The PR industry is notoriously competitive so it’s always useful to get advice from talented people in the sector who have managed to successfully launch their careers. In this guest blog piece, FleishmanHillard Fishburn’s Max Kalu talks about how he got into PR and offers some valuable advice to anyone wanting to do the same.

Growing up Public Relations, known to many as ‘PR’, was an industry I had heard of, but never considered. In truth, it just never occurred to me to look into it, in typical Nigerian fashion my parents were intent on me being a “banker, doctor or lawyer” and that was about it.

I accidentally discovered PR whilst I was studying Politics at Swansea University. In my third year, a friend and I decided to act on our massive interest in fitness and launched ‘Mr University’, the UK’s first student bodybuilding competition.

We ran the competition for a successful year, securing sponsorship from Microsoft and coverage in various outlets including the Huffington Post and BBC Three.

I naturally fell into a PR role; my essay writing skills were used to write press releases, and my eye for detail and critical thinking were needed to navigate the various reputational issues namely unfounded claims of steroid use and sexism, we were levelled with.

Mr University offered me clarity on the direction I wished to take post-university, and following graduation I joined FleishmanHillard Fishburn as a Graduate Trainee in the Corporate Communications team.

Having spent just over 7 months at FHF, I can say no day is the same. At one moment I may be on a conference call with a client across the world, the next having lunch with a journalist from a global newspaper.

If you’re contemplating a career in PR, the first thing I advise is a frank and honest self-assessment of your personality type and attributes.

Practically, there are a number of ways to get into the industry. University level education is expected with subjects varying across industry specialisms. For example, many of my colleagues in the Corporate team have arts and humanities backgrounds, but many of my colleagues in the Healthcare team studied science subjects.

Prior experience is also a must. My path was unconventional, but I’m a big believer in the worth of real-life experience. Nothing demonstrates natural aptitude better than taking your own initiative. This can be a pretty simple – outreach to local media outlets for an event at your university for example.

Internships remain the most common way for students to build their CV’s and can provide valuable insight into agency life. Familiarise yourself with agency profiles on PR Week, and shoot off introductory emails along with your CV.

The main concern of any PR firm is managing client reputations and generating publicity. In order to continue achieving this in our rapidly evolving and increasingly global society, the PR industry needs more people like you and I – people that bring diverse and different views to the table. I haven’t looked back since entering the world of PR, and I don’t think you will either.

All your friends call you a bookworm but this is hardly surprising. You spend more of your time hanging off your Kindle than you do hanging out with them.

It’s OK though because today you feel vindicated. The thousands of hours you’ve spent immersed in your favourite books have paid off and you’ve finally landed a job interview with a top book publisher.

Sure, take a moment to celebrate, but you’re not quite home and dry yet. If you’re going to ace this interview you need to nail some essentials. It won’t as easy as wowing them with all your literary references but luckily for you, we’ve put together these tips to help you the competitive edge.

Have detailed answers prepared for these questions

• Who is your favourite author and why?
• What is the difference between a publishing house and a literary agency?
• What genres are your favourite and why?
• What is your favourite imprint and why?
• Why are you interested in a specific type of literature?
• What are you currently reading?

Read, read, and then read some more

At this stage, it’s safe to assume that you’re a bona fide book nerd but however much you think you read now, the reality is that you can always read more. To succeed in the sector you really need to live and breathe books so impress your interviewers by showing them that you know your JR Tolkien from your JK Rowling.

Turn up your social media output, including your blog

You may love to read but can you write? In today’s publishing sector you’ll be pushed to find a major, or even independent publishing house that doesn’t have their own blog and full spread of active social media channels.
Whether you’re going for an Editorial or Marketing role it’s imperative that your blog and social media channels showcase your writing style. You also need to get to grips with the role social media plays in the publishing industry and use this to keep up to date with the latest industry trends and hot topics.

So if you’re not already on social media, start today and maybe even start following some of your favourite authors and publishers.

Get clued up on the different departments

Right now you may be thinking to yourself “I’m going for a Foreign Rights role, why do I need to know about what the Marketing department do?” well, you’d be wrong. All of the departments are subtly connected so it wouldn’t hurt to gain an understanding of the role each of them play in the overall picture. You don’t need to be an expert overnight on them all, but understanding what each of them contribute is invaluable when you’re sat in an interview. Here are a list of the departments you should know about:

• Contracts
• Foreign rights
• Marketing
• Accounts
• Publicity
• Sales

We hope these tips have given you the confidence to ace your interview.

You’ve dedicated hundreds of hours reading Shakespeare’s entire works and you’re familiar with every artistic director in the UK. Finally this knowledge has paid off as you’ve only gone and scored yourself that much coveted job interview at your all time favourite theatre company.

Before you celebrate by reading ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ for the 50th time, you realise that if you want to rub shoulders with the likes of Rufus Norris and Matthew Warchus, you actually need to put the ground work in and ace this job interview.

But how do you make sure you effectively convey your passion for theatre as well as selling yourself and convincing them that you’ll be a sparkling addition to the team? Well, sit tight and read some of our top tips on how to prepare for a theatre job interview.

Equip yourself with knowledge of the company and the industry. You wouldn’t set out for a walk in the desert without packing plenty of water, so why go for a job interview without researching the company first? It’s all well and good saying that you live and breath theatre but you need to make sure that you effectively demonstrate this knowledge in your interview. So load up on research and show them that you know your Les Blancs from your Les Misérables.

If this is the industry you want to work in you need to know if inside out. Here are some good questions to think about:

• Can you name their recent plays and artistic directors?
• What do you like or dislike about their plays?
• Which emerging talent (screenwriters, producers etc) are you the most excited about and why?
• What do you consider to be the biggest threat to the theatre industry at the moment?
• Why do you want to work for their theatre company over all the others?
• Do you have a good understanding of the different roles within theatre?
• What is the most recent production you saw and what did you think of it?
• What is production that has had the most impact on you?

Think about what you love the most about theatre and why you want to work in the industry. If you’re an aspiring actor or actress and think you’ll just take any job in theatre until you score your big acting break then perhaps now is the time to reconsider your motives. Yes you do need to start somewhere, but convincing your interviewer that you will be perfect for the role behind the scenes when really your heart lies at the centre stage is bound to rub them up the wrong way. Your first passion really should be for the role you’re going for.

We hope these tips will help you ace your interview. If you’re still waiting to secure an interview and need some help with your CV, be sure to sign up for one of our CV Clinic sessions.

5 plus 5 equals 10 but so does 7 plus 3. Just as you can get to the same answer in different ways, there is no one path to follow for a creative career. I learnt this while undertaking work experience with Creative Access. My week with Creative Access gave me fantastic insight into their work helping young people from Black, Asian and ethnically-diverse backgrounds to pursue their passions and follow their dreams in what can be a cut-throat and competitive environment. Here are some of the things that I learned.

Parental pressure can result in the tragedy of young people shelving their talents for the sake of more ‘stable’ professions. At a masterclass organised by Creative Access, DJ Angie Greaves recalls how “Being from a Caribbean family, my parents wanted me to be a teacher, a nurse or a doctor, but I was addicted to radio.” Her message was clear, if you have an addiction that you want to make your career you should give into the craving.

The creative sector may be a harder climb than other sectors and you will not reap financial rewards for a while, if at all. The difference is that once you are at the top of your Mount Everest the level of satisfaction is unparalleled.

While it is not a necessity, university is often at least a stop-off on the way to the final destination of a creative career. While getting good grades is important, what is paramount is that you take advantage of the opportunities for both personal growth and experience in your chosen creative sector. The candidates Creative Access meet who are the most successful have almost always been involved in societies, worked on personal projects and gained work experience in their preferred field.

In the middle of a Physics or Engineering degree and convinced this rules you out of a creative career? You need not worry as many creative businesses actively look for employees with science backgrounds. In fact, Creative Access recently placed a medicine graduate in a publishing house! Rest assured that while arts and humanities may be the traditional route into the sector, having specialist knowledge can be an advantage.

Your CV is your entry pass. This is what the Creative Access team will use to decide whether you fail to meet the criteria for the internship or whether you are a VIP who should be shortlisted. Given the extremely high volume of applications that Creative Access receives, you should make sure that your CV allows you to stand out.

Your cover letter is also extremely important. It is always important tailor the cover letter to the role you’re applying for. See it as a sales pitch by bringing up your academics and why they matter, all your relevant experience and what it is you’re looking for.

In both your CV and cover letter show your strengths and skills with short, sharp bullet points. You should be VERY careful with typos. In roles where writing and attention to detail are pivotal a small mistake can have a big impact on how you are perceived as a potential candidate. Don’t forget that if you need help you can attend a Creative Access CV surgery?

Getting on the bottom rung of the creative career ladder is in itself an achievement. Once you get your first internship or work experience remember that this is just the start of your journey. In the media it is widely acknowledged that who ends up where is dependent on luck. Nevertheless, you can make yourself more lucky with the right attitude and a lot of hard work. As well as digital, production and writing skills, you may end up becoming a top tea-maker! Regardless of whether or not you have a first from Oxford no task should be beneath you. Kiss DJ and presenter Neev Spencer recalls how she even worked as a receptionist in a radio station purely to get experience. The trick is to learn your trade inside out, acquire as much knowledge and as many skills as possible. Then when you are given the chance, show what you’re made of! Whether it is being asked to write an article or edit a video – there will be make or break opportunities for your future career.

Similarly, if you are unsure what area to focus on you will be helped to find your feet. Making the jump from university to the professional world can be trying and testing and yes, you may face a few rejections before landing an opportunity. Regardless, it is better to take a few ‘so whats’ in your stride than to be haunted by ‘what ifs…’

Tiata fahodzi’s artistic director, Natalie Ibu recently spoke at our Creative Industries Showcase at Channel 4. In this blog piece, Natalie talks about the importance of networking, celebrating your identity and also offers some essential creative career tips.

12 years ago, I was a graduate with lots of excellent essays on my hard drive, very little practical experience and no network – there was no club (boy’s or otherwise) that I belonged to. 12 years ago, I got on a similar – smaller scale – initiative and was one of five trainees, each attached to theatres in the East Midlands. And that was the start of my journey; a journey not without its hurdles, injuries, wrong turnings – think less motorway and more country roads with no sat nav or googlemaps – but a journey never the less.

12 years on, I’m the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of tiata fahodzi – a national portfolio organization regularly funded by the Arts Council. We started 18 years ago, founded by Femi Elefowojo jr. A British-based Nigerian actor and director who looked around him and saw that the stories we – and by that I mean the theatre sector – were telling were refusing to acknowledge the existence of all sorts of people and growing communities. And so he started a company devoted to telling stories about the African diaspora in Britain. Just one person with an idea and a desire to make a change. Does that sound like you?

18 years on, and I am the third Artistic Director with the absolute pleasure of continuing to build a legacy and the privilege of commissioning, programming and producing work that truly reflects the developing African diaspora in contemporary Britain. Work that multiplies the singular narratives that exist and sees every kind of “African”. Whether they’re a mixed heritage, working class (but now middle class through education and profession) Scottish girl who grew up eating sausage and tatties rather than okra and fu-fu (hello). Or they’re in touch with the origin of their name but have never tasted the fried fruity goodness of a plantain. Or they take okra soup as packed lunch to their city job but have never set foot on African soil. Maybe they’re bilingual but know nothing about their heritage or know it all but from papers rather than parents.

At tiata fahodzi, we’re interested in the dual, the in-between, the second/third generation African who is mixed experience and lives vividly and richly but you’d never be able to tell if you watched our stages, our screen or listened to our radios. I – at 32 – still meet people who are surprised that there are black people in Scotland – we, culture, have let those people down in doing our job of sharing the world they live in. I – and others like, and unlike, me – continue to be unseen and unheard. Let’s agree that stops here and now, with us.

Not all of you will be thinking of a career in theatre but I wish you were. Because the industry I want to work in, the meetings I want to go to, the audiences I want to sit in and tell stories to – look diverse. I feel like we spend a lot of time talking about why everyone needs theatre – and, listen, I’m a theatre fan girl so I absolutely believe that theatre is essential for living – but we don’t say enough that theatre needs you.

We’re tight for time so I wanted to share some things I’ve picked up over the last 12 years, 5 residencies and endless jobs as a producer, director and teacher.

Here goes, strap in:

Trust your instinct. I knew I wanted to be an artistic director at 17 – I know, it’s weird, I don’t think I really knew what that was, then. But I chose my degree based on that desire, I chose the jobs I did based on that ambition. And here I am, 15 years later. If you feel it, you feel it for a reason – follow that instinct and see where it takes you.

Don’t believe the hype. In 2008, some mentors suggested I go for another residency – a high profile director development attachment. They said, you won’t get it, it’s highly competitive but it’ll be good experience for you. Guess what? I got it first time and got a residency at one of Britain’s leading theatres – the Royal Court. Don’t take notice of the myth around jobs, opportunities, organisations. Get involved.

Everyone has the right to ask and – similarly – everyone has the right to say no. I expect to have coffee with every single one of you who thinks theatre might be the place for you.

So I’m hoping you’re hyped about the future, hyped about the role an internship might play in forging your career but if you’re still none the wiser whether theatre is for you, I’ll finish with this. If you’ve got something to say about and to the world, then theatre is a loudspeaker. What exactly have you got to lose?

Channel 4’s Commissioning Executive recently opened our Creative Industries Showcase event at Channel 4. In this blog piece, she talks about how she launched her career in TV.

Growing up in the 80s ‘having a passion for the media’ meant having an appointment to view The Krypton Factor, Desmond’s or Saturday Superstore, listening to Mark Goodier on BBC Radio 1 and obsessing over any Smash Hits issues my mum would let me and my sister buy as a special treat. I know, relatively primitive cultural pursuits next to today’s avalanche of platforms and content. But despite any interest in popular media, without any connections or know-how of who to contact or ask, I found myself accepting to pass on the possibility of working in TV.

It was only in mid 20s when I was completing my PhD and contemplating a life as a research scientist that I decided I’d try one last attempt at getting into TV production. So I wrote a few letters. And I received no replies. That was until my dad spotted an advert in the local newspaper saying that BBC Wales wanted to broaden its intake of new production staff. A few chats with outreach HR staff and an application process later, I had landed myself a 1 year production traineeship at BBC Wales.

In retrospect it sounds straight-forward, but at the time I remember feeling lost as speculative attempts didn’t work. To me, ‘the media’ was a big white ivory house without a door and I felt like I was running around it knowing I wanted to get in but not knowing how to find the door. Thankfully, the industry is a little more transparent now.

Perhaps being a mature entrant helped me get into the BBC but that still wasn’t a guarantee of a life-long career. None of my contracts were ever that long, which is normal for the industry. I moved around the UK which culminated in over eight years working on a range of BBC TV programmes, including radio and online. It is an incredibly competitive industry and still has a long way to go in terms of a range of views, voices and visions, but the trick is to understand how you can make your outlook matter.

Even though I had a good run at the BBC, I still found it tough to maintain momentum and often wondered how my interest in the global world could be explored. Even with experience, doors can still shut in your face and cynicism can set in. So I took 3 years out to work in international development. Returning to TV production only 5 years ago, I have freelanced as a producer at a range of large independent companies on programmes and ideas across all the major broadcasters before joining Channel 4 on a 1 year placement within their documentaries commissioning team. Commissioning is often viewed as the apex of the TV production tree as it is these people who have the influence to decide what programme ideas a broadcaster will buy and make, so it has been an extraordinary insight.

Thinking about it now, perhaps my route in was a lot to do about timing and luck. I was a few years older than the average new TV entrant and had knowledge outside of the media – in this case a science degree – but I also think there is no one way.

Finally, don’t think you can do everything. You can’t and won’t – and – above all, be confident. The biggest barrier to accessing this industry is having the self-belief that you can add to it and then learning to communicate that amiably. Afterall, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. Everyone else in telly is…

Congratulations! You’ve finally managed to do what everyone said was impossible and bag yourself a coveted interview spot with the TV production company of your dreams. After spending an hour elatedly dancing around your bedroom in your PJs, it suddenly dawns on you that although you’ve spent what has felt like a lifetime dreaming about working on the set of your favourite TV show, you haven’t put any thought into the interview process or how you’re going to prepare for it.

Well don’t panic. Luckily for you, we’ve prepared some great tips that will help you ace your TV interview and hopefully knock your unprepared, competition out of the park.

Make sure you do your research. We really can not emphasise it enough when we say that the key to preparation is knowledge and you can only get that knowledge through research.

Expect to be asked all about your favourite and least favourite shows and be prepared to have a strong opinion on why you love or hate them and if you’re able to tell them how you think these programmes can be improved then you’re well on your way to impressing their socks off. So if you know your ‘Making a Murder’ from your ‘How to Get Away with Murder’, now is your chance to show them just how many hours on Netflix you’ve racked up! Here are some important questions you need to ask yourself before your interview:

• What TV programmes do they make?
• What do you like or dislike about their programmes?
• Do you have any format ideas that you think would be perfect for their target audience?
• Do you know the difference between pre and post production?
• Why do you want to work for their production company over all the others?

Think about why you want to work in TV. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that working on a TV set is going to be super glamorous and that you’ll spend your days schmoozing with the stars and your nights hopping from award ceremony to party. That’s not to say that you wont get to do these things, but before you get to experience any of the perks you need to prepare yourself for the hard graft, the heavy lifting and the very long hours. If you’re the kind of person who can take the good with the bad then you’re cut out for a career in TV so you just need to convince your interviewer.

Also, when you’re asked why you want to work in TV, use this opportunity to not only demonstrate your knowledge but also talk about your previous experience, skills and education to explain why you’re not only perfect for the role but why you would be an asset to the company.

Make sure you ask questions. Even though you’re the one being interviewed, it doesn’t mean that asking questions is off the table. You need to know what their office culture is like and whether you’ll be a good fit for it. Asking about the potential routes for progression is always a good idea too. Although you want to get as much experience as possible, it’s always useful to know if there will be opportunities to develop the role or move into another department after you’ve been there for a certain amount of time. No one likes to feel stagnant!

We really hope these tips have helped you well on the way to acing your next TV job interview. And don’t forget, we have some amazing paid internships in TV and other creative sectors, so feel free to check them out here.

In the second guest blog post from Joshua Graff UK Country Manager & Senior Director, LinkedIn EMEA, Joshua talks about how you can use LinkedIn to get ahead in your career.

In my last Creative Access blog I talked about the need for better diversity in the creative industries – a move that isn’t just the right thing to do, but one that also contributes to business success.

At LinkedIn we help people all over the world succeed in their professional lives, regardless of their background.

It also helps people to be better at the job they have now, as they are exposed to content and conversations about their industry, along with the skills and experience needed to move them on.

Having a strong LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to be difficult and a few simple steps could help you land that dream job or perform better in your current one. Here are my seven tips for using LinkedIn:

1. Create a profile (and take pride in your online appearance)

If you haven’t got a LinkedIn profile, get one. Getting started is easy – LinkedIn guides you through the setup and prompts to you add a photo, your current position, past positions and your education.

If you already have a profile, make sure it looks smart and displays all of your experience accurately. Completed profiles are far more likely to be viewed by potential employers. Adding a profile picture gives a personal touch and makes your profile 14 times more likely to be seen – just make sure you keep it professional.

2. Start building connections

Developing a strong network is key. By connecting with at least 50 trusted contacts you will start to see the effects of having an online network and increase your chances of getting in touch with the right people to get ahead in your job hunt.

Being at the very start of your career doesn’t have to be a hindrance. Start close to home with family connections and friends. Spending a few minutes each day connecting with people you’ve met professionally or looking at ‘recommended connections’ will make a real difference.

3. Spot opportunities

Follow companies that you’d love to work for on LinkedIn (tip: you can find Companies under ‘Interests’ on the navigation). This means you will get updates on new hires, promotions and even job opportunities on your homepage – putting you firmly on the front foot.

By checking out Company Pages, you’ll get a much clearer idea of what life within these organisations is like, and hear the latest business news and industry updates straight from the horse’s mouth.

4. Get straight to the people that do the hiring

Don’t be afraid to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn. Use the ‘Advanced People Search’ to build relationships with a select number of recruiters who specialise in your industry and you’ll be top of their mind when great job openings come up.

5. Distinguish yourself from the crowd

Aim to secure recommendations from colleagues, clients, and employers who can speak credibly about your abilities and performance. Asking them to focus on a specific skill or personality trait that informs their opinion works well. This will show that you’re a respected and valued employee or business connection.

But remember to return the favour by offering meaningful comments and recommendations to your network of connections.

6. Keep your profile active

Use your LinkedIn Profile to create a two-way conversation with your connections by participating in relevant groups and sharing engaging content. If you see an article on a topic that interests you, share it and invite discussion by posting it as a status update. This shows you have a genuine interest in your chosen industry.

Check out the profiles of successful people you admire and look at the kind of content they’re posting and engaging with. It’s important not to imitate them too much, but it’ll give you an idea of what a strong profile looks like.

7. Be yourself

You are more than a set of skills or a list of experiences. Match your offline with your online identity by keeping your profile authentic. Use your own voice to give your online profile a warm personality and try to avoid writing in the third person unless that formality suits. Picture yourself at a meeting or interview and make sure your online profile marries with this.