Our former intern, Isher Sahota, current Director of BBC One’s Doctors shares his amazing CA journey with us and reflects on the key steps he made to succeed in TV and film-making…

Bold, diverse and new stories. They’re all the film and television industry says it wants, but the reality of gaining commissions and credits as a writer or director is far from straightforward. The only thing that can prepare you for being a director is directing. It seems so obvious but the only thing producers can go on when considering to hire you is looking at work you’ve directed.

It taught me the craft of working with actors and a production team, and pulling off projects with little to no budget. I met someone through student theatre who wanted to make films. We then started a company and began pitching for commissions to make music videos and online content for brands and companies; with our profits we made short films which were passion projects.

I had had a meeting at Creative Access, and was given great advice on my CV. I was recommended a role in factual development, which is something I never would have thought of myself (I had initially thought my way in would be scripted development) but I loved working at Dragonfly and coming up with documentary ideas for all the major broadcasters.

My job at Dragonfly led to further roles at ITV in factual, but it was always my dream to get into drama. It’s off the basis of my short films that I gained a coveted place on the fantastic New Director’s Scheme which is run by the BBC’s Writersroom. By September this year I will have directed 10 episodes of BBC One’s Doctors, which has been an invaluable experience. The fast paced nature of the show means you gain a lot of experience very quickly in all aspects of the directorial process, from script, casting, pre-production through to shooting and post.

Moreover, the challenging schedule has developed my directorial method, giving me confidence and enabling me to work in an instinctive, decisive way. The support of the production team and various departments around you is magnificent, and I have been lucky enough to collaborate with wonderful guest and regular cast. I am also a writer. I was lucky enough, thanks to a Creative Access introduction, to find a perfect collaborator in the form of an agent at the brilliant Casarotto Ramsay and Associates. My agent has similar tastes to me, gets what I want to do and shares phenomenal contacts and advice. It’s my dream to get an original TV series and a feature film idea in development with a top production company.

What got me noticed by a top agency among countless unsolicited scripts, I think, was my background. I wrote a TV script for an original comedy-drama series about Indian gangsters set in the underground world of the Punjabi-run illegal alcohol trade. I had insights into this unknown world because I grew up in Southall, the little India of West London.

My only advice would be to surround yourself with brilliant people who you respect, and who respect you, and keep making films together.

You can follow Isher on Twitter and Instagram at @ishersahota and check out some of his fantastic work here

In part two of our feature on mentoring, Nicole Gordon, former Creative Access intern and Sales Administrator at Pan Macmillan, writes about her career journey to date and what she has both given to and taken from the mentoring partnership

As a Creative Access alumni with over two years of publishing experience, I was allocated a mentor via the Creative Access Mentoring Scheme in January. The Development Scheme pairs alumni, which total over 150 BAME individuals in publishing, with senior publishing professionals from across the UK. I was thrilled to benefit from the insight and experience of my mentor, who is a Managing Director at Penguin Random House.

Looking back, as a student at The Royal Docks School and later at the University of Leicester, I tenaciously sought experience in the creative industries, completing internships during my summer breaks at The Guardian, and during term time at the University’s Press Office and the local newspaper The Leicester Mercury. When I returned from a study abroad year at the University of Heidelberg, I attended a Creative Access Showcase and it was inspiring to meet an array of current Creative Access interns thoroughly enjoying their placements at media organisations such as ITV, HarperCollins and the BBC among others.

I was subsequently motivated to apply for a publishing internship in 2015 when I was invited to an event at London Book Fair jointly hosted by Creative Access and the Publishers Association. The focus day, during which I met with publishers and publishing interns, introduced me to the array of careers within publishing.

Ahead of my graduation that summer I was elated to secure a six-month placement at Pan Macmillan in International Sales. A highlight of the internship was being invited to attend Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest trade show for books, where I was able to use my German skills! Fortunately, at the end of my internship with Pan Macmillan the position of Sales Administrator arose in UK Sales; a busy, good-natured team that I have enjoyed working with for over two years.

Two years on, having gained fantastic foundational experience in publishing, I felt that a mentor would offer me continued support as I looked toward the next stages of my career.

In particular, I debated whether to continue developing my career in Sales, or broaden my experience by entering an entirely new area of publishing. My mentorship was highly effective. I met with my mentor every month, and we communicated via email in between our catch ups too. To maximise our meetings I set an agenda. The topics I selected depended on which areas of my career I felt that I needed more guidance on, for example, ‘Building A Personal Brand’ and ‘Networking’. Deciding on themes ahead of our meetings provided a springboard for further discussion, and sharing notes with my mentor following our meetings was also key as it helped me to set action points to further my development outside of our catch ups. Another brilliant aspect of the mentoring scheme was the sustained support I received.

When I decided to pursue a career in Rights, the added reassurance and insight provided by mentor strengthened my resolve to pursue an alternative pathway in publishing. Ultimately, having a mentor gave me a dedicated space in which to develop and share ideas and it further motivated me to pursue my career aspirations. Since beginning my mentorship I have secured a new role as a Rights and Media Assistant at The Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV and Film Agency. The insights provided by my mentor encouraged me to articulate what I desired in my next role. Specifically, working more closely with authors and their literature, employing my love of negotiating and rapport building – combined with an international outlook! I am fortunate that I was able to benefit from the guidance of a mentor which has helped me to advance in my career.

A mentoring partnership works both ways and there are a few things you can do to make it a really fruitful relationship. Here are my top tips:

• Set an achievable goal of what you would like to achieve during your mentorship.
• Set out the topics of discussions ahead of your meetings. It will be a good launch pad for discussion and shows you are actively taking responsibility for your development.
• Take notes during or soon after your meetings and share them with your mentor to help track your progress.
• Set action points to work on ahead of your next meeting.
• Communicate with your mentor in between meetings if you would like career advice. Your mentor is most likely best placed to offer advice!
• The above also includes sharing good news, for instance, if your application for a fantastic role has been shortlisted. Sharing feedback throughout your journey will bolster your confidence and can lead to invaluable guidance.
• Enjoy the experience of building a rapport with your mentor. Knowing their career journey may help you reflect on your own pathway.
• Be open minded about your career progression. If your career goals shift during your mentorship it is a good sign as it indicates that you are honing in on your skills, experience and aspirations.

Twitter: @nickysgordon

In part one of our feature on mentoring, Hannah Telfer, a Managing Director at a leading publisher, reflects on what she both takes from and brings to the mentoring partnership…

Somehow, in the formal language of mentors and mentees, we struggle to convey the real value that comes from two people, at different stages of their careers but equally passionate, spending time together and listening to each other.

Chemistry is everything in a successful mentoring relationship and it’s critical to ask at the start if you’re the right match – and to be pragmatic about walking away if the answer is no.

But if you think you can help, do. I’ve been fortunate to be mentored at various stages of my career and every time it’s helped me to think more clearly, to consider a different way forward and to be bolder. And every mentee I’ve worked with has reminded me what it’s like to navigate those first years of your career. It’s made me more empathetic with my own team. And it’s given me invaluable insight into what matters to a generation that does, sometimes, think differently to my own.

Now, as the head of a large team with broad expertise, I can better see the benefits of our differences but also the common ground; the places where we all unite and from which we build.

Let’s face it a little emotional intelligence goes a long way but it can be hard to develop in the maelstrom of the workplace. Conversations between mentors and mentees often path the way for the tough conversations that need to be had at work. They offer the safe space to test out approaches and explore scenarios. These are the places to broaden horizons, check biases and build confidence. A chance to sharpen points and soften delivery, bringing clarity and impact where it’s needed most.

Like every good relationship, it’s worth spending time in the first conversation agreeing what both parties want to achieve. What’s the breakthrough your mentee really wants to make? And to be upfront about the time commitment each can give. Will you meet every month for breakfast? Every 6 weeks for an hour? Perhaps the most valuable question to answer at the outset is how long you’ll work together. Somehow, it’s easier to agree 6 meetings over 6 months, and then to extend for a couple more, than it is to keep your commitment open-ended. Often there is a natural conclusion to your conversations; a mentee comes to their decision that it’s time to move on, they secure their brave next step, or take control of a difficult work situation.

Now, as I celebrate with my current mentee the job offer that will take her on an exciting new path, I’m exhilarated. We’ll work together until she’s settled in her new company and then it will be time to move on. I wonder who I’ll meet next? And what we’ll learn from each other.

Hannah Telfer, Managing Director, Audiences & Audio, Penguin Random House UK

Twitter: @HTelfer1
LinkedIn

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a Creative Access alumni please follow this link to fill out a partnership form and we will do our best to match you as soon as possible.

Our former intern, Caroline Carpenter, has succeeded in forging a career which combines both her love of writing and love for books. She tells us about her journey to date and gives some sound advice for those wanting to follow in her footsteps…

I have worked at The Bookseller – a trade magazine for the publishing industry – since getting a year-long internship there through Creative Access in 2013. I’m now in the role of Web Editor, which involves carrying out web production duties, including uploading news stories and features to The Bookseller’s website, sending out email newsletters and running the company’s social media channels. I also chair our YA Book Prize, an award for the best book for teenagers by an author from the UK or Ireland. I sometimes write content such as author interviews for our weekly print magazine and website too.

From a very young age, I wanted to be an author. When it came to applying for university, my parents were a little worried about the lack of a clear career path that comes with an English degree (my dad had also studied English at university). They briefly tried to persuade me to continue with Law, which I studied did an A Level in and enjoyed, but were not surprised when I stuck to my guns and they’ve supported my career throughout.

Before landing my internship, I studied English and Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. When I first graduated, I gained work experience in an administrative role. I then did a few placements at publishing houses and as a result, I had the opportunity to write a book (‘A Guide to the Hunger Games‘). After that, I worked in the advertising department of a newspaper company for a year.

I was attracted to this role because I have always loved reading and writing, which inspired me to want a career in book publishing. Working at The Bookseller offered me the chance to learn a lot about the trade and to write for a living. From the start, my workmates at The Bookseller made me feel a valued part of the team – in fact, many of them didn’t even realise that I was an intern!

The best thing about my job is that it allows me to be at the centre of the publishing industry and to keep up-to-date with the latest news. I get to attend lots of book launches and events, meet authors (interviewing one of my heroes Malorie Blackman was a particular highlight!) and get sent free books before they are released. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel abroad for work and to speak on stage at events such as the Hay Festival and the Southbank Centre’s YA Literature Weekender. Above all, my work on projects such as the YA Book Prize has encouraged more people to be excited about books, which is incredibly rewarding.

In your applications, try to meet the criteria laid out in the job description and reflect the language used in it. Spend time crafting covering letters and proofreading them. Research the company you are applying for thoroughly before an interview.

• Whether it’s applying for work experience placements, building up a writing portfolio, working at a bookshop on the weekend, or writing a blog about the books you love, make sure that you show your passion somehow.
• Consider whether you want to do further study. There are lots of Publishing MA courses available at universities across the country now. For journalism roles, some employers require you to have NCTJ qualification.
• Don’t just apply for editorial jobs! Everyone in publishing starts out wanting to be an editor so these roles are incredibly competitive. Publishing companies have a vast range of roles available from HR to publicity so think about what suits your strengths best and don’t limit your applications.
• Get on Twitter – a lot of publishing people are on here and roles are also advertised here (good accounts to follow are @JobsinBooks, @inspiredselection, @pubinterns and @_CreativeAccess, of course!).

In the future, I’d like to still be working in the book trade in a role where I can use my creativity to help books reach more readers. I don’t have a dream job title in mind – maybe I’ll create my own one!

You can follow Caroline on Twitter at @CarolineC1988

We caught up with former Creative Access intern Olivia Crooks to hear a bit about her journey in the world of advertising, from BBH, to Vice Media, via Google and Grey…

So I am a 24-year-old Londoner – born and bred. I studied English and American studies at the University of Leicester and for those of you that don’t know what that means – it’s English literature, American literature and American history, or in other words a bundle of reading and about a million essays.

Before uni, I’d really wanted to take a gap year because I was exhausted after my A levels. But it was the whole go straight away at £3k or leave it a year and have to pay £9k palava: I went for the £3k option. Anyway, this culminated in me throwing my hands up at the end of the second year and requiring some time out of the ‘lecture – coursework – exam’ hamster wheel. I have to say it was one of the best decisions I could’ve made as it totally shaped my career. Prior to that year out, I was fully on track to become a broadcast journalist. Well, by on track I just mean that that was my ambition.

I don’t know how to say this in any other way than I would totally recommend taking time out of uni – do whatever you fancy but it is the perfect time to do it. You’re already enrolled, you have two years of your degree under your belt but what you do need is work experience. If you have chosen to study humanities like me, I really encourage you to do this as it can be hard to get a job after graduation. I don’t see any justifiable reason why you would not put yourself in the best possible position after university unless of course, you’re worried that you won’t go back. I can assure you that it is not all fun and games in the real world! It will be remarkable just how quickly you want to go back to Wednesday night raving, not having to jump out of bed like some sort of Sim and dash to work or deal with day-to-day work politics … then again, maybe that’s just me!

Because I am a bit of a lunatic when I did get back to Leicester I decided to do an internship at Google whilst battling my dissertation – anybody who knows me understands that I can’t keep still and feel the need to constantly put myself under pressure, I think it’s how I know I am working hard enough. That was a lot of work but I met some amazing people and it allowed me to expand my network.

In fact, the mentor Creative Access matched me with at BBH has had an amazing impact on my career, even going on to help me land another job and being a constant source of advice. I remember meeting him for the first time at the assessment day – gosh it was so scary. I was 19 and there were people aged on average between 24 to 30 also trying to get onto the internship scheme. Nevertheless, I managed to get a spot and he ensured my time there was useful. One thing he did instil in me was that networking equals drinking; what he meant was that you need to find a way to connect with senior members of staff on a social level, a personable level, on a level that they can get to like you and you will feel cool talking to them in a meeting or around the office. By no means do you need to make yourself feel uncomfortable or force yourself to drink if you don’t want to.

Networking as we all know is crucial but as time has gone on I have realised that one of the issues with many ‘networking groups’ is that they are way too lateral or peer-to-peer focused. I get that we are millennials and it’s great to know each other but the truth of the matter is how much can Sophie who is also trying to get her foot in the door help you? The people you really need access to, the mentors, those who are going to progress your career or help you set up that business tend to be older or at the very least, in more senior positions in the workplace; it’s one of the reasons I set up Madland Hack.

It’s funny, there is a huge push to get people into the creative industries but I feel there is little focus on keeping them there! Madland Hack is a Facebook group that I created last year to support BAME talent throughout their time in the industry. I semi got the idea from the Creative Access alumni group. It’s great to know people across publishing and TV production but I wanted to focus on advertising and marketing, hence the pun on adland – Madland. At first, I imagined a nepotistic group where we could post all of those jobs that get sent around on internal company emails or that recruiters share on LinkedIn statuses. But after a while, I shifted focus from relentlessly posting interesting jobs to sharing articles that are relevant to our industry. Importantly, support is not only about helping each other get jobs but also support in the community sense, where people can get feedback on a portfolio, post interesting articles (and debate!) or even just talk to other people about the irritating things that happen or pose questions.

You can find Olivia on LinkedIn here.

Want to know how an internship in music can take you to running your own business? We caught up with former Creative Access intern, Darren Blair to hear about his internship, what he is up to now and what some of his plans are for the future.

Darren was interested in getting into the music industry and in 2015, secured an internship with I’m Not From London in Nottingham. The company promote events, gigs, parties and festivals, run two record labels and are also a registered music publisher.

“It’s sometimes harder when you don’t live in London as well” he tells us, “to find opportunities in the industry, that’s why it was great to find this in the East Midlands.”

We asked Darren to tell us a little about his experience at the record label, “I really enjoyed it. It allowed me to progress and get the good experience on my CV. It was essentially my first foot through the door. Creative Access made the process a lot easier and it was great to have the support from an organisation who genuinely understands the complications and discrimination within the industry.” He continues:

Darren clearly made a great impression on the company too! His line manager from I’m Not From London said: “Darren was an asset to us as I believe he will be wherever he decides to go to next. Creative Access was a great help to our business providing an extra person to help us grow in what was our busiest year so far to also teaching us the skills of man management, HR and how to most effectively teach and utilise an employee’s talents. We couldn’t recommend Creative Access enough to companies wanting to expand both their business and increase skills.”

Since his internship, Darren has not only stayed firmly within music and events, he has also now started his own freelance business. Under the name, ‘Darren Blair – Music Business Management’ he now works for himself in all areas of event management. Darren launched the business last November and by March already had his first major contract.

One of the major things Darren advises to people interested in the music industry is the need to learn as much as possible about as many roles as possible. He says “with events – it isn’t all about qualifications. What you need is experience”.

Darren now works for up to ten companies from Festival stages to arenas such as Wembley and Cardiff and some jobs even involving living on tour buses for long periods of time.

Having come so far already in such a short space of time, we asked what the future holds for Darren, he told us “my main aim is to be a tour manager, whether it is UK, Europe or international. I want to be responsible for the crew”

The fast pace definitely suits him and Darren shows absolutely no signs of wanting it to slow down. Follow Darren on Instagram and Facebook keep up to date with his impressive work!

To mark this year’s World Mental Health Day and hot on the heels of our masterclass at the Wellcome Trust, Dr Victoria Mattison, Clinical Psychologist at Islington CAMHS, gives us some top tips for taking care of ourselves and each other in the workplace…

We all have mental health, and our emotional or mental well-being can fluctuate every day. This means that we can all try to take small steps in our everyday lives to look after our well-being. However, there are certain times in our life when we face transitions and changes, which can mean that our mental well-being may be slipping, and we might need to take actions to boost it. For young adults, the start of working life, financial independence and often lots of uncertainty about which path to take, can be incredibly stressful. Add on possible relationship stresses, a difficult boss, and the onset of winter and it’s not surprising that approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.

Our narrative about mental health is influenced by our culture, religion, gender and politics. Unfortunately, negative thoughts and judgements about mental health or mental illness can be found across our all communities, cultures and generations. Thoughts and logic are often prioritised over feelings and emotions.

These judgemental messages exist in both our thoughts about others (either consciously or unconsciously) and about ourselves ( ‘I should be strong enough to take care of myself). Thanks to the Royals and other campaigns, there has been some improvement, but there continues to be lots of stigma associated with mental health diagnoses. This stigma can make reaching out for help scary and sometimes feel unsafe.

Young people face an enormous amount of pressure to be successful, to be perfect, to excel. When this pressure builds, we need a reliable outlet and a way to cope. If we haven’t yet learned coping skills, the pressure can become overwhelming. Everyday tasks can become difficult because they become linked to that pressure and this can lead to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviour patterns.

Research shows that we are more ‘connected’ than ever and at the same time, more isolated. Digital technology, including social media and text messaging, increase dopamine, a chemical in the brain linked to pleasure. On social media, it can be easy to project a happy version of ourselves. This can lead others to think we are fine, as well as increase pressure to feel inauthentic happiness. In essence, the technology that gives us a false sense of connection, gives our brains a pleasure boost, making it hard to turn off phones and connect in person. How do we navigate feeling isolated and negotiate better ways to feel support?

There can be a single trigger or event that raises anxiety levels, but generally it‘ll be a number of things that increase anxiety levels e.g. exams, work deadlines, how we think we look, going on a first date or whether we feel safe travelling home late at night.

Anxiety is one of our natural survival responses. It causes our mind and body to speed up to prepare us to respond to an emergency. But it can lead to physical responses like a rapid and/or irregular heartbeat, fast breathing, weakened or tense muscles, sweating, churning stomach or loose bowels, dizziness and dry mouth. It can also lead to psychological impacts including trouble sleeping, lack of concentration, feeling irritable or depressed and a loss of self-confidence.

Feelings of anxiety can be caused by lots of things and vary according to what you’re worried about and how you act when you feel apprehensive. They depend on lots of things including your genes, how you were brought up, your life experiences and the way you learn and cope with things.

Different strategies work for different individuals, but one, some or all of the following may help:

• Facing your fear
• Know yourself
• Relaxation
• Exercise
• Healthy eating
• Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation
• Faith / spirituality
• Talking to someone
• Support groups
• Mindfulness or guided self-help
• Medication
• Deep breathing – which can help to calm us when we are triggered or activated.

If you need help in an emergency there are lots of resources available to you:

• Anxiety UK run a helpline staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety so you will be speaking with someone who has been there. Call them on 08444 775 774 (Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm).
• The NHS 111 service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms, then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you straightaway to the local service that can help you best. That could be A&E, an out-of-hours doctor, an urgent care centre or a walk-in centre, a community nurse, an emergency dentist or a late-opening chemist.
• The Samaritans have trained volunteers able to listen to you any time of the day or night. They can help you talk through whatever is troubling you, find the answers that are right for you, and offer support. You don’t have to give your real name or any personal information if you don’t want to. Call them on 08457 909090 or email jo@samaritans.org

There are also lots of other great resources on the web:

• Stress and relaxation: quick fix breathing exercise
• How to overcome fear and anxiety…top tips
• Mind and Young Minds
• Rethink
• Your local GP or IAPT service

Your mental health and your physical health go hand in hand and it’s just as important to look after both elements. And don’t forget, you’re not alone.

Will Robinson, Managing Director of I’m not from London tells us his recipe for a successful career in the music industry…

There are far too many egos in music already and if you’re in the industry side you may have to deal with a lot of artist’s expectations and demands. You need to be able to get on with people and keep yourself grounded. You can be assertive without being a bully, you can be confident without being arrogant and you can be relaxed without being slack. You never know who the person you are talking to is connected to or where they will be in the future.

The more experience you can gain in this industry the better. The good people will stay in the industry a long time, so knowing and having worked with people in the past means your network will be all the bigger for starting earlier. Like many other creative industries, people prefer to work with people they know.

Jump in feet first, you’ll learn by your mistakes and if those mistakes are spent with your own money, you’ll learn incredibly quickly and hopefully you won’t repeat the mistake! If you have no connections, get stuck in and show you’re not afraid of hard work and getting your hands dirty and doors will start opening for you.

The industry has so many jobs attached to it, lawyers, labels, artists, sound techs, publishers, DJ’s, producers, roadies, tour managers, promoters, publicists, accountants, make up artists, stylists, video directors, drivers etc. The more of these skills you can learn the better. Sometimes one income stream may slow down for some reason, so being able to turn your hand to something else which is still linked to your industry means you are not reliant on that one way of making money.

Listen to people and take in what they are saying, it might give you a fresh perspective on a situation. People naturally like to pass their wisdom on and it’s good to have a few “mentors”: people ahead of you in the game that you can call on for advice.

If you plan for the worst, you won’t be disappointed or taken by surprise when disaster strikes. Festival and concert/gig planning for example rely on so many different groups of people and sets of circumstances and there’s always something that may go wrong. Having a contingency plan and a back up will give you some peace of mind that you have a strategy should things go awry. The same goes for budgeting; it’s best to leave some over for costs that you didn’t plan for needing.

If you’re serious about a career in the music business, understand that it will be hard, competitive and for a while may be financially less than your ideal wage. You may have to volunteer your services for free until professionals value you enough to pay you. Think of it as a long game and concentrate on building your contacts, knowledge and reputation.

Despite what they say, business is personal. Sometimes it’s better to take a walk around the block than reply to someone with a furious ranty email which could take the situation to a place where a problem can’t be resolved. Try not to hold too much of a grudge for the simple reason that you may need to call on that person again. If you can try and stay above all the negativity in these situations you can come out the bigger person.

If you’re about to start work with someone, or partner on a new project, try and make it official. Time is precious and working on a project for an extended period of time without commitment from the other party can be stressful. It’s good to approach these conversations as partnership contracts or agreements, laying out what you all agree on and expect from each other. The earlier you can get things agreed on legally and financially in writing, the sooner you can get on with the fun creative stuff as a team.

Confucious said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”.

If you’re making headway in your career, remember to enjoy it.

If you’re not happy, you’re probably not as productive as you could be so work hard of course but remember to be able to switch off every now and again. Consider yourself lucky and stay positive.

A love of music and community lead Will to become a music promoter. He chose the name I’m not from London as a reaction to the then London-centric nature of the industry. INFL’s continuing mission is to educate, nurture and champion the talents of those involved in the business & art of music on either side of the microphone.

Kavita Puri works in BBC TV Current Affairs, and is the Editor of Our World the award-winning foreign affairs documentary series. She is also the presenter of Radio 4 programmes, her next series Partition Voices is out this summer. Here she outlines her top ten tips to getting started in journalism.

Journalism is an incredibly fulfilling career but there are many easier ways to earn a living. You have to feel passionately about what you are doing. Be prepared for unsociable hours. If you still want to be a journalist, read on…

1. Make opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask people for coffee at a place you want to work. Be persistent but polite if you don’t get an initial response, it shows tenacity. Do your homework before a meeting. Know what it is you are asking – is it work experience, advice on the industry, or pitching ideas? It’s vital to have watched the output, and have something to say about it.
2. While you are waiting for an internship or job – blog, make short films, post your videos – show prospective employees what it is you can do, how you write, and what your views are.
3. Get your foot in the door. Ask for a day of work experience and make sure that day lasts a week, a month, a year….and becomes something more concrete.

5. Identify people who could be your mentor. People are always happy to give advice. Make sure to keep up with them.
6. Keep a note of all your contacts on stories, it can lead to future stories.
7. Look around you. Stories are everywhere. And read widely, not just the papers lying around the office.
8. Be pro-active and volunteer to work on stories and events, even if it means staying late or coming in on your days off.
9. Be up to date with technology, if you can shoot, edit and write you will be in demand!
10. Even if you don’t feel confident, act it. Remember everyone was an intern once. Soon someone will be asking to meet you for advice.

Good luck

You can follow Kavita on Twitter at @kavpuri and @BBCOurWorld

Congratulations! You’ve graduated. You’ve had that final blowout with your uni mates; your parents have hung up your graduation photo; and it’s time to enter the world of work.

Applying for a job has changed so much in 20 years. When I graduated you had to print off a letter, stick a stamp on an envelope and then wait a week for an application form you had to hand-write. Today, you sit in bed, finding email addresses, cutting and pasting your cover letter and attaching your CV, and emailing prospective employers. But do you ever hear back from these employers? I’d be surprised if you did – if you haven’t bothered to find out my name, and research us, why should I do anything more than hit delete within five seconds of opening your email?

So my advice is to start six months before you graduate and to look at five or ten companies you want to work for.

So you have to make it your business to get to know those organisations – their staff, their clients, their campaign successes, and their industry awards. Email a mid-ranking member of the team and follow-up with a call within 24 hours. Offer to buy them a coffee at lunchtime (of course they’ll be so flattered to have been asked that they’ll pay for the coffee). Replay your research on the company, congratulate them on their successes, find out when their graduate programme is opening or find out if they hire ad hoc grads, even for short-term placements.

Of course getting your first position doesn’t mean life gets any easier. But you’re young and ambitious; have bundles of energy; no money but loads of time on your hands. You are at the prime of your life – the decisions you make now can define the rest of your career. It’s time to work hard!

So earwig conversations, read the report your colleague asked you to photocopy – if it’s important to them, it’s important to you – ask to sit-in on meetings, and be proactive in seeking opportunities to make the most of this first job.

A few asides. It’s time to start learning – read the Financial Times every day, read The Economist weekly, and flick through a tabloid newspaper periodically. Change what you listen to on your iPhone – download podcasts and listen to these. You don’t need to spend £2.70 a day on the FT, but you can listen to their podcasts for free. Set aside an hour on Sundays to read the comment and analysis pages of the broadsheets and to watch a TED talk.

John Lehal is Managing Director of Insight Consulting Group. He tweets at @JohnLehal

Ola Animashawun, the Creative Director of Euphoric Ink, knows all too well the importance of networking. He has 25 years of experience of working in theatre, is an Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre and founder of the theatre’s Young Writers Programme. Ola is also a presenter, consultant, script editor, compere and producer. Here he gives some sounding advice on how and why networking will help you get ahead in your career.

Everyone has a network, and everyone you know is part of your network, and one way of helping you to succeed in the way you want to succeed, is to get your network to work for you.

“No man is an island”

You’ve probably heard the expression, “no man is an island” but have you ever really considered what this actually means? Basically, no one exists in perfect isolation.

All of this connects us to other people, puts us in touch with other people and gives us something ‘in common’ with a vast range of people from a broad spectrum of life’s experiences. So if you think about it, you know a lot of people.

Strictly speaking, the expression “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is not true. You have to know what you are talking about and you must be able to do what you can say you can do. However, if it’s career advancement you’re looking for, then you are also well-advised to know exactly who you know and get in touch with them. In other words network.

Think about it like this. If you want to buy a car, but you don’t know anything about cars, what does the wise person do? They ask around and they canvas opinion, starting with the people they know and trust, i.e. they go to their network for support.

And on it goes in terms of which dentist, which plumber, which university, which travel agency, which mobile device, which piece of software etc.. all through life.

So your career shouldn’t be treated any differently. So you have to go out there, make it clear (by appropriately and sensitively broadcasting) who you are, what you’re about, what you can do, and how well you can do it and then trust the process to help you to be in the right place at the right time. It does work.

One final and very important note. Networking is a mutual state of affairs. As you ask, be prepared for people to ask you in return, what do you know, who do you know, can you point them in the right direction etc? Then share, don’t hold back. Share your knowledge, and share your contacts. Creating a virtuous circle of mutual benefit as it were.

Now work on how you’re going to network by doing the following:

1. Start by answering two very important questions to provide self-awareness and self knowledge:

a)What makes you tick, turns you on and off?
b) What do you want to do and want to be in terms of your career?

Be as clear, direct, simple, detailed, specific and succinct in your answers as possible – don’t stress it, its not a GCSE, just follow your instincts and you’ll realise you already have all the answers.

2. Make a very good first impression – always – and then ensure you always make at least a good impression after that.

Think about and find out about the people around you – who they are, what they want and how you can be the solution to their problems.

Know your chosen field inside out – read the trade press, blogs, watch the vlogs, attend the trade events, clock the people, voices, trends, meet the people and make sure you remember them and they have a good reason to remember you.

3. Be pitch perfect – have an informed opinion and choose when, where and how best to voice it.

Be ever generous – use your knowledge to help others to get what they want – become known the go-to person.

4. Set yourself goals and targets – including the goal to review your targets and goals on a regular and specified basis.

If you want to get something then simply ask for it.

So there you have it. Understand that Networking is a key part of your work life, so like the foundation of all success, be strategic, diligent, and apply yourself to ensure you do it well. Do all of this everyday – little and often will suffice – but make sure you do do it, everyday.

Sathnam Sanghera, features writer for The Times and Chair of Creative Access, attempts to give some practical advice about sustaining a career in the creative industries.

Last month I wrote an article for The Times business section about careers advice. Taking issue with a new generation of business websites tediously obsessed with proffering job tips such as “follow your passion” and “give 110 per cent”, I came across a report by the Inspiring Futures Foundation which found that only 1 per cent of state school students between the ages of 14 and 18 were influenced by the advice of a careers adviser. And concluded that the middle aged should, if tempted to proffer unsolicited advice, just shut up. No one is listening anyway.

Which puts me in a rather awkward position in fulfilling a promise to write something proffering careers advice for Creative Access interns. I stand by it – ultimately young people should be allowed to do things their own way. There are no real rules. Which perhaps counts as advice of sorts: be prepared to be flexible when working in the creative industries. Jobs in film, TV, journalism or PR are not like jobs in law, accountancy of medicine. You need no particular qualifications, there are thousands of different ways in, and you might need to be willing to change your mind and direction once you do get in. It is simultaneously the best and worst thing about the media sector.

As it happens, you can make a decent amounts of cash eventually: there are real opportunities for people who understand the arts and creativity and yet have business acumen. But starting salaries are not in the same ball park as those for corporate graduate training schemes, and the thing that will drive your success is commitment to doing great work, and the daily demonstration of great work. It’s a paradox: the less you are motivated by money, the more likely you will be well paid.

I’ve lost count of the number of job candidates and interns who claim they are passionate about film, or TV, or fashion, or current affairs or books, but who turn out to have nothing to say about these things whatsoever on their social networking accounts and seem to mainly to be concerned with complaining about the quality of donuts at Greggs. When I was starting out, the only creative outlet available to me was my local newspaper, but nowadays, with Facebook, Twitter and blogs there are thousands of outlets. It’s great fun, but there is also no hiding.

Another common mistake in interviews is candidates not knowing enough about the company they are talking to. There is no excuse, if you go into a TV channel, for not knowing what they are broadcasting that week and the nature of their competition. You also need to have opinions about the kind of stuff they should be broadcasting in future. Equally, it is unacceptable to go into a book publisher and not know what their biggest hits have been and the books they missed. This is basic stuff.

I could go on. Don’t do a media studies degree – if you go into the media actually knowing something about something, whether it is history, or science, or architecture, you will have an advantage over most people. Work hard. Trust your instinct. Listen more than you talk. But I realise I am falling precisely into the trap I warned against in my column. So I will leave you instead with some unsolicited advice that some of my middle aged friends proffered on this topic on Facebook, and which you will doubtless ignore.