Passing the DPT baton on…
It’s been two months since I stood on the BAFTA stage as a graduate on the Channel 4 Diversity Production Training scheme (DPT), but the opportunities that the scheme opened up are still being felt.

The graduation ceremony at BAFTA celebrated and showcased what we had accomplished over the course of the year. Watching the presentations and three-minute films, that explored a range of stories and thought-provoking ideas, made me realise how far we had all come.

After being part of the DPT bubble for so long, it felt strange and sad when our training finished. However when I look back at how much we have all achieved, I’m just glad that I had the chance to be part of it.

The scheme provided the platform for us to develop our talents, make contacts and gain an insight into the media industry. We also had the support and guidance of training company THINK bigger, Channel 4 and our placement companies.

I am still working at my DPT placement company Mint Digital as the Head of Quality Assurance. I was promoted and given a permanent contract after six months on the scheme. My role involves testing websites function efficiently, look great, read well and provide a friendly user experience. Mint Digital is a great place to work and I’m pleased that they decided to keep me on.

My involvement with the DPT scheme also continues because this year I am mentoring on the scheme. I am happy that I can pass on my experience and knowledge from the scheme to Richard Ling, the new DPT trainee at Mint Digital. I hope that he will enjoy the scheme as much as I did, because I’ve come away armed with an array of skills and a newfound confidence.

Frankie Ward

Work Related Purgatory

Hello everyone - Long time, no blog! I’ve decided it was time to take some time out from being a student (i.e watching 4OD!) to give you a post Generation Next update.

At the end of last week I was invited to pop along to the Heart West Midlands (One of the hubs for Global media station Heart FM) to chat about coming in to do a part time internship alongside my university work. If you’re interested in getting into the radio industry then any experience is vital – commercial or otherwise. Although I’ve had experience as a broadcast assistant at a regional BBC radio station, thus far the ‘big hitters’ (i.e Radio One) have failed to be impressed by my applications for work experience! My current masterplan is to use my online production skills to worm my way into the horizon of the radio industry. With commercial stations downsizing and doubling up job descriptions (Heart WM’s Deputy Programme Controller is also their News Editor and runs DAB Digital rock station The Arrow,) being knowledgeable about all areas of the media ‘360’ is invaluable.

If you would be interested in finding out more about work experience at a Global Media radio station (XFM, Classical FM, Capital etc…) then check out http://www.thisisglobal.com/radio/

Today is a particularly exciting day for me as I’m off to meet Dan Jones, who is the head of New Media for Maverick. Maverick are based in both Birmingham and London and have won BAFTA’s for their TV and web content. Dan himself is executive producer for over 20 websites including 4Homes, 4Car and Film4. He also acted as Editor-in-Chief for 4Talent magazine – which means as a former writer for the publication, I’ve technically worked with him before (only without realising it…!)

One thing I’ve noticed since working at Channel 4 is that I’m no longer asked to come to interviews. Instead, I’m invited for ‘coffee.’ This is what I’m going to refer to as ‘work related purgatory.’ I’m in that transitional stage between internship and full-blown job. I’m gone from work experience kid to intern and now need to climb an extra large step to long-term employee. As a full time student it can be difficult to know how to market oneself. I’ve been paid by Channel 4 for my work, yet because my CV says ‘degree in progress’ I’m not suitable for a 9-5 five days a week position. One on hand, with the luxury of a student loan, I can perhaps afford to work a little for free however when I think about my previous experience I believe that my work deserves financial reward.

Right, I’m off! Wish me luck!

Frankie x

Lexi Riddiford-Bell

Wow, so here we are……2 months into our traineeships and we’re still standing!

I’m Lexi Riddiford-Bell and at 30 years old I’m on the scheme purely for being an old fart! Well, comparatively old, to be having a career change and getting into the media industry at this age. (My friends and Folks rarely let me forget this fact!) I’m a production secretary at Objective Productions for a year.

My background is in independent short film with a dabble in music videos. I’ve no “professional” experience in this industry, at least not in an “Ooo look I’ve been paid!” capacity and I’ve been through the festival circuits’ ad infinitum…..

…..and all of this prepared me in no way whatsoever for what this industry has to give and what it has to throw at you. Backgrounds are all well and good but unless you’ve been a production secretary for a TV company before (which means you wouldn’t be on this course) then it’ll all be a glorious surprise!

I’ve looked at what my fellow trainees and friends have had to say so far and to avoid repetition I’m going to chat about my pre-conceptions of my position and the key skills it’s taught me.

I spent a week on the Runners desk at Objective learning who were who, what was where and the general Objective way of doing things. I was then assigned to a pilot sports comedy show for Sky as a production secretary.

The first thing that hit me was that everyone else on a crew assumes that you know what you are doing. You can’t take for granted that they know you’re a trainee. A Catch-22 then arises; you want to be seen as a professional and be trusted to do the job but at the same time your fellow crew members think you’ve already done this before so assign you tasks and ask you questions as if you know what on earth you’re doing. You don’t want to tell them you’re a newbie and a trainee but you don’t want to be thought of as crap at your job. Hmmm, what to do! Ultimately you can only assess each scenario on it’s own merits. Being honest is never wrong but at the same time you have to be careful how you phrase things to avoid the following:
a) Sounding like you don’t know anything, b) sounding like you want special treatment and c) trying to provide an excuse for making any mistakes.
More often than not it’s just down to gentle reminders to a key person, such as your coordinator, that you‘ve not encountered this particular task as yet on your training scheme so could they just point you in the right direction?

Diplomacy is just as vital a skill to learn (and learn quickly) as knowledge. This industry has a wonderfully ornate set of etiquette rules. This industry is powered by networking and being in the right place at the right time.

So remember that this means that every person you meet is a potential colleague or employer, regardless of their current job description. Always have a set of up to date business cards on you and develop a brass neck! I’ve met people who have obtained their positions through sheer balls as well as experience or knowledge. You can be a great secretary but if you just it quietly in a corner and wait for anyone to hand you anything or for someone to recommend you for a job then you’ll struggle to get anywhere. Everyone else in this industry is fighting for roles and there is a constant stream of new people coming into the industry everyday. With more colleges and Uni’s offering media subjects than ever before, you have to glow! This is one of the beauties of this scheme, it opens up a world of resources that are just like gold-dust; training, the people you get to meet (day 5 as a trainee and I’m sat at a table in a Channel 4 meeting room next to the Controller of Channel 4 thinking “how the hell did I end up being picked to be here?!”), the practical hands-on experience, the paid work and access to a whole year’s worth of networking and contacts whilst not having to worry about obtaining your next role.

The attributes to keep in your ‘tool-kit’ at all times are:
• A bullet-proof thick skin
• A sense of humour
• An unbelievably open mind
• A willingness to learn
• The responsibility to take ownership of tasks and mistakes
• Constantly having a notebook and pen on you
• An organized approach – you could be contacted at 11pm at night at home from your series producer with a question from account numbers with your courier of choice to the DoP’s home and mobile number
• Patience! – You will not be running Channel 4 in your first week! Everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, background and skill, will start off making teas and coffees, photocopying, shredding or some such activity. Use these as a tool to get to know people’s, places, office layouts etc. Not meaning to sound all Confucius-esque but there is always something to learn in any task.
• Remember that the guys at 4Talent & Think Bigger are an amazing group of people so if things ever get too bad you always have someone to go to.
• Make the most of this year as you’ll never get another chance like it. Schemes like this simply do not happen so if you get on it, do everything you can to get everything from it.

I still can’t believe that I am here on this course, I had a dream just last week that this had all been a daydream and I was really still an unemployed Uni graduate in York stuck in a recession-rut! But now I’m working on my second production since starting here and I’ve already tackled tasks that are outside the standard production secretary remit, including research and being a contact point for celebrity talent. At 30 years old I’ve found my niche at last. The guys on the DPT scheme with me are great and we are a constant source of support, solace, friendship and beer-age for each other. Within our group we can whinge after a bad day without damaging our future employability and we can also share our great moments, we have all done so already. There’s also been birthday celebrations, Halloween fancy dress (of a sort!) and a mad-cap chase around Shoreditch to track down Stringer Bell from The Wire, DJing at a club! Post-work drinks have turned into long sessions and we even have our own Facebook group. Having the comfort and company of 11 other people in the unique position I’m in, and the friendships that come up from there is another big, big perk of this course. We’re an instant occupational family!

On the one hand it feels like I’ve been here for 5 minutes, and on the other, I feel like I’ve always been here.

Jessica Sparkes

Picture Book: Make A Move

I recently had the pleasure of being invited to the launch of Liverpool band,  Picture Book’s new single, “Make a Move.”  Picture Book have been making significant waves in Liverpool’s underground music scene for a while now, taking over venues with their visually exhilarating performances and ridiculously loud sound systems.

 The new single has a more prominent dance beat and club feel. The track is described as “high-energy, ethereal, dance floor treat,” and I truly believe that it lives up to these claims. The song begins in rather a floaty and ethereal way, which is slightly unusual for a “dance anthem” however, as soon as the bass line drops, you realise why this song is worth listening to. The chorus, is of course what makes this song. It has one of those hook lines that is verging on annoyingly catchy.

 If you are not aware of Picture Book, they are a three piece band made up of Faroese lead singer Lady Aya, and brothers Master Toko and Lord HighOwl who hail from New York. Their band set up changes regularly, and the band is as much about the visual performance as it is about the music itself. They creatively use projection, lights and costume, which seems to change and evolve constantly. This element of Picture Book is one of the keys to their local success. They are always bringing their audience a new set up, or a new visual or a new way of performing.

 “We want to make people dance, both to the lights and to the music. It’s not about repeating the music, it’s about recreating it and feeling it, visually and spatially,”  remarked Lady Aya when I asked about the integral performance side of Picture Book’s musical make up. Having had the good fortune to have seen Picture Book’s live DJ set, I was impressed by the versatility of the band. They understand that to excite their audience that they cannot just plough through a full set of their self-written songs. A mixture of self penned electro anthems and well known songs as far apart as Coldplay’s Yellow and Day and Night by Kid Cudi mean that the audience stays fully engaged, excited and dancing throughout their set. Lady Aya, commands the stage with an delicate presence and a quirky nature which is endearing and captivating. She contrasts Lord HighOwl and Master Toko’s extroverted performance perfectly bringing a balanced amount of energy and composure.

 I would advise, at least a listen, if not a purchase of this new single, which I hope will help to break Picture Book into the mainstream. The single is available for download now from iTunes and Amazon and hard copies can be purchased from www.picturebookmusic.com

If you want to hear more of my ramblings feel free to follow me on Twitter: JessicaRS

Pruthvi Pandit

I haven’t done this before, but one thing I realised working in this industry is that you have to be prepared to try everything. If you want to be noticed then you have put yourself in places which might be out of your comfort zone, try new things and adapt –I would go as far a saying Media is like the evolution process, just times that by a thousand and you’ll get close to the speed it travels at –and trust me, you’re going to have to do everything to keep up.

I told myself, if I was going to write this, I want to have something proper to say, drop any sarcasm, try not to be patronising and give a real account of the scheme. I suppose it’s best to start off with who I am. My name’s Pruthvi Pandit, but most people call me Pru. I have worked in the media in several areas over the last three years, but it didn’t prepare me for the scheme and what I’m learning on it…

For this blog I thought it might be better to stick to a theme for every entry –A great tip I got from a friend. So this time round, I want to talk about The Big People. With The Big People in the media, I don’t mean just the likes of Mark Thompson, or Rupert Murdoch or the Michael Grades of the industry, it also includes your everyday media boss. For me, these have always been people I have been in absolute awe of. They rush around the building, hold great big meeting after meeting in the board room and then head off too a glamorous media do, where they will network and share countless insider media jokes….And I don’t mean this in sarcastic way –these are the people I aspire to be one day.

When you enter this industry, you can’t help feeling incredibly proud of yourself, you’ve entered one of the most tight-knit businesses, where everyone knows everyone and you’ve managed to penetrate the barrier and get in. However, while you are feeling proud of yourself, on your first day, ready to tackle some great media problem, someone is more than likely going to tell you to go and research some awful subject for them like animal rights for badgers.

The thing is there will always be someone superior to you –especially in the very beginning. In the media, no one’s going to suddenly give you free reign and let you start making spectacular decisions, in some cases, they don’t even want to know your opinion. I’ve been lucky enough not encounter those media types, but I think it has a lot to do with how you play your game with the big people. I view everyone as a big person and if I want to get somewhere, I want to impress them. Don’t think the big people are just the CEOs, the big people are the person you’re sitting next to, the line manager you report to etc. These are the people who will impart their wisdom, teach you and help you understand what you are doing. They have been in the system and know how to function within it, and have managed to survive this constantly changing environment.

I found it very important to befriend the big people. Whatever you do, do not stay away and hide from them. If you want to work in this business, you have to get noticed. I started by offering to make coffees, enquiring how their day is going and how they are feeling. You might feel that you are far too educated to bother making coffees, but that simple gesture works a treat. Before you realise, they will ask your opinion on something they are working on and you will be able to offer something. I quite often found that they came from humble backgrounds themselves and worked their way up.

One thing you will notice about The Big People, they are the ones who work tirelessly, they are the first in the office and last to leave in the evening, they work through lunch, and will rarely stop to even go to the loo. And that’s why they are the big people, because they are the ones who power through and it is definitely worth learning from them!

Richard Ling

Blogging here is a first for me so perhaps I should start by telling you a little about myself? My name is Richard Ling and I’m one of this year’s Diversity Production Trainees. I’ve been on the scheme for 2 months now; working at Mint Digital, attending Channel 4 training sessions, meeting lots of people and just generally having a great time.

So… what knowledge could such an inexperienced media foetus such as I have to impart?

Well today I’d like to talk about love and how quickly it can be spread around the web (not to be confused with other forms of web love which will not be covered here, sorry to disappoint). I hereby wish to express the idea of Showing Love to get Love! Shouting from this 4 Talent platform I’d like to announce my appreciation for some of the people and ideas I’ve had the privilege of encountering, so far, as a trainee.

The Worst Kept Secret is a blog by social media king Andrew Davis. Meeting Andrew helped me to understand that this year I just need to get out there through any means possible. I guess this blog is very much his doing so if you don’t like it, blame him @andrew_davis!

I don’t even like football *gasp* but Football3s is the only thing besides Pro Evo that gets me involved with the sport. Personally being one of those guys that watch TV whilst using a laptop, Mint Digital’s 2 screen football game really appealed to me.

As a longstanding member of the bopping your head at your desk crew I’d like to let you know about SpotifiTunes. Developed by Mint’s very own @PhilNash this tool allows you use your iTunes library to generate a whole bunch of artist/band links to fuel your Spotify. Bop away but check your chair is screwed up tight!

Love here is not unrequited so add me @nerdbanite and drop by the website Nerdbanite.com (always looking for people to get involved with this). Invite me to events and if you see me at the bar you are most definitely allowed to buy me a drink (or 4)!

Richard

Lauren Mollyneaux

 Hi All,

Hope you have enjoyed HR blog season, here is the final blog of the season…

One of the joys of working in HR is the number of CVs we received. Over the years we have seen them all; the good, the bad and the ugly! So I emailed my team and asked them to send me a few do’s and don’ts.

It started with a few replies, then snowballed into a mountain of   ‘Also…’, ‘And….’ emails.  So as a favour to all our loyal readers, I have compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts when contacting companies about work experience, jobs and general enquiries.
 
Do
• DO include your mobile number and an email address on your CV. Also include your full address.

This applies when leaving a telephone message- its untrue the numbers of messages we get that simply go ‘Hi, I would like to enquire about work experience. Please call me back’- we have no name or number. We’re good at Channel 4 but not that good! Introduce yourself and leave your details clearly.

• DO put Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms if you have a unisex name i.e. Jamie, Sam, Chris- your gender doesn’t matter but it saves us some embarrassment.

• DO ensure that your email address is spelt correctly; we can’t get hold of you if it’s incorrect.

• DO list the month and year on everything on your CV i.e. Work experience and length of time at jobs. DO list all jobs and education in reverse order. (Newest to oldest)

• DO a thorough spell check on your CV. If you are sending out bulk emails/CV make sure each one is personalised to that company and check its sending it to the right company. We have a surprising large number of CVs for the BBC here… 

• DO ensure that you use the same format all the way through i.e. same size font, same font and margins are correct. Using different fonts and sizes makes it look messy and like you don’t care about presentation. DON’T use fancy colours, too much bold or underlining.
 
• DO include referee details; include a phone number, email address and full address including post code.

• DO list all of your grades for educational subjects taken.

• DO group all temporary jobs together rather than spread it out.  If you had a several jobs since your paper round when you were 13, we don’t need that much detail about it.

• DO explain job responsibilities in bullet points rather than paragraphs. If you have to use paragraphs, short and precise information given. Print out your CV and look at it, does it look too dense? An employer often only scans for the key points.

• DO have all your details clear before you call - calling to request work experience but not knowing your WEX dates does not give a great impression. Like a good boy scout/Brownie be prepared!

• DO send a covering letter- explaining your reasons for applying for the role or work experience.  If you send just a CV we’re going to have to guess what you are looking for and again we are not that brilliant.

Don’t
• DON’T put your education before your work experience
 
• DON’T include a photo of yourself on your CV especially one that include someone that has been cut out, you drinking or drunk, posing in swimwear (NO!). We don’t care what you look like (believe me, you should see the HR team!), just as long as you have the right skills and qualities for the role.

• DON’T make your CV too long. It should be 2 pages and no more, however DON’T squash everything onto 2 pages and make the font too small. If it goes to 2 and half pages, that is ok. If it’s going to be more than that, put the extra information in your covering letter (which should not be more than a page long by the way).

• DON’T swear in your application forms!! This is never acceptable, no matter how liberal or innovative the company you are applying to is.

General extra info that HR have wisely suggested….

• Don’t put the Curriculum Vitae on the top of your CV!  If you have to tell us it’s a CV, it is not doing its job. 

• Don’t handwrite your CV! Or handwrite it and send a photocopy of it! Borrow you friends, neighbours; school or library computer and print several copies.

• Don’t get your parents, grandparents or any relative to contact companies for work experience on your behalf. They may be trying to be helpful, but it would make a better impression if you do it yourself. The number of parents of graduates that contact us….

• Use a sensible email address xxxlilmissnaugthyxxx@tmail.com or Imadogkiller@bol.com does not give a good impression. Have two addresses one for professional and one for social.

• Do search the internet properly. We advertise all our positions online at www.channel4.com/4careers.  If we don’t have any online we don’t have any vacancies. We’re not secretly hiding them somewhere else for our family members, despite the rumours.

• Putting your Facebook, MySpace, Twitter page link is fine, but make sure you want it to be seen by your potential employer. Pictures of you drunk or semi-clad and friends’ inappropriate messages do not give the greatest of impressions.  

• Check your spam/junk mail. The @channel4.co.uk address is not always recognised and sometimes gets set to the wrong folder.  We’ve had candidates who don’t check it regularly miss out on application deadlines and invites to interviews.

• Read instructions, our applications form gives you 10 days to complete the form or it closes it. This doesn’t matter if the deadline is a month away. It states this clearly on the applications but most people just click through this and ignore it.

Hope you found this helpful and enjoyed HR blog season. You can still get in contact with us on wrl@channel4.co.uk.

See you all next month, when the 4Talent Blogs will be taken over by the Diversity Production Trainees!

Thanks for reading,
Lauren x

Jo Taylor

I am Head of Learning & 4talent.

I have been at Channel 4 for 3 years previously I worked at Independent production companies and also at the BBC. During my 14 years in the industry I have had a variety of roles and realized that the industry is truly unique in enabling individuals to move around and having varied careers.
 
In my current role at Channel 4 I am responsible for the design and implementation of C4 talent management strategy, which has 2 facets internally for the business and externally for the creative and media industry. No 2 days are the same this week for instance I have had meeting detailing strategy for a new appraisal and 360 process and model we will be launching in the new year, meeting charities and community groups to get them involved in our WRL programme as well as team meetings and routines with my direct reports. I have 3 team members each having a specific specialism and together we form an integral part of the HR business function at C4.
 
I see my role as enabling talent to grow with our organisation through recruiting talented individuals which enhance our business but also having a programme of embedded learning tools for staff to develop within C4. External C4 has a strong heritage of nurturing and developing talent and it is my role to continue and build on this in the future. With the media industry changing at such a pace it is more important than ever to understand and have coherent talent strategy as these impact not only culture of organisation but also economic bottom lines.
 
Best
 
Jo x

Alice Carder

B3 Media Blank Slate Tour

Over the past month or so I have been working as Blank Slate Tour Ambassador for B3 Media in Yorkshire and The Humber.

Like 4Talent, B3 Media also find and nurture new talent with a focus on training, supporting and funding Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic filmmakers and artists.

The Blank Slate Tour is an opportunity for the filmmakers to showcase the films they have made and is also a chance for new talent interested in applying for the scheme to come and see what it’s all about.

My job was to book a venue and publicise the event to the target audience.

There was a good turn out and everyone really enjoyed the films.

One of my favourites was Jubilee by Doug Rao Prod. Centred on a white supremacist recruiting voters for his political party the ‘Patriot’ Party, the film draws some unnerving similarities to current issues surrounding the BNP. The film also premiered at the London Film Festival last night, where I hear it went down very well.

After the screening we headed to the bar where we talked late into the night about some very exciting ideas from next year’s hopefuls… And I of course took the opportunity to pimp myself out as an actress/assistant director to anyone who’d have me!

Overall the evening was a great success and Dom Oliver, Project manager and Producer for B3 Media said it was one of the best screenings they’d had so far, resulting in a blush on my face that matched the pink sequined dress I was wearing.

I really enjoyed my role at B3 and hope to work with them again in the future, maybe on one of the films… In front of, or behind the camera; I’m easy

To find out more about B3 Media visit: http://www.b3media.net

Rosie Ranganathan

It had to be done!  This is the first blog I have ever written.  What are the chances I will end up addicted and enjoy the whole experience of sharing bits of my life with cyberspace?

OK, introduction. I am the Head of H R Operations here at channel 4. I have been here just over 2 years (it’s flown!) But been working in H R for over 10 years.  I have been lucky enough to work in media companies for pretty much most of that time.  If someone had told me I’d be doing this job at C4 I would not have believed them so I feel pretty lucky.

Right then, guess you want to know about what goes on?  The thing with what I do is that, no matter how much I try to plan, the day can always turn on its head.  Essentially people are unpredictable creatures and as much as we try to anticipate and understand them, you can never be complacent.  I manage the Ops team, the Reward team and the admin team (the most important people - they make sure we get paid!). I am fortunate to have a great team who love getting involved in projects and trying to improve the support we give to the business.

So what do I do? Good question. I will get involved in company wide projects that affect our people. I’ll also get some of the trickier Ops issues to manage.  But what really floats my boat is working with the people on their development.  I love a good old coaching session. 

We are working closely with the 4talent team looking at our appraisal system so this morning was spent with a bunch of our senior managers getting their feedback.  It was great to get people involved and hear their thoughts and ideas. Loved it!  Tomorrow could be totally different….

In this job, you need to be an expert on employment law and be able to apply it, you need to understand the business and mix both of those with a range of communication skills - listening, questioning, influencing and a whole load more.  A sense of humour also stands you in good stead as well as a pair of broad shoulders.  Top this off with my fabulous shoe collection (I had to mention it!) And you too could be the next Head of H R.

Maybe this blogging lark has something going for it after all….