Careers in Communication Technology

1. Audio/Visual Technician

Job Description; as an audio-visual technician you would install and operate multimedia equipment, such as video, TV, sound equipment and lighting at venues like conference centers, art galleries or schools. To do this job you will need to have excellent technical and IT skills. You will need good organizational skills, be able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines. There is set entry route in to this job. Experience is highly valued by employers so it may improve your chances of finding employment if you have worked with audio-visual (AV) technology before.

Potential salary or wages; salaries for AV technicians can start at around $16,000 a year. With experience this can rise to between $25,000 and $30,000 year. Senior AV technicians and project managers may earn up to $40,000 a year or more. Overtime payments can increase earnings. Figures are intended as a guideline only. You would normally work 35 to 40 hours a week. Conference and exhibition work will often include evenings and weekends, and some school or college jobs may be during term-time only.
Most of your work would be indoors, and may involve some lifting and carrying of heavy equipment. You would often spend time travelling between jobs, for example when working at different conference locations.

Post-secondary education or training required in gaining employment in this field of technology:
Before looking for work you may find it useful to take a college course in a subject that covers some of the skills needed for AV work. Courses include: * Level 2 Certificate/Diploma in Photography * Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Media Techniques * Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production * HNC, HND Foundation Degrees and Degrees in Creative Media Production, Audio production, Multimedia, and Digital Media Technology.
Entry requirements for courses vary, so you should check directly with colleges and universities.
Experience and qualifications in sound technology, IT or electronics can also be useful for starting this career.
You should ideally have a working knowledge of commonly used office software, particularly presentation packages like PowerPoint and Keynote. Some employers may also want you to be familiar with video conferencing technology and software such as Polycom.
Volunteering is a great way of getting experience and becoming more familiar with AV technology and software. It will also help you to start networking with other people in the industry, gain new skills and show employers that you are committed to learning more about AV technology. Ways of getting experience could include: * join school, college or community theatre groups * volunteer for a charity, school or college AV department * complete an internship or work experience placement * offer AV services to a local charity or community group.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. Visit the Apprenticeships website for more information. * Apprenticeships * Get Into Music (Audio-visual technician)
(A driving license could be useful, as you may often need to travel between jobs.)

Company that employs this profession and a brief description of the company;

2. Broadcast Engineer

Job Description; broadcast engineers make sure that television and radio programs are broadcasted at the right times. They also make sure that they’re the highest quality. If you are very interested in TV and technology, this job could be just what you are looking for. To do this job you should have good practical and technical skills. You should also feel comfortable with electrical and electronic equipment. The job could also need you to work long or unsocial hours. You would usually get a job through the entrant training schemes that broadcasting companies run. For this, you would normally need a BTEC, HND or degree in electrical, electronic or broadcast engineering.

Potential salary or wages; starting salaries for trainees can be around $18,000 a year. With experience, this can rise to between $30,000 and $40,000 a year. Figures are intended as a guideline only. You would normally work around 40 hours a week. Shift work is common, including weekends and nights. You may need to work extra hours at short notice, particularly for news programs. You could work in recording studios, studio galleries, control rooms and maintenance workshops, and on outside broadcasts (OBs) in all weather conditions and locations. Location work and OBs could involve working away from home.

Post-secondary education or training required in gaining employment in this field of technology;
You would usually start in broadcast engineering through the new entrant training schemes that broadcasting companies occasionally run, such as the BBC's Trainee Technologist Scheme. For this, you would normally need a BTEC HNC, HND or degree in electrical, electronic or broadcast engineering.
Some companies may accept you with A levels or a BTEC National Diploma in science or design technology. If you don't have an engineering-related degree or HND, you will need to show that you have a strong interest in technology and an aptitude for the work.
Another option is to find work as a runner or assistant at a TV station, and later apply for a place on an in-house engineering training scheme. Contact Creative Skillset Careers for advice on schemes that may be running. * Creative Skillset Careers
Competition for places on training schemes is strong, and you may increase your chances by getting practical experience first in using broadcast technology equipment. You could get this through: * student film and TV productions * community or hospital radio * work experience placements with broadcasters.
If you don't start through a training scheme, you will need experience in maintaining and repairing electronic equipment, and you should be familiar with broadcast technology. It would be helpful to have NVQs or other qualifications in electronic or electrical engineering.

To be a broadcast engineer, you should have: * good practical and technical skills * knowledge of electrical and electronic equipment * awareness of health and safety in the workplace * the ability to find and repair faults * good communication and teamwork skills * flexibility and willingness to work long or unsocial hours when necessary * stamina and fitness * IT skills.
Company that employs this profession and a brief description of the company;

3. Studio sound engineer

Job description; as a sound engineer in a recording studio you would make high quality recordings of music, speech and sound effects. If you enjoy working with electronics and are interested in music and sound, this could be the ideal job for you. In this job you would need to have a good sense of hearing. You would also need to understand musical pitch, timing and rhythm. To develop your skills you could start by completing a course at college or university. A different route would be to start as a runner in a recording studio. This would allow you to gain experience and then work your way up to become a studio sound engineer.

Potential salary or wages;
Starting salaries can be from $13,000 a year. With experience you could earn from $20,000 to $40,000 or more. Freelance earnings can vary. As a recording engineer it could be possible to earn from £100 to $400 a day. This will depend on your reputation and how much work is available. Figures are intended as a guideline only. You would need to be flexible about your working hours, which could be long and irregular. You may need to work in the evening, at night or at the weekend. This could depend on when artists and producers are available. You would mainly work in recording studios. Conditions in studios may vary. Some may be large and air-conditioned and others small and cramped.

Post-secondary education or training required in gaining employment in this field of technology;
You will need a good knowledge of music and recording technology. You may also find it useful to understand physics and electronics. Many sound engineers start by taking a music technology course at college or university. This could help you develop your skills before looking for work.
Courses are available at different levels, such as: * Level 2/3 Certificate/Diploma in Sound and Music Technology * Level 3 Diploma in Music Technology and Sound Engineering * Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Music Technology.
Some universities offer foundation degrees and degrees in sound engineering, music technology and related subjects. To do a degree you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including math’s, English and science, plus three A levels. You should check with universities for exact entry requirements as other qualifications may also be accepted.
You can search for foundation degree and degree courses on the UCAS website. * UCAS
See the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) JAMES website for information on industry-approved courses. * Association of Professional Recording Services (JAMES)
Another way into this job would be to start as a runner or an assistant in a recording studio. You would carry out basic tasks such as looking after artists or keeping equipment tidy. This way in would allow you to get an understanding of the recording equipment, how the studio works and build up your contacts. With experience you may be asked to help with recording sessions.
See the APRS website for a list of recording studios. * Association of Professional Recording Services
You could also build up your experience through: * community music events or DJ projects * hospital or community radio * mixing and recording music in a home studio. * Music Producers Guild
You may be able to start in this job through a Sound Engineering Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more visit the Apprenticeship website. * Apprenticeships

You will usually develop your skills on the job once you're working in a studio.
You should keep up to date with changes in audio technology and equipment throughout your career. You may also wish to move into sound for television and film. Taking a short course could help you develop new skills and keep up with new technology. See the Creative Skillset website for more course information. * Creative Skillset
You could choose to work towards a postgraduate qualification such as an MA in Music Production or MSc in Music Engineering and Design. See the James website for accredited higher education courses. * JAMES
It may be helpful to your career to join a professional body like APRS, PLASA or the Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers (ISCE). Some professional bodies run exhibitions and seminars where you can make contacts within the industry. Exhibitions are also a useful way of keeping up with new industry technology and methods. See the PLASA website for more information. * PLASA (Events)

To be a studio sound engineer you should have: * good hearing, for distinguishing sound quality * a good sense of pitch, timing and rhythm * a knowledge of electronics and acoustics * good practical skills * patience * a keen interest in music and sound * the ability to cope with long hours and tight deadlines * good communication and ‘people’ skills.