Metropol

Hello all

Just wondering if any of you TV folks here would know of any Work Experience opportunities which may be available in Mid February?

Many thanks

No, I was thinking the same when I did work experience about five years ago, although in the end I couldn't go, it is worth writing to your local BBC office, in my case that is BBC Manchester and they took the effort to write back and to send me a couple of pages worth of information.

I wouldn't bother with your local ITV, I managed to get through to Granada and they said for most you have to be over 18 and to have some form of qualification in Media Studies, although if I'm wrong feel free to correct my error.

Or Independent Local Radio? They're usually worth trying too...

BBC Jobs?

It's not rocket science.

Those charlatans...

It can be difficult to organise work experience, but the key is to find the name of someone to contact wherever you want to do the work experience. It's good to remember at this stage that flattery will get you everywhere, so write a good letter that's specific to the broadcaster/programme you want to work on, saying why you enjoy the output.

Once you've sent the letter if you've not heard back within 3-4 weeks think about phoning the switchboard number and asking for the person you wrote to. Before you call, think about what you want to say and be polite and concise, do not waffle! Explain that you wrote a few weeks ago and were wondering about the possibility of work experience. Say here why you're qualified to help and perhaps throw in a funny line/relevant joke, eg you make good tea.

That person will probably ask you to email in explaining everything you've just said (because they've probably lost your letter by this stage, but they won't tell you that). Write an email about 2 paragraphs long and say what you'd like to do, where your ultimate ambitions lie (they love it when people have ambition) and appear keen.

The secret in this process is not to bug anyone, don't keep ringing if they've said no, but follow up the email if you've not heard anything a week or two later.

Once you get in for work experience be prepared to do some donkey work, you won't be directing Look North so don't expect to. Be nice and most importantly, enthusiastic! Get on with things and make the most of your time by getting to know people there, chat to them about their job if it's appropriate and ask them how they ended up doing what they do. You'll often find this leads to good stories and sometimes even work - "oh, you want to do some work do you? Well Johnny's off this weekend and we need someone to operate the autocue" etc.

Hope that helps - good luck!

Dear Mr Aston.

It's my ambition to work in children's television.

Do you have any vacancies in your broomcupboard?

Yours sincerely.

Nick Harvey wrote:Dear Mr Aston.

It's my ambition to work in children's television.

Do you have any vacancies in your broomcupboard?

Yours sincerely.

I'm afraid I'm slightly out of touch with Children's Television (by about a year), Nick.

It's all about Entertainment now, darling...

Aston wrote: I'm afraid I'm slightly out of touch with Children's Television (by about a year).

Did George Aligiah get upset when you left?

Nick Harvey wrote:Dear Mr Aston.

It's my ambition to work in children's television.

Do you have any vacancies in your broomcupboard?

Yours sincerely.

*** ALERT THE JUDGES ***

We have a new winner of post of the year (so far).

Just brilliant.

Isonstine wrote:Just brilliant.

Yeah, but I still think it could have been even better had I left in the original reference to Muffin the Mule.