MEDIA CVS


This is an example of a CV specifically targeted at media jobs such as TV and Film, journalism and publishing. This is one of the most popular and competitive of all graduate career areas, so the CV needs to be of especially high quality.

You may feel that you need to do something creative, witty or distinctive to make your CV stand out from the crowd. Don't! You may feel it is a brilliant idea to set out your CV as a mock-up of the front page of the Guardian or the cover of Cosmopolitan - but employers will have seen all these before. Similarly, brightly-coloured paper or print will be more likely to annoy than to impress an employer. The content of the CV is what counts - not the gimmicky presentation. See our page on How to Design a Creative CV for more on this. This doesn't mean that you have to be boring though!

You don't have to have had direct experience of the media, but it is a great advantage in helping you demonstrate these qualities and showing that your enthusiasm is informed by understanding.

Also see the associated media covering letter and our media careers page

 

HILARY POTTER

    
OBJECTIVE: To gain entry-level media experience where creative initiative, ideas and a genuine enthusiasm would allow me to progress.
   A clear, well written objective or personal profile can help to stand out from the crowd in the competitive area of the media. Avoid hackneyed phrases such as "I have good communication skills and work well in a team"!

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

June - July 2008 CrimeStopper
One month work experience as a Production Runner:

  • Research: current affairs, Internet, archive, VT
  • Working in a busy office: clerical work, answering phones
  • Liaising with actors, policemen, general public and victims
  • Arranging delivery of packages, transport and hotels
  • Location and live studio experience: runner, soundman
  • Prop buying and set dressing

Jan - May 2008 Scream: University Film Society production
Co-director/cameraman/committee member:

  • Directing film crew and actors on location
  • Script and filming meetings; co-wrote shooting script

Jan - May 2008 In Camera - University Film Journal

Inquire: University Magazine
Writer/Critic:

  • Including cover article of summer issue of "In Camera"
  • Detailed research and working to deadlines

Nov. 2005 - June 2006 The Rocks - Production for degree coursework
Director/adapter:

  • Adapted a version of The Duchess of Malfi for an outdoor performance
  • Planned rehearsals and led them
  • Designed the sound, bought costumes, and helped build the set
  

Normally students put their degree before their work experience, but this candidate has got a lot of good media experience and she felt that this was a stronger selling point than their degree subject which is unrelated to the media

Enthusiasm for your subject should be demonstrated in more areas than just degree study, such as relevant student societies or voluntary work. In the CV on the previous pages, Hilary has not just obtained a 2.1 in CLS and Film Studies but has been involved in the Film-Making society, written reviews and gained relevant work experience.

     

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

    

2005: 2008 University of Kent

BA (Hons) Comparative Literary Studies
Upper Second Class Honours

2003 - 2006 Hogwarts Academy

A Levels: History: A, English Literature: B, Physics: B

1999 - 2003 Bosworth High School

9 GCSEs including 4 at A grade (including Maths), 3 at B grade (including English)

   Only brief details are given of academic qualifications, as they are not particularly relevant to the job.
     
hpotter@hotdog.com
Date of Birth 22.11.81        Tel. 01227 123456
12 Flagstone Terrace, Dumbledore, DD1 7RG
  The address, email and telephone are given here in the footer at the bottom of each page
     

PAGE 2 OF CV

    
     

SKILLS:

  • Research skills: essay research via library/Internet; CrimeStopper archives
  • Fast and proficient IT: Word, Access, Internet Explorer, email, HTML and Visual Basic
  • Willingness to learn: acquired new skills through employment, CrimeStopper and creative projects
  • Teamwork: enjoy working in both team environments and independently
  • Problem solving: involvement in complex, low-budget projects, with time constraints
  • Communication skills: expressing critical opinions in essays and seminars
  • Self-motivation/management: achieving 2:1 degree, plus activities, whilst working to fund studies
  • Dependability: handled many sensitive issues at CrimeStopper
  • Providing excellent customer service: customer focused employment; liaising as a runner
  • Creativity: writing film scripts and articles; directing and adapting a play; co-directing a short film
  

For media jobs, relevant practical skills may be more important than your degree subject and class. There is no room for passengers in the media, so if you can show you have useful skills and experience that can be put to good use from day one, you will be at an advantage over other applicants!

A link to a web-based portfolio may also give you an edge here.
     

INTERESTS:

  • Television: watching intelligent drama, sport and documentaries
  • Journalism: reading a broad range of publications (local and national) for the latest news and criticism
  • New Media: researching and exploring on the Internet; computer games
  • Cinema: going to cinema with friends; discussing film; reading critical works
  • Literature: continue to pursue this interest by reading a diverse range of texts
  • Music: listening to many different genres of music and going to gigs
  • Creative writing: currently planning and writing a short film screenplay
   Media employers often say that what makes a CV stand out is a passion for the media. While your CV should be a clear outline of your relevant skills and experience it should also convey this passion and the person behind it. Your enthusiasm, motivation and initiative should all come through, both in the CV itself and the covering letter, which gives you the opportunity to demonstrate not only these qualities but also your writing skills!
     

RECENT EMPLOYMENT:

Dec. 2007 - Present Cornhill Insurance
Assistant Administrator:

  • Administration: sorting post, filing and prioritising, sending follow-up letters

Sept.- Nov. 2007 BT
Customer Service:

  • Data entry: quick and accurate keyboard skills; paperwork

Sept 2006 - June 2008 WHS
Operations Assistant:

  • Providing high standard of customer service
  • Responsibility: Training, supervising, closing procedures
   Gives details of competencies gained in other work that would be valuable in most media jobs: prioritising, administration, keyboard skills, training and supervising staff and customer service skills. This is a good place to use Action Verbs

REFERENCES: I am happy to supply these on request.

  You only need to supply references when the organisation you are applying for asks you for them.
     
hpotter@hotdog.com
Date of Birth 22.11.81        Tel. 01227 123456
12 Flagstone Terrace, Dumbledore, DD1 7RG
   The address, email and telephone are given here in the footer at the bottom of each page

 

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