FAQs for Careers Advisors
Deciding on a career in creative media
3. Do you have template CVs for new entrants, and for those at other stages in their careers?
Training, courses and apprenticeships
6. How can a client be sure that a particular course provides what the industry currently wants?
7. Are there funding/bursaries available for training?
8. Where can I find out more about the Diploma in Creative and Media?
9. Are there any apprenticeships available?
Contacting employers / work experience
10. What skills and qualities do employers in the creative media indsutries look for when recruiting?
12. What's the best way for clients to approach employers for work experience placements?
Diversity schemes
13. Are there any specific diversity schemes for people wanting to enter the media industries?
LMI
15. Which occupations are going to grow or develop over the next few years?
16. Where can I find out what the typical salaries are in the creative media indsutries?
17. Where can I find national and regional LMI for Skillset?
Further links and glossaries
Further support from Skillset Careers
20. Can somebody from Skillset come to talk to our students or attend our careers fair?
22. I have a question that hasn't been answered in these FAQs. Who can I contact?
Deciding on a career in creative media
1. How does a client decide what career route to take?
In most sectors of the creative media industries, there are no clear or set career routes. This makes it difficult not only to get a start, but to plan a career too. It helps to do a bit of research. Here's a few tips:
Find out about the sector you're interested in:
Find out about WHO makes the programme/film/game/photo/book that you're interested in.
- Do this by getting 'insider information'. Eg, if you're interested in TV or film, start with the trade press such as Broadcast and Screen International. Sign up for e-mail bulletins from websites like Broadcast Freelancer or from your Regional Screen Agency.
- Have a look at the information about that sector on the Skillset website, and others that we can link you to (see FAQ No.18).
Find out as much as you can about the job you're interested in. You can find loads of information about jobs in the industry on the Skillset website:
- Look at our media jobs section. Each job described tells you about 'typical career routes' which is really helpful. Look at what skills, experience and attributes each job requires. Do you match these requirements?
- Find out if there is a National Occupational Standard (NOS) for the job you're interested in. If there is - read it!
- Look at the case studies where people working in the industry tell you what it's REALLY like, and how they got started.
The best thing to do is work out a strategy. The creative industries are all about making and using contacts; making and taking opportunities; gaining the right skills and experience and reviewing these throughout your career. This might mean updating skills (e.g. going on a short course) to keep moving onwards and upwards.
The creative media industries are very fast-moving, so you need to get up-to-date and keep up-to-date. This applies to all aspects of the industry, and not just to the technology.
Get yourself fully informed, and keep yourself fully informed!
2. Where can I find job profiles and case studies?
The Skillset website has information on hundreds of job roles in the creative media industries. We've consulted with industry professionals to find out how products (tv programmes, films, games, websites, photos etc) get made, and who gets involved at each stage of the process.
The following are invaluable for telling people, at all stages of their careers, what they need to know about jobs in the creative media industries, so they can make informed decisions about the routes they want to take.
- Our job profiles gives information on jobs in most of the sectors that Skillset covers - animation, photo imaging, interactive media, computer games, TV, Film, radio, post-production/facilities, commercials and other areas like corporate production. Each job profile tells you what the job involves, essential knowledge and skills, typical career routes, training and qualifications, where to go for more information, and perhaps most importantly, the key skills and attributes needed. Each can be downloaded and printed off.
- Real people introduces people working in a wide range of jobs in our industries, who talk about their experiences, give tips and hints, and spare no punches!
- You can also find interactive visual guides, or storyboards,on how different teams and roles work together to produce the content in different productions.
3. Do you have template CVs for new entrants, and for those at other stages in their careers?
Yes, we do. CVs for the creative media industries are quite different from those in other industries, so beware of using CV templates sourced from general websites.
We have two template CVs - Writing a CV and Writing a CV for Performers. Both give tried and tested lay-outs, plus tips and hints which support the CV, eg what to put in the covering letter.
The 'Writing a CV' template works for most roles in the industry, and for all stages of your career. Performers need a very different layout, as shown in the template 'Writing a CV for Performers'.
Other areas of the industry eg film, may require a slightly different CV. See our article on Effective Film CVs for more information on this.
Training, courses and apprenticeships
4. Where can I find a list of media courses?
Look at the comprehensive Skillset/BFI Courses Database. This contains nearly 5,000 courses in film, television, video, radio and interactive media, at all levels, UK-wide, and is regularly updated and checked for accuracy. Refine the search by inserting the subject e.g. script-writing or directing, the level e.g. post-graduate, and the location. You can search this database from most pages of the Skillset website - look for the box on the right hand side of the page.
Certain courses in the database have Skillset Approved written above them, which is helpful when there are so many to look through and you're not sure if a particular course is any good. Skillset Approval has been awarded to those institutions and organisations that achieve an exceptionally high standard, set out and evaluated by industry with Higher and Further Education. Skillset Accreditation provides the same recognition to individual courses in Screenwriting, Animation and Computer Games. This is a really useful starting point for helping to make extremely important decisions.
See FAQ 6 for more information on approved and accredited courses and institutions, including information about the Skillset Academy Network.
5. Is a degree/post graduate course necessary?
The general view from employers is "yes", particularly to demonstrate that you have a qualification to a certain level. However, it's probably equally important to be able to show (in your CV and in an interview situation) that you have the right skills, knowledge, and ideally, experience for a particular role. In this industry, when a potential employer reads a CV they look for relevant EXPERIENCE first (see also FAQ 3 ). A degree/post grad course adds to this.
It helps if the qualification is relevant to the role, but this is not absolutely necessary. Obviously a qualification relevant to the creative media industries is helpful, but other qualifications can be equally attractive to an employer. For example, someone looking for a TV researcher on a factual series would welcome a degree in a related subject.
Download our fact sheet on Choosing a Course
6. How can a client be sure that a particular course provides what the industry currently wants?
Choosing a course that will make someone 'work ready' requires careful consideration and a bit of research.
Thinking about the following might help with choosing:
What skills shortages are there in the industry?
- What new developments?
- How is it changing? New technologies, new ways of working?
- What qualifications does the industry look for? Degree level or other?
- How important is learning on the job?
- What else helps with employment potential eg business skills; Health & Safety certification?
Our website will help you find out about the above.
Next, you need to be sure that any training undertaken is up-to-date and relevant. This is where Skillset can really help - its role is to ensure anyone can access the appropriate, high quality training that they need. Look at the Skillset Approved/Accredited courses and institutions. These will include the Skillset Screen Academies and the Skillset Media Academies - all are institutions that have been selected by industry and its employers, as offering the best media courses.
The Skillset Academy Network is comprised of:
- Skillset Screen Academies - institutions which the UK film industry has identified as those offering the highest quality of skills training for film
- Skillset Media Academies - colleges and universities across the UK which are centres of excellence in television and interactive media
See also FAQ 4 for more information, on Skillset Approvals/Accreditation.
7. Are there funding/bursaries available for training?
Yes. Our Funding pages contains information on Skillset schemes which give bursaries to freelancers already working in the industries, including:
- Screen Bursaries - money for freelancers already working in the industry to spend on training.
- Subsidised short courses for TV freelancers - a list of eligible courses and providers is available on our website under the 'Training' section. For more information on a particular course, or to book a place, please contact the course provider directly.
We also have information on Finding Other Funding, which helps locate other sources of funding within the industry.
Our section on New Entrants Schemes includes a list of funded training schemes.
The Regional Screen Agencies often have special schemes and bursaries which encourage emerging talent.
The UK Film Council also has many schemes, some of which fund newcomers and new talent.
Plus, visit ITV for its traineeships and the BBC for its policies and schemes.
8. Where can I find out more about the Diploma in Creative and Media?
Please go to our pages on the Diploma in Creative and Media.
9. Are there any apprenticeships available?
Although Apprenticeships may not be an appropriate entry route for all sectors of the creative and media industries, with a majority of our sectors being graduate entry, recent research has identified a number of sectors and occupations where Apprenticeships could offer a viable entry route into employment:
- Photo Imaging - Skillset currently has a Modern Apprenticeship framework in Scotland.
- Games Testing - the Skillset Games Testing Apprenticeship is now available for national take-up and Skillset is looking at the possibility of progression to Level 3 Apprenticeship in this area.
- A pilot scheme for an Advanced Apprenticeship in Media Production in the North West.
Plans for other schemes include:
- Development of a Framework for Technical Roles in TV and Film i.e. lighting, grips, stagehands, camera.
- An Apprenticeship in Set Crafts in Film.
Look at our Apprenticeships section for further information and useful links.
ITV and the BBC sometimes have apprenticeship schemes, so keep an eye out on their websites.
Contacting employers / work experience
10. What skills and qualities do employers in the creative media indsutries look for when recruiting?
On a general level, the creative media industries want the skills and qualities that every industry wants - the 'soft skills' that are equally as important as the 'key skills' that might be needed for a specific job role. It's always worth reminding people about the importance of these when they are focusing on getting work. And, it's worth finding a way to highlight these skills and qualities when writing a CV, to show that you recognize what you've got!
Download our Writing a CV fact sheet.
The soft skills include:
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving skills
- The ability to be flexible
- Confidence
- Energy
- Transferable skills
- The ability work in a team
In this industry, the ability to work in a team is vital. Many people get work through recommendation and personal contacts, so 'being likeable' and 'good to work with' is really important.
Transferable skills are really important too, and something people often forget about. Skills brought from other jobs eg business, marketing, financial knowledge - can all add to the range and quality on offer.
Finally, being able to match your skills and qualities with what the employer wants, is a good tip for getting work. It sounds obvious, but if you understand an employer's needs, and promote your skills against these requirements, your chances of getting a break are much greater than merely relying on your skills and qualities without considering this.
For more specific skills and qualities required for different roles in the industry, look at our job profiles.
Also see FAQ 1
11. Do you have any information on media companies (big and small, regional and national) that clients can target for work?
Everyone has heard of the major UK broadcasters in the industry - the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five, Sky - but are they also the major employers? And are they good places to target for work? Look at the websites for each of these companies to check their job opportunities and general recruitment policies. Keep the following in mind:
- Channel 4, five and Sky don't actually make any programmes themselves - they commission independent production companies (indies) to make the programmes for them. They'll have small core teams, mostly with very specialist skills and primarily based in London, so they may not actually be the best places to target if you're seeking work in production.
- ITV has a large in-house staff that makes programmes, with the largest bases in London, Manchester and Leeds, but much work is done by independent companies based all around the UK.
- The BBC, with its main bases in London, Manchester and Bristol, probably has the largest permanent workforce, although it also, increasingly commissions from outside. However, it's not easy to get in. Many jobs are advertised internally.
- There are hundreds of independent production companies of all sizes, covering all sectors, throughout the the UK. Look at trade magazines (Broadcast, Screen International, British Journal of Photography, New Media Age etc) and industry directories to find companies to target. The best directory for TV/Film is The Pact Directory, which lists all independent production companies who are members of Pact in alphabetical order, by region, company specialism (eg current affairs, drama and interactive media) and production credits (eg Big Brother is made by Endemol).
Look at the Skillset website and click on the tabs at the top of the page that cover the sector you want to target e.g. photo imaging, publishing, animation. It's also worth looking at the Nations and Regions section to investigate companies and related activity in all regions of the UK.
Each Regional Screen Agency has a list of independent companies in their region, and some usually include information and news on 'active indies' i.e. those that are busy in production, or have just received a commission and therefore may be worth approaching for work.
12. What's the best way for clients to approach employers for work experience placements?
A good deal of research is needed to find out WHO is out there to offer the experience, and WHERE they are. See FAQ 11 about the major UK employers and the other companies throughout the UK that can be targeted.
The major UK broadcasters have policies regarding work experience placements - BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. Five don't currently offer work experience, but keep checking their website for any future changes.
Once the research is done, you need to think how to approach them:
- Check who is the right contact, and that you have the right address
- Make contact by e-mail or letter
- Explain BRIEFLY why you want work experience, what you know about their company, and how you could be useful for them.
If you haven't heard back from them in 10 days - phone them.
If they don't provide work experience or have no availability at the moment, ask if they can suggest someone else.
Or go to the next one on your list.
Don't send loads of requests out at the same time - target one at a time.
There are clear government guidelines, issued by the DTI (now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform or BERR), about the treatment of people on both paid and unpaid work experience, and it's worth looking at these.
The industry employer's organisation PACT has a Pact Work Experience Guide to help prevent some of the exploitative practices that occur.
Information about getting work experience can be found here. And, the Runners' World pages have some useful FAQs too.
Diversity Schemes
13. Are there any specific diversity schemes for people wanting to enter the media insutries?
Yes, there are. The Open Door Awards and the Graduate Fellowship Programme are two examples of successful schemes run by Skillset in the past, with the aim of tackling the under representation of people from diverse backgrounds in our industries.
Keep an eye out on our Promoting Diversity pages for up to date news and schemes.
Our Supporting Disability pages will inform you of any current schemes relating to disability, and will lead you to information on relevant organisations and links.
The Disability media links is particularly useful, listing organisations that provide media training, support and information for those with a disability. The websites provide a wealth of helpful information and resources aimed at helping people get into and get on in the media, as well as showcasing the talents of disabled media professionals.
Each of the major UK Broadcasters has a disability policy. For Channel 4 go to www.channel4.com/about4 and for ITV to www.itv.com/AboutTV Any relevant ITV schemes and initiatives are communicated through their recruitment website and external campaigns. The BBC also has a website - Ouch - that reflects the lives and interests of disabled people.
The Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN) works with the major UK broadcasters and others in the creative industries to address disability as it relates to the media industry.
http://www.employers-forum.co.uk/
LMI
14. What are the current skills gaps/shortages (nationally and regionally) in the creative media industries?
Skillset regularly gathers information about skills issues from industry employers. This includes current skills gaps and shortages.
Despite most people thinking that every area of the industry is totally oversubscribed, there are gaps and areas where there is a shortage of skilled, qualified candidates. Look here to find a list of current skills shortages in TV, Radio, Interactive Media and Facilities. It's worth thinking about career development with these in mind.
Remember, it's about the skills that are needed, and not necessarily the job role. A person's current skills might well lend themselves to a job role they've never thought about before! It might not be the job they've planned for, but it could be a route into the industry, or something to keep them going whilst they find another way to reach that dream job.
For more regional information, look at the Nations and Regions section of the Skillset website. You'll find detailed facts and figures about each area of the country, which may include information on skills shortages/issues. For example, in London it's reported that an ageing workforce is causing problems for the industry, with a need to update skills/qualifications, and that young people with the right skills are needed to counteract this.
It might also be worth contacting your Regional Screen Agency. They may have some data on their websites, but if not, ring them up and ask for advice about what is going on in their region.
15. Which occupations are going to grow or develop over the next few years?
This is a difficult area to assess, but there is information available in our report Overview of anticipated future trends in the future use of skills in the audio visual industries to 2010. Here, Skillset undertook widespread consultation with senior industry figures to explore the likely future drivers of change in film, television, and interactive media and the implications of these for use of skills. The report presents the findings of the research, and includes a range of possible future scenarios for each sector based on the consultation.
There are two particularly helpful sections:
Section 9 focuses on the skills needed in the future, and sums up as follows "...instead of old skills being replaced by new skills, existing skillsets will evolve - old skills will present themselves in new guises.....with certain skills becoming more dominant."
Section 10 is the most helpful as regards the growth of occupations, explaining that it's unlikely there'll be whole categories of new occupations created in the near future, in the way that the games industry thrived in the 80's and interactive media in the 90's. The report shows, however, that there will be changes in skillsets in key occupations, due to cost pressures and further technological developments. Also, there will be skill changes within higher level jobs associated with business and creative strategy, largely due to the rise in multi-channel and multi-platform environments.
16. Where can I find out what the typical salaries are in the creative media industries?
Salaries in the creative media industries vary a lot, and for someone who's just starting out, they can be quite low.
Visit the BECTU website - the union that represents most of the industry - i.e. broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and associated areas. Here you'll find daily/weekly minimum pay rates for for different roles in film and TV.
For an overview of annual income throughout the creative media industries, take a look at Skillset's Survey of the Audio Visual Industries Workforce 2005. Pages 70-74 includes information on gross annual income by both sector (e.g. TV, radio, computer games) and by contract type (e.g. employed, or freelance). The survey is a downloadable PDF.
Information on salaries in the film industry is available from the 2005 Film Production Workforce Survey.
Also, take a look at our article on Pay.
It's also worth looking at the websites of various guilds and associations. Many production areas have a guild that supports them eg
The Association of Professional Photographers
The Guild of Television Cameramen
Other relevant unions can also give information on pay rates, eg:
National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Writers' Guild of Great Britain (in fact a union!)
Equity - which represents artistes across the whole industry
The major UK broadcasters don't publish any salary rates, as most are negotiable or covered by the BECTU rate card.
17. Where can I find national and regional LMI for Skillset?
LMI (Labour Market Information) compares skills demand and supply, to help determine skills shortages and how these can be addressed.
The Research pages on the Skillset website holds the results of many research projects, surveys and analyses - all part of Skillset's programme of research and skills intelligence. There is a Get to grips with LMI section aimed specifically at Careers Advisors, where you will find information and links to the National Guidance Research Forum (NGRF) which publishes LMI for all industries in the UK.
Regionally - the Nations and Regions pages has profiles of each area, providing information on the size of the workforce, shortages, specialisms etc. The Regional Screen Agencies, who are responsible for building and sustaining the creative media sectors in England, may also have some regional LMI.
Nationally - again, our Nations and Regions pages will have specific info relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For LMI for other Sector Skills Councils, go to www.sectorcareersinfo.co.uk
For more information on our research work, please visit Skillset's Research pages.
Further links and glossaries
18. Is there a list of useful websites I can refer to?
A great starting point is the Find out more page on the Skillset website, where we've broken down the huge number of relevant links into sectors, regions, organisations, trade directories and publications, recruitment, diversity, careers and training etc.
Also, go to the individual sectors on the Skillset website, indicated by the tabs at the top of the website e.g. Animation, Computer Games, Corporate & Commercials. Most tabs have a 'useful links' option on the right hand side of the page - links that are particularly relevant to that sector.
19. I don't understand the jargon! Do you have a glossary?
Every industry has its jargon, and this one is no different! In fact some 'techies' (i.e. people in technical roles) pride themselves on using jargon to confuse the uninitiated! Our Media Glossaries explains the jargon in film, TV, radio, photo-imaging, facilities (a piece of jargon in itself!), commercials, corporate and education/training.
Further support from Skillset Careers
20. Can somebody from Skillset come to talk to our students or attend our careers fair?
Due to limited resources and a huge number of requests of this type, this may not always be possible.
At the beginning of each year, we decide on the number of events we can take part in, and are usually unable to participate in any events above and beyond this schedule. However, we do take part in events organised by Skillset-approved training providers and Skillset Screen and Media Academies.
If an organisation would like a Skillset Advisor to take part in an event, and there is budget available for this, we would be more than happy to organise it. Contact Sasha Kamenetski, Skillset Careers Services Co-ordinator if you would like to discuss this further.
We also run workshops for careers advisors. Information on these and other ways in which Skillset supports careers advisors and other IAG professionals, can be found here.
21. As a Careers Advisor, who do I contact if I've got a question about career descisions or routes into the creative media indsutries?
Skillset has developed some specialist resources specifically for Careers Advisors. You could:
- use the e-mail advice service for Careers Advisors
- sign up for a free e-bulletin to keep up-to-date on careers initiatives within the sector
- get some colleagues together and set up a workshop - with Skillset's support.
Find out about all of the above from our Support for Careers Advisors pages.
Finally, take a look at FAQ 17 which tells you more about the LMI that Skillset provides.
22. I have a question that hasn't been answered in these FAQs. Who can I contact?
For any question that isn't answered here, or for suggestions of other questions we can add, please contact Eirian Jones, Careers Information Co-ordinator on eirianj@skillset.org.
