Career opportunities
You’ll be investing a lot of time and effort into your studies, so you want to come out with a good degree that has enriched your knowledge and prepared you for the world of work. An understanding of screen media, their history, aesthetics and legacy remain culturally essential. We live in a world of images and understanding how images work and circulate has become a very marketable skill.
As well as building in-depth subject knowledge, your degree will teach you how to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, how to construct an argument, how to undertake research, time and project management, and team work. Our students typically go on to work in different spheres of film and television production, journalism, publishing, advertising, PR, arts administration and also to careers in teaching and academia.
But don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what our graduates have actually gone on to do – and how they think their degree helped them.
Oliver Coleman
|
Marketing Executive at Picturehouse Entertainment Graduated 2012 BA (Hons) Film with Television Studies |
My day-to-day role involves working across the marketing and publicity for the titles that we distribute around the UK and often worldwide. I am also part of the team that looks after the press side, either by working with an external PR agency or running the campaign myself (which includes sending out press notes, pitching features and reviews to the press and talent handling). What my experience at Warwick gave me first and foremost was confidence to know what I was talking about; this was through both my wonderful degree and the extra society activities I took part in (Film Studies Society, RaW, Warwick TV, Warwick Students Arts Festival). I have my degree to thank for the writing I do for Front Row Reviews – specifically Film Aesthetics and Theories of the Moving Image, which really taught me how to look at films and be able to write about them. |
Sara Sesardic
| Wise Buddah is an independent production company that creates audio and visual content for radio stations and brands. I produce audio content, predominantly for BBC Radio 2, as well as commercial stations like Magic FM and brands like O2 and Ladybird. At Warwick, I was heavily involved with RaW, the univerisity’s student radio station. This is ultimately what set me up with the necessary experience and passion to get my foot in the door. My Film and Literature degree was also invaluable – the research and writing aspects have helped me develop my skills as a producer when it comes to writing pitches and scripts. |
Producer at Wise Buddah Graduated 2010 BA (Hons) Film and Literature |
Rachel Wood
|
Freelance Video Journalist at Press Association Graduated 2010 BA (Hons) Film and Literature |
My job involves filming, interviewing and editing together video news stories/packages for one of the UK’s oldest and most highly respected Fleet Street news agencies (founded in 1868!). It’s a very fast-paced job where breaking news (such as the Paris attacks) can have you up, awake and working until 4am. You can be sent out to cover anything, so in a single week you might interview David Cameron, the cast of Geordie Shore, and Matt Damon, before filming a view from the top of the largest Christmas tree in the world. The Film and Literature degree taught me how to look at and talk about entertainment in a critical way while retaining and conveying the enjoyment of the original text. The formal qualification adds weight to my option on film and TV, too, not only in job applications but also in conversation with people in media. Getting involves in writing, radio and film societies at Warwick helped me hone the writing and broadcast skills that are essential to work in media. |
Stephanie Mulrooney
| I manage a team of 3 people – a graphic designer, an editorial manager and a digital marketing manager – to create content and campaigns for businesses that sell products and services to other businesses. It’s a fast-paced role, combining a bit of project management, business development, creativity and all sorts of digital marketing s,kills. We work with all sorts of companies in different sectors – energy, telecoms, technology and software. I love it because I get to work on lots of different projects – no two days are the same, and the people I work with are really talented. I think the thing I loved most about Warwick was being surrounded by such smart, talented people – it really pushed me to work hard and to have confidence in my own skills. Some of my coursemates have become life-long friends. Although my career hasn’t been directly related to film or literature, the skills I learnt at Warwick have definitely been useful – being able to take information, analyse it and make connections between different texts is really valuable, whatever line of work you end up in. |
Account Director at Tomorrow People (Marketing Agency) Graduated 2010 BA (Hons) Film and Literature |
Lucy Alfred
|
Bid Coordinator for Purcell Architecture Graduated 2010 BA (Hons) Film with Television Studies |
I work as Bid Coordinator for Purcell, an international architecture practice with studios across the UK and in Hong Kong, Australia and India. I put together tender documents for potential new projects. These range from jobs at high-profile cultural locations like the Natural History Museum to private residential projects in Mayfair. The main bulk of my work lies in designing and laying out these documents which are submitted to clients. This involves art-working, graphic design, typography and copy editing. Above all I think the gravitas of a degree from the University of Warwick has stood me in the best stead. I never wanted to work in the film and television industries – I simply wanted to study a subject I was passionate about, which excited and inspired me. To fully appreciate the art forms and their positions in the world you must have a strong grasp on politics, social and art history, technology, literature, sexuality, fashion…the list is endless. Our lecturers taught us all this, on top of the skills of research; analysis; clear, concise, objective writing; and working to deadlines. The content and structure of the course alone put me at the top level of employability. |
Ellie Coggan
| My main responsibilities include planning, teaching lessons, assessment, marking, writing reports, conversing with parents, creating and exciting and attractive learning environment in my classroom, and ensuring that I am constantly promoting positive values. Other useful skills include: the ability to act, sing, dance, administer first aid, be proficient at almost every sport, draw, paint, direct plays, fix obscure ICT problems and consume vast amounts of tea! Teaching is an incredibly demanding profession, both emotionally and practically. My time at Warwick prepared me well for the academic rigour, and long hours, that teaching requires. Time management is particularly important when training to be a teacher, and when qualified. The demands of my film and literature degree, along with the excellent support provided, taught me how to be productive whilst ensuring a work/life balance. Employers and other education providers have been impressed by the prestige that a degree from Warwick affords. |
Primary School Teacher Graduated 2009 BA (Hons) Film and Literature |
Find out what more of our alumni have gone on to do in this booklet from a recent careers event held in the Department.
Careers advice and guidance
The Department has a dedicated careers officer and regularly schedules careers events specific to the interests of our students.
Recent careers events for students in the Department have included:
- Annual alumni careers event where current students meet past graduates.
- Careers in Radio, TV, and Film event
- Q&A with director Rebecca Cremona
- BBC Radio 1 Film Reviewing Opportunity
- Careers talk by Andy Taylor BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s Head of Movies and Gaming coverage, and Lucy Kent, Publicity Manager for Universal Pictures
- Oliver Stone visit – talk and Q&A
- Q&A with director Rebecca Cremona
- Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide – talk and Q&A
We regularly hold:
- Annual Film and Television Studies alumni careers event
- Q&As with directors, producers and other industry figures
- Sector-specific careers events
- Weekly drop-in sessions with a dedicated Film and Television Studies careers advisor
Warwick graduates are the number one target of the UK's top 100 graduate employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2013 report.
Sue Johnstone
Senior Careers Advisor
Sue is the dedicated careers advisor for Film and Television Studies.
Sue is available in the Department every Thursday morning during term time.
Current students can book an appointment via myAdvantage. It’s okay to book an appointment if you have absolutely no idea of where to start to plan your career.
Appointments can be used for a range of reasons including:
- how to get work experience
- making applications and developing your CV
- Applying for further study
- Interview coaching
Student Careers Representative
Each year, students elect a peer as their own careers representative, to act as a liaison between students and the Student Careers & Skills representative.
This year’s representative is: Daisy Richards
 |
| Together, Sue and the Student Careers Representative run a dedicated Warwick Film & TV Careers Facebook page. |