Media Production Career Insight by LJMUCareers

Media Production CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

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Career Insight: Media Production

Introduction Your Media Production course at LJMU equips you with a range of industry skills that will be a useful springboard to a variety of roles in the media industry. Previous graduates have gone on to work in a range of roles in broadcast media, including camera assistants, television researchers and assistant producers. Planning for your career and gaining experience throughout your course will benefit you when you graduate. Take advantage of work experience opportunities and networking events to develop your skills and help you decide what area you want to move into. Try and make links with people through your course and get involved with the wealth of creative activities in Liverpool and beyond to broaden your skillset and open up opportunities. You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and following relevant organisations through Twitter to keep up to date with opportunities and developments in the creative industries. Many employers use social media to post work experience opportunities so take advantage of using the site to help you make links and find out more about what opportunities out there.

Options with your degree: Media Developing skills, networking and gaining as much relevant experience as you will help you land that first role in the media. You should consider developing a showreel or soundreel of your work showcasing your skills in photography, film, editing, writing, radio recording, etc., to send to potential employers alongside your CV. If you are interested in film-making entering competitions such as The Young Lions Competition, and The Grierson British Documentary Awards (which has previous been won by LJMU graduates), is a good way of getting your work seen by the people you want to see it. Further completion links can be found on the BBC Film Network website (where you can create your own profile) and the Shooting People websites.

Runner A runner is the entry-level position within the media and film industry. Runners frequently get left with the tasks that other people either don’t want or don’t have time to carry out! You could be making tea and coffee or helping set up a location for filming, so enthusiasm, a desire to learn, and a willingness to carry out whatever task is thrown at you, no matter how mundane, is crucial! Pay is usually around minimum wage, and many people work for free for a period of time. Working as a runner, however, is an important stepping stone to a career in the media and a great way to learn more about the industry, develop your skills and to network with potential future employers.

The following skills are important:        

organisational and administrative skills punctuality, good time management skills and the ability to work well under pressure strong communication and interpersonal skills good research and IT skills the ability to work independently and as part of a team flexibility and a willingness to learn a proactive disposition and problem solving skills enthusiasm and resilience

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Career Insight: Media Production

Television Production Assistant Television production assistants use their people and organisational skills to support directors and production teams making film and television programmes. Providing administrative and secretarial support they can be involved with a range of different activities, such as copying and issuing scripts; organising travel arrangements and helping to keep track of timings during a production. Employers look for proactive, organised people who are enthusiastic about working in the industry, and have previous media experience and experience carrying out administrative work. Gaining experience in an office environment, combined with a wealth of media experience, such as working as a runner, will be a good starting point. As with most media positions, making relevant contacts is really important for finding out about opportunities as most positions aren’t advertised.

The following skills are important within the profession:         

Excellent communication and people skills The ability to work independently and in a team Enthusiasm, persistence, motivation Common sense and good problem solving skills Good time management and organisational skills and the ability to prioritise Good administrative and IT skills, including fast and accurate word processing skills for typing out scripts Good numeracy skills, when working with budgets The ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines Excellent attention to detail

Other media and broadcasting job profiles: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_media.htm

Options with your degree: other industries Options with your degree in Media: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_media_studies_job_options.htm

Roles in marketing and PR:   

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_advertising_marketing_pr.htm http://www.getin2marketing.com/ http://www.cipr.co.uk/

Roles in human resources management:  

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_human_resources.htm http://www.cipd.co.uk/

The suggestions listed here are by no means exhaustive so we would encourage you to consider other relevant options, e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. To explore job options by sector, check http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm. You can also use career planning tools like http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm and http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report to generate initial career ideas.

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Career Insight: Media Production

Ensure you check entry requirements for each area, e.g. will you need a degree in a specific subject? Is a 2:1 degree classification essential? Will you need to complete a postgraduate degree? Is any specific work experience required? We also recommend that you download a copy of our “Planning your Career” guide from the Careers website at https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. This includes a list of useful questions to help you explore your career options and introduces you to the DOTS model to help you with your career planning.

Main employers The main media hub in the UK is in London but there are a good selection of media and production companies around the country, particularly in Liverpool, Manchester (BBC and MediaCity), Bristol and Cardiff. All occupational profiles listed on http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm include a section on typical employers and vacancy sources, so use these as a starting point to research potential employers within the career areas that interest you.

Liverpool media/creative organisations: There are lots of media and production companies in Liverpool, some of which are listed below.   

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Ace Film: http://www.acefilm.co.uk/ Ace Film is an award winning feature film development and new media production company, with an integral publishing and recording company. Baltic Creative: http://www.baltic-creative.com/ Bright Moon Media- http://www.brightmoonmedia.co.uk/ Bright Moon Films make television standard digital content and have made broadcast films for the BBC, Granada and Channel Five. Curly Productions - http://www.curlyproductions.co.uk/ specialise in event filming, vox pops, internet video, promotional DVDs etc. and clients include Xbox, the Duke of Westminster, Wonderbra and Vittel. Hurricane Films - http://www.hurricanefilms.net/ For over a decade Hurricane Films have been telling great stories – fact and fiction – for both the big and small screen. The company is owned and run by Solon Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter, with each partner bringing a wealth of experience from their highly successful individual careers. LA (Liverpool Academy)Productions Ltd - http://www.laproductions.co.uk/ Independent film and TV production company providing a full service for broadcast and corporate clients. Liverpool Live TV: http://liverpool-live.tv/ Lime Pictures: http://limepictures.com/ BAFTA award-winning, Lime Pictures is emerging as one of Britain's most exciting and dynamic independent production companies. Mocha Productions Ltd - http://www.mocha.tv/ Mocha specialise in using film and digital media to help people and organisations tell their story.

You can look for further organisations through http://www.theknowledgeonline.com/ (the definitive source of UK film and TV contacts)

Other media/creative links  

4Careers www.channel4.com/4careers Information on work experience schemes and jobs within Channel 4. BBC www.bbc.co.uk/jobs Information on work experience schemes and jobs within the BBC.

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Career Insight: Media Production

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Broadcast Freelancer www.broadcastfreelancer.com Jobs, news and future productions. Creative Times www.creativetimes.co.uk/statics/about Creative Times is an on-line magazine for the creative community. Register to receive email updates Grapevine Jobs www.grapevinejobs.com Vacancies in broadcasting and film. ITV: http://www.itvjobs.com/working-here/graduates/your-options/ Mandy: www.mandy.com Film and TV production employer directory with vacancies Media careers information from the University of Kent Mediargh: http://mediargh.com/ ‘a place for media people’ with hundreds of media jobs added each week Media City UK: http://www.mediacityuk.co.uk/ North West Vision www.northwestvision.co.uk A hub for the development of film, TV and visual media in the region. Radio Centre www.radiocentre.org Includes a guide to finding work experience in commercial radio. Regional Film and Video www.4rfv.co.uk The film and television production directory has comprehensive listings Skillset: www.skillset.org Good starting point for researching media careers. Includes advice, case studies and training course information. The Drum www.thedrum.co.uk Focuses on the marketing and media industry. Industry insights, searchable jobs database by creative specialism and region Your Creative Future www.yourcreativefuture.org.uk Careers information including case studies and additional links. Runner: How to Break into the Film, TV and Commercials Industry as a Runner and Survive Long Enough to Get Your Dream Job: Kindle version available from Amazon and available from LJMU libraries

General:     

LJMU Vacancy System – myjobsandplacements http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/ Prospects – Careers information and graduate jobs – www.prospects.ac.uk TargetJobs - Careers information and graduate jobs – www.targetjobs.co.uk Milkround – graduate jobs, placements & internships - http://www.milkround.com/ Yell.com: www.yell.com This directory allows you to search by location and type of organisation.

Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter: @balticcreative @mediavolt

@BBCTrainees @My1stJobInFilm

@LJMUCareers @SkillsetSSC

@mediamuppet

Sources of work experience Production Unit Liverpool Screen School (PULSS) Useful work experience placements are managed and advertised via Paula Baines, Student Development Co-ordinator. Keep an eye out for e mails from Paula highlighting opportunities and application processes. Previous students have benefitted from experience as, for example, location assistants for the Channel 4 ‘Utopia’ series; as camera assistants and runners for the MBC awards in Manchester with Core Media Productions; social media, camera assistants and photographers for the O2 Media Awards with Rossister Media; production assistants for the BBC1 ‘Moving On’ series with LA Productions; various LJMU conferences and lectures, the list goes on…

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Career Insight: Media Production

Potential Work Experience Contacts list: Drama and Creative Writing The Careers Team have put together a list of potential work experience contacts mainly in the Merseyside area to offer students a starting point for sourcing work experience opportunities. The focus is more on writing and journalism experience rather than broadcast media and it is by no means exhaustive. Please contact Liz Harrison or Gary Douglas, Liverpool Screen School Link careers Advisers for further details.

Liverpool Media Organisations A list of possible companies to approach for work based learning opportunities in Merseyside based production companies. Again, the list is by no means exhaustive but could be a useful starting point. Contact Liz Harrison or Gary Douglas for further details. Gaining experience within the media or through production companies is really important. Completing a period of unpaid work experience is generally the norm within the media industry and this is a good way to build you skills and make contacts. Many people gain experience working as a runner before moving into other roles within the media industry. A strong CV tailored towards the work you are applying for is crucial when applying for experience. Keep it interesting, succinct and targeted with clear examples and evidence. Show any specialist skills you have that could be deemed useful in the company youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re applying to. Working on projects in your own time is another great way of developing you skills and experience. Working independently or teaming up with peers to produce films or get involved with creative activities will show employers you are focussed and passionate about developing skills and experience in order to work in the industry. LJMU has been managing a summer internship programme for Level 5 students in recent years, so keep an eye on your LJMU inbox for details of any opportunities. Contacting media organisation and production companies directly via email or LinkedIn or at networking events may lead to work experience. It is important that you demonstrate that you are interested in the organisation and have a good understanding of previous projects they have worked on. Even when applying to secure work experience for the first time in this industry, show the employer what you have to offer. Briefly outline the relevancy of your course. Look at the skills outlined above and try to discuss these in your CV, drawing on examples from your course and other work experience or extra-curricular activities to demonstrate these skills.

Recruitment schedules Many jobs within the media industry arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t advertised as employers receive so many speculative CVs and often recruit using these. It is therefore important that you network and engage with employers and utilise relevant websites and Twitter feeds to make contacts and to try to find out about potential opportunities. As mentioned above, working as a runner will increase your chance of gaining further employment within the media. Some companies will advertise opportunities through jobs boards or on their websites. Following relevant Twitter feeds is a good way of keeping abreast of developments. Larger organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4 offer work experience opportunities and trainee/graduate trainee schemes and some entry level roles will be advertised on their websites. Competition for these positions is fierce so having previous experience is a must.

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ÂŠ 2017. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Career Insight: Media Production

Many other roles within the creative industries will be through small or medium sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs). These types of companies recruit ‘as required’. They may use their own application form but most applications will be by CV and covering letter. These positions will be advertised on company websites, relevant recruitment websites and national and local newspapers. The ‘creative’ or ‘speculative’ approach to job hunting is also important. Making contacts and approaching organisations speculatively to look for work is a common route into employment. For more information about the speculative approach to job hunting, download a copy of our guide to ‘The Hidden Jobs Market’ from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. If you decide to take a different path outside the creative industries you can look at graduate training schemes, many of which are open to graduates from any discipline. If you are interested in these roles you will need to be aware of the graduate recruitment cycle. Many recruiters begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final year students. Most closing dates are in November and December but some are earlier so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. The application process for graduate training schemes usually involves completing an online application form, which may require you to answer ‘competency based questions’. This may be followed by psychometric tests, a telephone interview and an assessment centre. You may also need to submit your CV. Always carefully read through the information in the ‘careers’ or ‘graduates’ section of the employer’s website. For more information about graduate schemes, download the ‘Graduate Schemes’ guide from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. You can get advice about the recruitment process by booking a one-to-one appointment with a careers or employability adviser at your nearest Careers Zone or you can attend workshops and webinars run by the Careers Team.   

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Liverpool Careers Fair: usually held in the autumn and spring of each year, see fairs website http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for additional events Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/events/ for details Careers and Employability events at LJMU: Keep an eye on our events pages at https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks. LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://ljmu.unioncloud.org/groups#club-society LinkedIn: You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account (http://www.linkedin.com/) to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry

Other information Centre for Entrepreneurship - support for LJMU students and graduates interested in starting up their own business https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/.

Careers Zones Campus-based Careers Zones provide easy access to careers support in convenient locations at Byrom Street, Aldham Robarts Library and at IM Marsh, staffed by the Careers Team. Support available includes CV and application form reviews, Careers Adviser appointments, drop-in quick queries, practice interviews and access to careers resources and information. The Zones also host regular employer visits during term time where you can meet and network with employers and discuss job and placement opportunities. For the latest updates and details of locations and opening times, try our Twitter and Facebook pages.

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