I receive messages on a regular basis from new starters looking for help to get started in SFX and Propmaking. I always try to reply where possible but sometimes I am very busy, so I figured it would be easier to cover this here more comprehensively.
NOTE: due to the erratic nature of my work and my limited workshop space, I am unable to offer work experience. Messages of this nature may remain unanswered.
One of the key questions to consider when starting out is whether to seek out a training course or to learn skills in a more self-led fashion. There is no hard answer here. You do not necessarily NEED a qualification to get into the industry; what matters most is the quality of the work you are able to display, as well as your ability to take instruction, work hard and to not shy away from more menial tasks when needed (like sweeping floors or taking on repetitive tasks).
If you consider yourself someone that would benefit from direct training, there are courses of various lengths available at various price-points. These range from short 1-day/1-week courses to full 3-year undergraduate degrees. Do your research as to whether the course is reputable and what you gain from the cost. If you have to take out a loan to afford this, think about whether you can afford the repayment schedule upon completion. A short course could provide you with specific training in an area in which you feel you lack knowledge (such as mould-making or prosthetic application), whilst still remaining affordable. The Stan Winston School online offers a ton of in-depth video tutorials, which you can access for free for a 1-week trial before committing to a monthly subscription for as long as you want. Remember that your course may lead you to produce portfolio pieces similar to other students’ work, so the earlier you can start to set yourself apart with your work, the better a position you will be in to sell yourself after the course.
If you wish to save the expense, have a strong self drive and also an eye for critiquing your own work, you could learn through home practice and/or seeking on-the-job work experience on set or in a workshop. There are free resources online to help you along such as Stuart Bray’s excellent makeup FX site. I highly recommend Todd Debrecini’s book ‘Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen’, as well as Todd and Stuart’s podcast ‘Battles With Bits of Rubber’. There are of course plenty of YouTube videos, but be aware that the quality and reputable nature of these videos varies. Don’t get stuck on one person's hard and fast rules for doing things a certain way, as there is often more than one way to approach things. You may be fortunate enough to score some trainee-level work early on. Make sure to make yourself useful not only by doing what is requested of you, but also using your initiative to tidy up or offer assistance where it feels needed. Your skills will only get you so far, and the rest is earned by being hard-working, punctual and friendly.
BE RESOURCEFUL. Working in a creative/freelance profession, especially in stage and screen, can be unpredictable. During early stages and sometimes even during quieter times, it may be necessary to take on short term unrelated work such as temp retail, admin or manual work. Sadly this is often the norm, but if you can get comfortable with this and build up some back-up options, this will solidify your resilience and set you up for a long career. As a “Maker”, the broader your skillset (eg sculpting, mouldmaking, fabrication, carpentry, straight makeup/hair), the more you will be able to turn these skills to creative-adjacent work during quieter times, as opposed to a more conventional temporary job. The industry is competitive, and every year there are more course-leavers and new entrants competing for an unpredictable market.