Film and Photography

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Prospects

Graduates from film and photography degrees may find their subject useful in the following career areas:

• the creative industries, including broadcast media (television and internet);
• film making, including feature films, indie (independent) films and documentaries;
• print media, including newspapers, magazines, catalogues;
• fashion and interiors photography and styling;
• social and portrait photography;
• art direction for production including sets and locations;
• advertising and marketing;
• merchandising and retail;
• secretarial, clerical and administration.

Graduates enter technical, operational and creative areas, as well as taking on roles in support functions.

Statistics show that in 2010, six months after graduating, just over 60% of film and photography graduates were in employment. Nearly 30% of these were professionals in the arts, design, culture and sports sectors while 31% were working in the retail sector.

Where are the jobs?

Popular employers of film and photography graduates in full-time positions are:

• large broadcasters such as the Channel 4, Sky and the BBC;
• websites;
• communications companies;
• independent production companies;
• public sector organisations such as universities;
• charities;
• publishers;
• advertising and marketing agencies;
• self-employment.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Film/video production manager
• Location manager
• Programme researcher, broadcasting/film/video
• Photographer
• Runner, broadcasting/film/video
• Television camera operator

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Advertising art director
• Broadcast engineer
• Picture researcher/editor
• Props manager
• Vision mixer

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk