Media Design/Production

Degrees in media design/production tend to provide an excellent foundation in technical skills such as: camera; sound; lighting; web design; audiovisual; and editing. In addition you are likely to have developed skills in directing, producing and production management depending upon the structure and focus of your degree.  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.

Working as an Interactive Media Producer

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Prospects

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after finishing their course, almost 70% of media design/production graduates were in UK or overseas work.

Just over 25% of employed graduates entered the marketing, advertising and media, arts and cultural industries (including sports). Over 7% of graduates pursue management positions in the commercial, industrial and public sectors and 3% securing roles in IT. Almost 30% of media design/production graduates in employment took jobs in retail and catering, perhaps as waiting and bar staff which work well as stop-gap jobs. These are common first jobs for graduates and are areas where shift patterns can fit in with graduates carrying on their degree specialism in their own time, while they look for an opportunity to take it up on a professional basis.

Where are the jobs?

Common employers of media design/production graduates include broadcast television and radio companies; film and radio companies; film/video and interactive media industries; advertising and PR; design organisations; schools, colleges and universities; charities; and local and national government. Many people working in media design/production do so on a freelance basis. This is becoming more and more the norm. With freelance work comes short-term contracts and the notion of job insecurity as a way of life for many media employees.

Typical job sectors in which media design/production graduates may be employed are:

• Media - a varied sector, including television, radio, film, corporate production and interactive media.
• Advertising, marketing and PR - includes planning, promotion, media relations, product development, direct marketing, sponsorship and market research.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Film/video editor
• Media planner
• Multimedia specialist
• Web designer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Runner, broadcasting/film/video
• Floor manager (television)
• Television camera operator
• Television/film/video producer
• Writer

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