My Advice To Media Students

Colleagues still tease me about the "inspirational" speech I once gave to a group of production trainees on their very first day at BBC Scotland. No sooner were they in the door than I appeared to be telling them to sling their hook. Of course that story has been taken out of context and I would like to put the record straight. I would also like to direct this blog posting to the hundreds of media students who, at this time of year, are entering the last few weeks of their college and university courses. I've heard from a few who would dearly love to work for BBC Radio Scotland...others are just hoping to find any work at all.

I have some advice, but first let me get back to that story about the production trainees.

I know it was November the fifth, but I forget which year. Probably 1998. The six trainees had been chosen from about five hundred applicants and after a rigorous selection process involving written submissions, interviews and role-playing. We'd chosen six people with very different personalities and skills because we wanted to place them in different departments. The main thing we were looking for was evidence of a creative imagination - the ability to come up with ideas day after day.

At the time, I was becoming frustrated by the kind of people who took their jobs for granted and had simply stopped trying to impress. You find those people in any organisation. The people who are always looking for something to moan about and who mock anyone around them who shows any kind of energy. At that time, as a relative newcomer to the BBC, I was, frankly, appalled by anyone who didn't think working for the Corporation was an absolute privilege. Compared to some of the other places I'd worked, the BBC was sheer paradise. I still think that.

So, with this in mind, I launched into my 'welcome' speech to the new trainees. I'm sure I told them about all the opportunities that would be open to them and I'm sure I talked about radio as being fun as well as being hard work. I can't swear to it, but I think I was even smiling.

Unfortunately, some of my senior colleagues arrived a little late and walked through the door just as a frown settled on my forehead and I was warning the new recruits about the dangers of contagious cynicism.

"Don't stay here until you are bitter and twisted, "I said, "If you don't like it here then please leave. For your own sake as well as ours. Just leave and find something else."

I now accept that might be seen as an unusual way of welcoming new employees. It's still true, though.

As for my advice to the students:

1. Get as much relevant experience as possible and that might include working in hospital or community radio, launching your own podcast, student newspapers, blogs etc.

2. Knock on as many doors as possible. There's a lot more to the BBC than its newsrooms, for example, so think about the arts programmes, comedy, religion, sport and so on.

3. Tell us what you can offer that no one else can. Perhaps you have a particular hobby or enthusiasm or have experience of a particular country, community or language. Turn that knowledge into potential programme ideas or news stories.

4. Make contact with people who can offer you advice or work. It shows gumption if you phone up and ask for a meeting. Personally, I'll meet with anyone if they buy the tea but I set the hounds on stalkers.

5. Do unpaid or voluntary work if you think it's helping you build skills, but not to the point where you feel you are being exploited.

6. Be flexible. I started working for the BBC in Selkirk which meant moving from Glasgow. I seem to have been moving around Scotland ever since.

Finally, a word about that period when you leave college or university and haven't yet found a job. I know from speaking to many former students that this is the point where misery can kick in and where self confidence ebbs away. That's when you should look for opportunities to stay connected with the industry in some shape or form. Many BBC producers began their careers as runners for our Edinburgh Festival programmes...other sat at home writing sketches for our comedy shows. Eventually they got noticed.

Oh, and if you do end up at the BBC but don't like it here....well, you know what to do.

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