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I want to work for the BBC

All Acting Regiment

18:22 / 17.05.06

I'm at university now, Manchester UK. The BBC's shaking it's booty a lot up here, and, in terms of "proper job"/career, they're someone who, at least from an outside perspective, I'd like to work for. At least some people involved in their projects seem, at some level, to be comitted to truthful, interesting broadcasting.

I think I should be able to help them somehow- I'm just not sure how, and I'd like to hear from people who might have worked for them or similar. I'm doing literature at the moment- so I could work in, what, Arts Research? Arts Commissioning? Can you get a job as a steady writer for any of their programs?

18:39 / 17.05.06

As far as I'm aware you can get a job as a steady writer by starting as a script reader on one of the big ongoing shows (don't just look to the BBC for this - if you work on an ongoing show for another network, and do well, the BBC will be interested in you down the line). From script reader you'll be looking for script editor roles (again on ongoings), and then it's a short hop skip and a jump to script writing.

A friend of mine used to write for Family Affairs - she went the route described above.

Of course you could always write a couple of brilliant scripts and get an agent to pick you up. Another one of my friends did that, and he's a full time professional script writer these days.

18:45 / 17.05.06

I'm starting my part time career as a freelance script reader as of tomorrow, hence facts at fingertips.

I've recently had meetings with a bunch of Channel 4 drama bods to get some guidance, so I think I know what I'm talking about

All Acting Regiment

19:44 / 17.05.06

Cheers mistah b

20:58 / 17.05.06

I found the BBC Jobs homepage.

They have a job search function you can explore
Search results for North

All BBC Jobs

And From the BBC Jobs homepage this is a link for

Newtalent BBC

Ariel
You can subscribe to Ariel, our weekly in-house magazine, which includes job information and useful editorial. Subscription is £26 for six months or £50 per year in the UK. Call Garnett Dickinson Print on 01709 364 721 for more details.

BBC Work Experience Manchester

Tryphena Absent

22:18 / 17.05.06

If you can afford it then start with applying to be an intern. Most internships are unpaid and quite short but they offer an experience of the work environment that gives you an impression of the media industry. I recommend getting an impression of the industry big time.

15:27 / 18.05.06

good luck for the morrow then boboss.

15:35 / 18.05.06

I won't actually be needing much luck as I'll be writing a script report from the comfort of my sofa. 'Snot like I'm actually going for an interview, or even having to look for work. Such is the power of nepotism.

But thanks anyway, Gummers.

18:58 / 18.05.06

As an aside, if you do end up working for the beeb, I hear that having bbc.co.uk at the end of your email address can wield untold power when it comes to registering gripes and complaints with shoddy organisations. It seems that a great many live in fear of Watchdog and the like...

Spyder Todd 2008

20:16 / 19.05.06

I used to work for the BBC. The hours were okay, allthough the pay was shit. I spent most of my time reading, honestly. Oh sure, I'd get the customers their shoes or hand them some drinks, but that was mostly it. When we closed I'd do more, a bit of cleaning, wiping down the lanes, making sure all the balls were in the right place. It was an ok job.

Oh wait, you're talking about the British Broadcasting Company, aren't you? No, see, I worked for a local Bowling and Billiards Center.
So, ah, not that relavant...

21:28 / 19.05.06

Quick pointers towards how to get through the hiring process. Answer every point you can that's in the advert in your application and in the interview assume they haven't read your CV, think about what they're asking you carefully in each question and answer with it in your mind that they're marking how well you can do the thing they're asking you about with points. You need to cite examples if you can as well - ie. "I've designed sites for Esso, Trebor and Apple" - because that's the evidence they need. Doesn't matter if it's already said all this stuff on your CV.

The BBC has some pretty bizarre rules for managers to evaluate interviewees to make sure they're fair to all, but the main problem is that if you don't know the rules then it's easy to slip up and not get in on a technicality - specifically if the question is a stupid question, it's not good enough to explain to them why it's the wrong question to ask, reframe it and give them a better answer. They need an answer to the question they've got on the page in front of them and nothing else.