A degree in television production equips you for the role of producer as well as a wide range of production-related jobs within the industry

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Film/video editor
• Location manager
• Media researcher
• Runner, broadcasting/film/video
• Television/film/video producer
• Television floor manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Broadcast presenter
• Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video
• Television camera operator
• Television production coordinator
• VFX artist

Work experience

It's vital to have some work experience in television production, so you should take advantage of any opportunities to develop practical skills through course projects, work placements or short-term internships. Many course providers have strong links to local TV companies, including local and national broadcasters, and specialised production companies.

The major broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, offer short-term periods of work experience. This type of experience gives an insight into all aspects of television production across the UK. Competition for a place on these schemes is fierce, however, so it's worth looking at other options as well. Independent production companies may provide opportunities for work shadowing.

Other options include helping out at television festivals held annually throughout the UK, such as the Edinburgh Television Festival, and entering a talent scheme like the one offered by The Network. Prestigious cultural organisations, such as BAFTA, offer occasional paid internships.

It's also useful to attend industry networking events and seminars to build up contacts in the industry. You can also make your own content or try to get some experience as a runner during or after university.

Social media can be a useful way of finding work experience and short-term opportunities, using dedicated Facebook groups and following TV companies on LinkedIn.

Typical employers

These include major broadcasters, but also a huge range of smaller production companies, which are commissioned to make programmes for network transmission.

Regional and national directories, such as The Knowledge, Film Bang (Scotland), Screen Alliance Wales and Northern Ireland Screen, provide comprehensive listings of TV production companies and forthcoming vacancies.

You can follow companies of interest on social media, joining specific groups where available, to be aware of the latest vacancies, using word of mouth and personal recommendations to find where there may be immediate opportunities.

Skills for your CV

A degree in television production allows you to develop a range of subject specific, technical and transferable skills, useful for working within media, creative and other industries. These include:

• creativity - courses teach you to look at the bigger picture, beyond the camera
• technical skills - operating a camera and using sound recording and post-production editing equipment and software
• problem solving - for improvisation, to be able to devise action plans and immediate solutions to unexpected situations
• team work - by collaborating with different professionals you'll learn to schedule effectively around competing deadlines, while remaining focussed on the end product
• organisational and time-management skills - necessary for delivering the completed project on time, and where relevant, on budget
• attention to detail - important for ensuring continuity on location, in filming, and during editing
• a flexible approach - a willingness to take on a variety of production tasks helps contribute to the success of a project.