As an undergraduate department of media, journalism, and film alumnus, Daan Jansen thought that working in the entertainment industry wouldn’t be possible. “[I] thought it would be too much of a risk,” he says.

It’s a risk that paid off. Jansen now resides in Los Angeles, where he works as a producer for the hit reality show “The Bachelor.”

Jansen attended Missouri State on a swimming scholarship (2009-2013). Originally from South Africa, he started his college career as a business major. “I played it safe and studied business. In my sophomore year I met with someone from the film department and decided to make the change in career paths to follow my dream,” he says.

While in school, Jansen worked several internships to network and make connections in the film industry. “I did about 12 internships by the time I graduated with my master’s, so I was able to get a few gigs here and there through my connections,” he explains. This led to his working on “The Bachelor.” “My first job on The Bachelor was [as] the bartender, which I got through an MSU alum, Reina Hill, who passed along my resume,” Jansen says.

Now, Jansen is a producer for the show. Currently working on his twelfth season, he helps produce multiple aspects of the franchise, “everything from cast to creative.”

“I’m very fortunate that working for the franchise I almost constantly have work, which is a blessing. When I do have some time, I’m always writing and creating side projects with friends and basically anyone who wants to be creative,” he explains.

What is Jansen’s advice for recent graduates wanting to move to Los Angeles and work in the film industry? Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Jansen says “Reach out to as many people as you can to have [informational] meetings before moving. Be creative, use LinkedIn, IMDB, social media, etc. Don’t be picky when it comes to opportunities. My first few months working I was taking out trash, cleaning bathrooms, and grabbing lunch orders, but through this I got to see how a successful show ran and learned from others.”