The Little Careers Book

࢚࢚ Watch TV, listen to the radio, see films; knowing and loving the industry is key. ࢚࢚ The most essential skill is undoubtedly people skills; the business is all about people! ࢚࢚ Emotional intelligence, including empathy, will earn you respect. ࢚࢚ Being thoroughly reliable and committed counts for a lot in this business. ࢚࢚ You need to be able to present an idea as if you know what you’re talking about, even if you really don’t. ࢚࢚ You gotta be able to handle pressure well, multi task, and meet deadlines. ࢚࢚ There is no getting around the fact that technology is a big part of the industry; for some roles, good tech skills will make you more marketable. ࢚࢚ Be a generalist first, then specialise when you know what you enjoy doing most. ࢚࢚ The only essential skill you need to be a journalist is a curiosity about the world and a desire to inform people. But you will not get far without good written English. TRUTHS XX You need to be a social butterfly to succeed in this industry. XX If you don’t have encyclopaedic knowledge about the history of films and TV, this is not the career for you. XX Unless you are an outstanding writer, you have no chance of making it. MYTHS ࢚࢚ A degree may help you assess a career in media and entertainment, and can be useful when being considered for a promotion, but is not essential to make a start (at least, for many roles). ࢚࢚ There are certain roles where a specialist vocational/technical qualification is needed, and if your interest lies in this kind of work, choose such a qualification, preferably from an educational institution credible in industry. ࢚࢚ There are advantages and disadvantages of a Media/Film/TV studies degree so think carefully before making this choice. ࢚࢚ A degree in itself won’t lead to a job offer, it’s work experience that opens doors. ࢚࢚ Keep your eyes and ears open; meet as many people as you can; get/keep contact details of people you meet. ࢚࢚ If/when you get your first break, make the most of it; you might not get another one! ࢚࢚ A forewarning: many careers in this industry start with being a runner/ driver or making the tea. ࢚࢚ There are plenty of examples of award-winning camera operators/sound recordists/directors who started out packing flight cases for equipment hire companies. ࢚࢚ For certain performing arts, having the requisite physical attributes is vital, and the earlier they are recognised, the greater the opportunity to develop them. ࢚࢚ In journalism, a degree (whether vocational or not) opens doors to employment, but is not absolutely necessary. An NCTJ diploma or other accredited qualification may be a better option, and can be completed in far less time. TRUTHS XX Media is an ‘old boys’ network; it’s important who you know, not what you know. MYTHS PATHWAYS TO ENTRY KEY SKILLS