Job Roles

There are different kind of roles within a company that it is important you understand what they are and what they involve. That way when you apply for a certain type of job role you know what you will be expected to do and don't get a nasty surprise. So the main different kinds of roles are; creative, technical, editorial, marketing, managerial, administrative, legal and financial. Here you will find a brief description of what each of the roles involve.

Creative: If you are in a creative role, it means that you are in charge of designing and developing an idea. For instance, if you are a scriptwriter, it's your job to creative something that will entice an audience and make a profit for your company. For example if you are a brand manager then it is your job to identify what is currently in need within the marketplace and then develop something which people will want to purchase. So if we take the media industry for example then a producer will want to make something that is going to sell to an audience. So they may research what people want to watch and then create something which will appeal to them and leave a lasting impression.

Technical: If you go for a Technical job role then you will understand more of technical side of things, such as being able to operate a camera, be able to set up lighting systems and so on. You will understand how the technology works. Technical workers often have a good understanding of IT. Technical Authors, or also known as information designers, technical writers and technical communicators, are there to make understanding how systems work in an understandable way. An IT technical support officer is in charge of the running of the IT systems within a company or department. This may mean that they are installing computers, installing software/ hardware onto a computer and diagnose any faults within them. They are often known as ‘Help-desk’ operators, technicians, maintenance engineers or applications support specialists.

Editorial: If we are speaking in terms of a media industry then the editor is the person who is in charge of editing together a film from a raw product into a finished product which is to a suitable standard to broadcast. An editor may work as part of a team in order to deliver the best standard of work and therefore deliver the best quality product that they can. Most often an editor will work much like a freelancer and work on short-term contracts with different post-production studios, television companies and corporate employers. However you may also come across the term editorial in different areas of work, most commonly within journalism. An editorial assistant aids and support senior members of staff in all stages of publishing, whether it be a book or gossip magazine.

Marketing: In a marketing role you are expected to be able to come up with and execute marketing campaigns which will promote a product. This includes being able to plan, advertise, organising events, product development, distribution, sponsorship and research, as well as being involved in any public relations. Marketing departments are found within both public and private sectors, with marketing executives working in a range of departments from financial, retailing and media industries to voluntary and public sector organisations. Marketing executives are also known as marketing officers and coordinators. Marketing is an often seen as a challenging and varied job which is also exciting.

Managerial: The job of somebody in a managerial role is to plan, direct and coordinate the running and operations within a company. They are in charge of making sure that the office runs smoothly and are in charge of formulating policies, managing the daily operations and planning the appropriate use of materials and human resources. The manager is also a diverse role so they cannot be classed in one particular area such as purchasing or administration. They are a part of both public and private sector organisations.

Administrative: An administrative role is one that helps to keep everything moving. An administrator will be in charge of taking calls and messages, booking locations, setting up rooms and ensuring that clients are looked after. Although it is a 'behind the scene' job compared to others, it is important as it allows for the smooth operation of an office or, if we talk in a media sense, a set.

Legal: Legal advisors are in charge of any legal issues within a company or organisation. This includes preparing any legal documentation and paperwork, which could be complaints, appeals, motions, subpoenas and etcetera. A legal executive is a qualified and skilled lawyer who is specialised in one particular area of law. They will have five years experience working under a solicitor within a practice or in the legal department of a private company or local or national government.

Finance: If you have a financial job then you are in charge of the finances and anything to do with transactions. This includes making sure that all records are accurate and up-to-date, but also that transactions are dealt with swiftly and effectively. This job also includes being able to give monthly updates and presentations of the business’s profits and losses, and assist in any meetings or committee decision makings that may occur as a result. Financial advisors are also known as Treasurers. They are in-charge of organising, or at least helping to co-ordinate, any fundraisers and help work with sponsors. 

 

Task 1: Know about employment

Employment Opportunities

There are many kinds of employment opportunities when you start to look more deeply into searching for careers. From full-time, to part time, to even freelance and voluntary. It all depends on what kind of work you are looking for. So what are the different kinds of opportunities and what do they involve?

Full-time work: Full-time work means that you work a full week, this doesn't mean its 24/7, but rather, for example, 9-5 five days a week. In the United Kingdom, generally, if you work full time you are expected to work 40 hours a week. It also carries some more benefits compared to other types of work. For example, you may given sick-leave, health insurance or annual leave, all of these aren't normally offered to, say, part-time or flexible workers.

Part-time work: Part-time work is when you work fewer hours than a full-time workers, generally they work less than 30-35 hours a week. As a result of working less hours they are paid less, however legislation states that they are to be treated no less favourably than somebody who works full-time.

Freelance: If you are a freelancer then it means you are self-employed and you do not work for one particular employer. Often, a freelancer will have their work represented by an agency, who in turn resell their work to clients. When a freelancer is offered work by a client there is some sort of written contract or verbal agreement between the client and freelancer. Pay depends on how much you are willing to sell your work without over-selling. Not only will your skill and how well you finished the work depend on how much you get paid, but also the way that you wish to be paid. It could be by piece or even by day or hour.

Shift Work: Shift work means that you work in shifts, just like the name suggests. Often an employee is given a time table which describes the different shifts, so you may work 06:00 to 14:00 on one week while working 14:00 to 22:00 another week, and so on. An example of where you can find this type of work is in a factory setting, the factory may need to kept running so shifts are enforced.

Permanent: A permanent role is one that you are employed under a single employer and are paid directly by them. Often people with a permanent job role often are given benefits such as paid vacations, sick time , holidays and even a retirement plan. Permanent job roles are rare within the private section, however in the public section it is perfectly normal.

Temporary: Temporary work is when you are contacted for a certain amount of time before you have to renew the contract or find other employment. Some names for temporary staff are 'Interim', 'Contractual', 'Seasonal', 'Casual Staff', 'freelance' or more commonly 'Temps'. You may apply for such jobs through a Temp Agency, who in turn place you where you will be most suited. Temp Staff don't receive as many benefits as Permanent Staff.

Multiskilled: Multi-skilled or multi-competent workers are those who are skilled in more than one area. In the media industry this could mean that you are a skilled camera operation as well as being able to edit or produce.

Voluntary: Voluntary work is work that you have volunteered to do free of pay. It is common within charity work where an employee has put them self forward to do the work for the benefit of others, it is a self-less job. Although you may not be payed in money, you will be benefited as you will have gained experience and may boost your self-esteem. In the media industry this may mean you volunteer to be a background character or help work behind the camera.

Casual: Casual work, or more formally Contingent work, is the contract between an employer and employee which means that there is no security on that particular job and more often than not it will be temporary work and/or a by-piece wage. Generally Casual work is aimed at teenagers and students who wish to work during holidays but have little to no interest in a full-time career.

Hourly Paid: An hourly paid employer is paid by the hour, rather than have a fixed salary for their work. Often this type of work is found within manufacturing and service field, but are commonplace among other occupational fields.

Piecework: Piecework means that you get paid for every 'piece' you produce. For example, if we take the media industry, if you produce a film you will get paid for that film. However the amount of money you receive will depend on how well that film is made, you could have spent months planning and making it, but if it's not up to the clients standard then you won't get as much. It is all based on how skilled you are.

Recruitment

So now that you understand a little of all the types of employment, you may be wondering about how you can get a job. Well there are a few ways that you can do this, and all it takes is a little time and research.

Careers Advice: A careers advisory service is often a good place to start if you have little knowledge how how to break into employment. They offer counseling and guidance on careers, giving advice on many different areas. So if you are looking for your first job they will help you build a portfolio, which will include such things as a CV and a cover letter. If are already in employment they also offer advice on how to advance in that job role and build up on your skills. They can also help on issues such as redundancy, coming to the end of a working contract, motherhood or even just relocating.

Trade Fairs: Trade fairs are a good place to pick up useful hints and tips on the area in which you wish to work. Often trade fairs have many stalls which you can visit and talk to those running them. They may be trying to sell you their merchandise, but it is also a good place to start looking for work.

National Press: The national press often has a job section, whether it be for the local area or nationwide, there will be advertising. It's just a case of reading and finding a job that is suitable for what you want and applying for it. It is best to read the advert carefully as it will explain how to apply for the job.

Trade Press: Trade press is good for looking for opportunities within a particular area. So if you are interested in game design you may look at a gamer magazine rather than one, for example, baking. Again much like with the national press read the adverts carefully as it will explain on how to apply. Also keep an eye out on any useful websites which may offer more opportunities.

Personal Contacts word of mouth and networking: Making personal contacts is a useful thing to do, as it will allow you to open more doors. For example, if you know somebody in the field of work you are interested in, then keep in favour with them as they may drop in a good word for you. Other than this, they will be able to help you in the application process, think about it, they had to do exactly the same thing to get a job so they should know what to do and be able to help. 

Internet: The internet is a great place to search for job, not just in your area but nationwide and even worldwide. Websites such as 'Clickin2jobs.co.uk' and 'direct.gov.uk' have many job advertised and it would be worth checking them out. One way that you can also get into a job is through and apprenticeship, and once website which offers media apprenticeships is 'apprenticeships.org.uk'. This is a good way to break into a career as you get the training required to fulfill a job role but you also get employment from it.