Bard from one of the best-known Shakespeare venues in the world.

An actor’s Spotlight CV is one of the most important tools to keep up to date – it acts as your interactive calling card and is one of the quickest, easiest ways to sell yourself as a performer to a casting director online.

In the latest Spotlight podcast, our PR manager and careers expert Emma Dyson gives tips and advice on how to ensure your Spotlight CV works for you, and gives you the best chance of securing work.

What’s the best way to secure representation from an agent? What questions should you ask an agent before you sign? How proactive should you be in looking for work when you sign? And how do you catch the eye of an agent in the first place?

In the latest Spotlight podcast, recorded at Spotlight’s Graduate Programme, agent Kevin Francis from Susan Angel and Kevin Francis Ltd talks us through the relationship between the actor and the agent, and how you can ensure you have a long and successful working relationship with your agent.

The latest Spotlight podcast features advice for performers on all areas of castings and the industry from Dan Hubbard of Hubbard Casting. Dan talks us through how graduates can get noticed, the importance of agents to casting directors, what he looks for in photos and showreels, and his top tips for impressing in the industry.

Hubbard Casting is a family-owned business and has cast some of the biggest films in recent years, including The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, and Harry Brown.

We spoke to Dan ahead of the latest Spotlight Graduate event to tap into his wealth of experience and invaluable advice for all actors – both Spotlight Graduates and experienced performers.

What are the vital skills you need to succeed as a presenter? How can you gain these skills, and use them to impress producers? And what’s the best way for performers to break into the world of presenting? These are just some of the questions Liz Ekberg answers in the latest Spotlight podcast.

Liz is a former producer, director, and reporter, having worked for Barry Norman’s film programmes, The Wide Awake Club, Newsround and CBBC. She now works as a Junior Talent Agent for leading agency Waring and McKenna.

What’s the best way to break into musical theatre? What are the most important musical theatre skills to keep topped up? How can you impress a casting director? And what should you do if you stumble over a dance or song in an audition?

We discuss all this and more with head of casting at the Ambassador Theatre Group, Neil Rutherford. Neil has cast many West End shows and tours, such as Legally Blonde, Spamalot, South Pacific, West Side Story, and Guys and Dolls, and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the theatre industry.

What are the key things an actor needs to know about finding an agent? If you’re a performer looking for representation or a final year drama school student, then learn from one of the best in the business – Daphne Waring from Waring & McKenna – in our latest Spotlight podcast.

What does an actor need to know when auditioning for a role in a Shakespeare play? What is different about perfecting a Shakespeare audition than castings for other roles?

Tam Williams - a veteran of many Shakespeare performances - and former director of the Stafford Festival Shakespeare Bill Buckhurst share their tips and advice on how to land a Shakespearean role.

Please note, this was originally released as a vodcast on Spotlight.com.

What essentials does an actor need to know when auditioning for a role in a commercial? Actors Tam Williams and Andrew Greenough - both seasoned commercials performers - share their top tips and do's and dont's to impress when auditioning for adverts.

Advice from Spotlight's professional development seminar on what every actor needs to know about working in LA. Actors Tam Williams and Alexandra Boyd have both lived and worked in LA and share their top tips for any actor considering heading to America.

Advice from Spotlight's London Film Festival Casting Symposium panel of top casting directors Lucinda Syson (W.E., X-Men, Kick Ass), Reg Poerscout–Edgerton (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla) and Karen Lindsay-Stewart (The Other Boleyn Girl, Submarine, Marie Antionette) on how actors should approach auditions.

Casting director Andy Morgan (Law & Order UK, Luther) gives his top five tips for graduating actors, including advice on optimising your Spotlight CV (accents, playing age, video footage, responding to Link Board posts) and preparing for auditions.

Casting director Toby Whale shares his wealth of casting experience with Spotlight Graduates

Sooki and Lucy suggest four pieces of advice when auditioning for theatre productions

Michael discusses the protocol of securing agent representation whilst you are in your final year of study

John Byrne, career adviser to 'The Stage' newspaper, and Kathryn Wolfe, senior lecturer in media performance at the University of Bedfordshire and author of 'So You Want To Be a TV Presenter?', give their top tips on how to start a career as a presenter

Spotlight members can upload up to 15 portfolio photographs to their online CV, but what makes a good one and what makes a bad one? Jaime Robb, Spotlight’s resident portfolio photograph expert, gives advice on all things portfolio.

Showreels and voice clips can really make or break a performer’s online profile. Joe Bates, Spotlight’s technical manager, provides some advice on uploading your materials and the range of editing services Spotlight offers.

Online showreels are becoming increasingly popular with casting directors. Here are some handy hints to help you present your screen work in the best possible light.

Face-to-face networking can really improve a performer's chances of gaining employment. Here are some tips on how to bite the bullet and make those all-important industry contacts.

If you are a c/o Spotlight performer and suggest yourself for roles via the Spotlight Link, here are some invaluable tips on how to do it and what to tell the casting director

In this edition we look at the format, style and content of your covering letter, which is sent with photographs and a CV to casting directors.

In this podcast we offer tips on how to prepare for that all-important acting audition.

Actor photographs are of primary importance - this podcast offers some basic do’s and don’ts that’ll stop you going wrong.

Information and advice on the standard layout of an actor's CV in the UK.

Things you will need to run yourself as an actor in today’s industry. Good for people just starting out or coming back to the business after a break.