How To Break Into The Creative Industry Like A Boss

How do you break into the creative industry like a boss? Our post below answers your questions from the perspectives of current ITV and BBC employees.

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When we think about jobs in the creative realm, we often assume that they’re either wholly unattainable or don’t provide enough stability to forge a long-term or permanent career.

There’s something about watching your favourite TV show, or listening to your favourite radio station and knowing it’s being aired to millions of people, that can make the thought of trying to break into that industry quite intimidating. 

Here at Koody, we want to dispel the myth that careers in the creative industry, particularly those in entertainment, are impossible to achieve. We’ve questioned ITV and BBC employees to give you some invaluable tips on how to kickstart your creative careers, regardless of your background!

1. What is your creative job and what does it involve?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger: I currently work as a logger for ITV, which involves typing up footage from a particular TV show and logging it LIVE while it happens. This allows the producers to easily access the scripts and details of what happened in the show, decide what to air, cut it down into an episode and put it on TV!

Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: I work at the BBC as a Freelance Journalist, but I do a load of different things there. I’m also a Researcher, Broadcast Assistant, Radio 4 Assistant Producer, and I pitch my own stories to various outlets. Most of my work involves staying on top of news cycles, doing lots of research, pitching original story ideas and creating newslines.

2. Did you get your creative job through an application, networking or chance encounter?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger: I didn’t get my job in the conventional way. I initially applied for a completely different role at ITV but was unsuccessful, so I decided to email the people who interviewed me asking them to keep me in mind for any other opportunities. My details were then passed on to a colleague who contacted me for a general chat about my prospects, and then put me forward for the Logger role. It was by chance and good timing. Had I not contacted my interviewers, I wouldn’t have my current job.

Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: I got my job through a Trainee Scheme rejection! Although I was unsuccessful in that role, I was contacted by someone who liked my story ideas and offered me some shifts at the BBC. Since then, I’ve networked with others to get extra work.

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3. What are your top 3 tips for breaking into TV/radio?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger: 

1. Network as much as you can. If you ever go to an event and meet someone, or get work experience, try to get as many names and email addresses as possible! Stay on their radar, even if it's every month or so to update them on the fact that you’re still looking for work. 

2. Be really friendly and open to lots of different opportunities. Don’t close yourself off from one particular sector because you think you might not want to work there. It could get you closer to where you’re meant to be.

3. Stay persistent. Even if that means getting a temporary job like I did until something comes along. TV is a freelance industry and it can be really tough when you’re first starting out. If you stay motivated, eventually the right opportunity will come up, and hopefully lead to more!

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Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: 

1. Apply for everything, even the jobs you think you’re unqualified for. That way, if you make it to interview you could meet someone who might offer you something else if they think you’re not right for that particular role. Network with them, make them remember your face and ask for work experience if you do get rejected!

2. Stay resilient. I think sometimes it’s easy to get into quite negative thought patterns because there’s so much rejection in the creative industries, but you have to stay motivated. 

3. In the case of journalism, always try to have two or three story ideas on the go!

4. What is a typical day in the life of a TV Logger and Freelance Journalist?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger: As a logger, I work for around 10 hours with a few breaks in between. I spend most of my time typing up a bunch of TV footage, and sometimes I’ll need to check in with producers to make sure I’ve logged the parts they need. I also take care of ad hoc tasks around the office from time to time!

Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: When I’m working as a freelancer on Radio 4, I come in half an hour to an hour before our meeting, read the news and pick a story that I think will suit the programme. I try to come up with suggestions on what guests would be good to invite in for that particular story and I’ll then be sent away to research the story, secure the guest, contact them for briefing questions ahead of the live show and prepare the brief. 

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5. How do you succeed in the creative industry?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger:  Keep in contact with people. Stay friendly. Keep emailing people, even if you’ve already landed yourself a job in the industry. It's important to stay on other people's minds because you never know when another production company may have an opening for when your placement ends.

Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: I always try to have projects to work on independently. Because this industry is so informal and based on networking, you have to be good at talking to people, trying to make new connections and pushing your ideas forward.

6. What are the best ways to network in TV and radio?

Leila, 24, ITV Logger: The best way to network in TV is to contact people, even if you’ve never met them before. If you have a TV show that you love, find the names at the end of the credits and contact the series producer or researchers. If you’re interested in what someone does, there’s no harm in asking them for a zoom call or a coffee to get to know them. If you don’t get a response, keep trying. 

Imogen, 24, BBC Freelance Journalist: Be confident, always introduce yourself. For example, a producer that I worked with had connections with somebody at channel 4 news, so I asked him to put me in touch with them. Then, I was able to have a meeting with the audio editor of Channel 4 to talk about my story ideas. Now that I have that connection, I already have a much higher chance of getting work there.

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