Work Experience In The Media

‘Working in the media’ is often the tantalising but rather vague ambition of many a graduate, but the reality of how to actually put this into practice is often more of an uphill struggle than initially expected.

The problems are perhaps due to the fact that many employers within these ‘sought after’ industries view many media or arts related degrees as too general or unnecessary and, frustratingly, tend to value more vocationally geared qualifications and relevant work experience over a good degree. So how to gain this elusive experience?

To kick-start a career in an area such as TV, Film, Journalism, PR and Advertising, some extra curricular activities and achievements to boost your CV are not only helpful but are in many cases essential.

After leaving University, like many graduates, I was interested in many general areas but had no real idea about what I really wanted to do. Work experience seemed like an ideal solution to this as it offers a ‘try before you buy’ incentive for students who have yet to decide on which career route they want to take. Getting accepted to do a few days unpaid work at a desirable company however, sometimes seems as difficult as applying for a full time job, and even if you do manage to secure a place, this is certainly no guarantee that it is going to be plain sailing from there onwards… In the Summer I graduated with a degree in English and Film studies, I ‘did time’ with a local television and radio station, a PR company, an audio marketing company, a magazine and a daily paper. By the end of all this, I still hadn’t decided exactly what I wanted to do but I was certainly in a much better position to make an informed decision about my future. Reflecting the nature of the industry itself, a taste of life in the media can seem haphazard, unstructured, fast paced and more than a little confusing. However, with patience and perseverance it can also be challenging, rewarding and fulfilling.

If work experience candidates are expecting employers to take them by the hand and give them loads of guidance and interesting things to do, they are most probably in for a shock. A story that springs to mind is that of a friend of mine, who at the first day of work experience at a newspaper took the initiative to approach an editor and ask if there was anything for her to do… he responded by telling her ‘we are reporters…. we find the news: go and find the news!’ A harsh but perhaps fair lesson was learnt and after initial indignation at this rebuff, she returned triumphantly the next day with a story about a local pet-kidnapping incident.

My own work experience was an equally bumpy affair, (I was both mistaken for a health and safety inspector and left waiting for over two hours by one particular TV company). However, when things like this occur (and they inevitably do) the trick is not to be put off because the old adage of ‘you only get out of something what you put in’ certainly applies in this case.

For every hour you spend filing or stood out in the rain collecting ‘vox pops’ from pensioners, there will also be moments that are great fun that give you a real sense of achievement. For me it was the feeling of seeing my own work in print and the realisation that my love for writing could achieve a life beyond my University essays. To make the most of your work experience, it’s important to take the rough with the smooth and although it may seem difficult at times, even negative experiences can be positive ones. Challenging situations can be viewed as confidence building exercises and at the very least, can give you a realistic perspective of working life within a particular industry. In many ways, it is sometimes a good thing that grads are given a ‘bumpy ride’ when on work experience, because this is what the media industries tend to be like. Learning to use your own initiative, find your own work, be creative and self motivated are key skills to learn if you want to succeed in this sort of career.

The obvious down sides to trying to gain experience within this kind of field are that there are so many graduates out there trying to break into these industries that employers are rarely willing to pay work experience candidates or train new staff. Just remember that no matter how many days per week you’ve done for next to nothing, there will always be some eager novice who is only to willing to step into your shoes.
My advice to graduates looking to break into tricky industries such as the media would be to get involved in anything they can, be open to new experiences and build contacts wherever possible!

Although gaining work experience in this field can be tough, it can also be very rewarding and undeniably looks great on the CV, as so few graduates are given the opportunity. It can really help you stand out from the crowd in interviews and the very fact that you were able to achieve and organise your own path speaks for itself: a testament to your motivational and persuasive skills.