Making the Most of Television Production Jobs

Making the most of television production jobs will help you succeed in your career

By Kelly Shetsky, Anchor/Reporter

Television production jobs vary greatly depending on the type of production house or news station. Affiliate TV stations hire producers, editors, photographers, technical directors, web reporters, audio people, studio camera operators and teleprompter operators, just to name a few positions. Some of these jobs require a lot of technical skill and training. Interns or students can perform other jobs.

To make the most out of video production jobs, employees must realize what the positions will teach you in the long run. You can reach your full potential by doing your best at your current position and trying to learn as much as possible about other positions.

1. Use entry-level jobs in television production as a stepping stone to the career you want

2. Prepare for cross-training on numerous television production jobs

3. Seek out people who are successful in their video production jobs for advice and knowledge

Consider other forms of television production employment to get your foot in the door

You may want to ultimately be a videographer, but don't have the experience needed. Consider other TV production jobs to get in the door so you can train for the job you truly want. Accept a job as a studio camera operator, for instance, but let your employer know you'd like to learn more about the field cameras.
Try: Use online job boards to find jobs in television production. Some, like MediaBizJobs and Media-match are free. Others, such as TVJobs.com require membership, but you can sign on as a guest to see some postings.

Know that TV production jobs involve a lot of cross-training

Often, several employees perform various production jobs on a rotating basis. It's common for the newscast director, for instance, to run audio during some shifts or run the board for others, so that each employee can do all the TV production jobs when needed. Speak up and demonstrate your willingness to learn.
Try: Use High-Tech Productions as a resource to find stations in your area that may have television production positions available. Search for TV production jobs on ProductionHUB.com by category, type or location. This will give you an idea of other positions you can cross-train for.

Ask seasoned professionals for advice to further your own career in television production

Every production company and TV station contain employees who have decades of experience. They are top-notch in their field and their knowledge can help you excel in your own television production job. Ask for tips and learn from their mistakes.
Try: Medialine.com is a subscription-based service of media production jobs. Once you subscribe, you have access to a forum where you can chat with other professionals around the country, for advice and tips. Join News Blues for access to industry newsletters and connections to other TV production professionals.

Know that TV production employment can be a hard field to break into. It's often about who you know, so make good contacts and keep in touch in case future employment opens up.

Making the Most of Television Production Jobs