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Here you can find our Reference list, supplmentary charts and summarised responses of our participants.

 

If you are looking to replicate this research and/or interview RMIT media graduates, official contact details are often kept private for legal reasons so we reccomend going through alternate networks such as Facebook in order to contact candidates.

 Further Research 

 Reference List 

Australian Law Reform Commission, (March 2012) Classification- Content Regulation and Convergent Media, Chapter 3: Media Convergence and the Transformed Media Environment, Accessed via URL: [http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/3-media-convergence-and-transformed-media-environment/media-convergence-and-transform-0]

 

Borowske. K, (2005), Curiosity and Motivation-to-Learn. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/pdf/borowske05.pdf. [Accessed 14/10/15].

 

Bossio. D, (2012), The Conversation, Can journalism graduates get jobs?, Conversation Media Group Ltd, https://theconversation.com/can-journalism-graduates-get-jobs-3457 [Accessed: 16/10/2015]

 

Bricki, N, and Green. J, (2007), A Guide To Using Qualitative Research Methodology. Ebook. 1st ed. United Kingdom: Medecins Sans frontières.

 

Cunningham, S. and Ruth, B. (2012). Say goodbye to the fries: Graduate careers in Media, Cultural and Communication studies. Media International Australia, Incorporating Culture & Policy, (145), pp.6-17.

 

Johnston, B. (2003). The Shape of Research in the Field of Higher Education and Graduate Employment: Some issues. Studies in Higher Education, 28(4), pp.413-426.

 

Matthews, N. 2011, "Transition or Translation? Thinking through Media and Cultural Studies Students' Experiences after Graduation", Cultural Studies Review, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 28-48.

 

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, (June, 2009), News Limited Redundancies reach 100 Mark, [http://www.alliance.org.au/news-ltd-redundancies-reach-100-mark], [accessed: 17/10/15]

 

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, (May, 2012), Fairfax Announces Unprecendent Offshoring of Jobs, [http://www.alliance.org.au/fairfax-announces-unprecedented-offshoring-of-jobs], [accessed: 17/10/15]

 

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, (October, 2012), Voluntary Redundancies Close at Ten, [http://www.alliance.org.au/voluntary-redundancies-close-at-ten], [accessed: 17/10/15]

 

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, (May, 2014), Cutting funding at ABC and SBS is a broken promise and will cost jobs and services, [http://www.alliance.org.au/cutting-funding-at-abc-and-sbs-is-a-broken-promise-and-will-cost-jobs-and-services], [accessed: 17/10/15]

 

Montague. A, (Aug, 2014), The Conversation, Unis should take responsibility for graduate oversupply, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. https://theconversation.com/unis-should-take-responsibility-for-graduate-oversupply-29909 [Accessed: 10/10/15]

 

Probert & Alexander, (Oct, 2015) The Conversation, Twenty First Century higher education: Training for jobs of the future,  https://theconversation.com/a-21st-century-higher-education-training-for-jobs-of-the-future-47938 [Accessed 15/10/15]

 

Rowson. J, (2012), The Power Of Curiosity,  https://www.thersa.org/globalassets/pdfs/blogs/rsa-social-brain-the-power-of-curiosity.pdf. [Accessed 14 October 15].

 

Storey. J, Salaman, G., & Platman, K. (2005). Living with enterprise in an enterprise economy: Freelance and contract workers in the media. Human Relations, 58(8), 1033-1054.

 

Thrift. N, (2005), Performing Cultures in the New Economy: Knowing Capitalism, London, Sage

 

Thrift. N, (2008), Re-Inventing Invention: New Tendencies in Capitalist Commodification, Non-Representation Theory: Space/politics/affect, Oxon,Routledge

 

Turner III, D W. 2015. Qualitative Interview Design: A Practical Guide For Novice Investigators. Florida: Nova Southeastern University.

 

Woods, Martin. 2011. 'Interviewing For Research And Analysing Qualitative Data: An Overview'. Presentation, School of Health & Social Services Massey University.

 

 Appendix 

1.What sort of organization do you work for?

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: somewhat unemployed, some freelance

 

2011 Graduates

A.T Camera store and a side production company

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: Southerncross 10 in Tasmania

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: 2 days a week as a video editor at Rise Films. Copywriting work visual domain +freelance concept and completion, online video/advertising for small businesses

M.W: advertising agency

C.L: After graduation I moved back to my home country, Indonesia and I am now working at a post-production house called EltraCine Studio. The studio was first established during the birth of the digital era. For the past 20 years it became one of the best digital houses in Jakarta, executing final steps in film creation such as offline and online editing, colour grading, 3D effects, sound mastering and dubbing.

 

2014 Graduates

MJ: Freelancer, Self-employed- starting documentary production company

ZF: Tooth & Claw: Boutique production company

EC: JOM Magazine, Current Issues & Political (Freelancer)

A.M: I work for a start up unpaid at documentary company. We produce short online videos that vary between 5 - 20 minutes. At this stage of the company we aren't getting paid for the majority of our work but we currently working towards monetisation.

BW: I am still working at my casual job at Kino Cinemas, but after a long internship with the Melbourne International Film Festival I am staying on as a Features Panelist.



 

2. What is your role in the organization?
 

2010 graduates

M.S.L: I started in social media. I was then Digital producer for website football.com.au for 2 years fulltime. Whilst freelancing I went overseas. I was in TV / Radio production at the ABC, grandstand, sports journalism. I was the Sunday morning ABC program assistant producer  (I cut highlights put packages together, work with executive producers)

E.S: Ooh media from 2011 – 2013. I was on the sales team, media buying, and packaging digital media. I felt like I had a lot more to offer skill wise. Now I’m back at Ooh Media (since Feb 2015) - but in the marketing and design team due to the online graphic design course I did.

2011 graduates

A.T: I Sell cameras and am the producer for the production company

 

2012 graduates

R.H: I am a Journalist/Television reporter. There is difficulty being a broadcast journalist in Melbourne as there is lots of competition; commonly people go regionally for experience.

 

2013 graduates

M.W: I am a Production Assistant with a mix of on and off set jobs

C.L: I am currently working as Marketing Director and Post-Producer.

 

2014 graduates

Z.F: I am a Production Assistant, Social media manager. The internship developed into a part time position.

E.C: Photographer

A.M: Officially I am a producer, however I have worked as a director, editor and camera operator on a number of projects.

B.W: At MIFF (which I did January - August) I was the programming intern, now I am a Features Panelist. Also a Supervisor at Kino Cinemas.

 

3. How did you get this job?
 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: I made contact whilst studying with a guest lecturer at RMIT

E.S: through RMIT graduates network

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: Direct contact from previous internship/ + recommendations from other internship

 

2013 Graduates

M.W: I hit it off with HR

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: Networking, small jobs, building up clientele that led to more jobs.

Z.F: meeting for an internship led to 3month contract, and now part time employment

E.C: A passion project (Bersih 3.0, political issue) led me to wider opportunities, leading to an internship and permanent job.

A.M: The company was started by RMIT graduates and I met them through mutual contacts. I engaged in a trial period before becoming a part of the core team.

B.W: I cold emailed MIFF expressing my interest and then went through the regular resume, interview etc. process. At the end of the internship they offered me the Features Panelist role.

4. How long after you graduated did you get employment?
 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: I didn’t really search for jobs, because of timing of finding employment after postgrad.  I missed out on 6-month unemployment ‘buffer’.

E.S: 2 months of searching

 

2012 Graduates

Z.A: Jobless

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: fairly quickly

M.W: 4 months of searching

C.L: In the summer of 2013, I decided to visit my hometown to explore and differentiate the film industry between Indonesia and Australia. In Indonesia, most graduates tend to move towards producing TVC (television commercials) because their production workflow are more elite - hiring directors from overseas (such as Thailand, Australia, USA), having bigger production budgets, less days to shoot, higher income and only producing a 30 second piece. I came across EltraCine Studio because they had an internship program at the time and I was accepted.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: Immediately

Z.F: after travelling, I found this part time position in March this year.

E.C: In my duration at university

A.M: I started while I was studying

B.W: I haven't got paid employment within the industry. Just a lot of unpaid work.

 

5. How prepared did you feel to enter this role?
 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: Yes, I felt prepared because I had a practical know how everything was new but it all felt relatively attainable

E.S: I Felt unprepared for my first position, but more so because it was fulltime work rather than feeling unprepared for the actual tasks she had to complete. I felt much more prepared when coming back to the company.

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: very prepared

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: I felt unprepared for my first role, if you have Google and a common sense you can make it work.

M.W: Didn’t know what I was doing, felt amateur, never worked in a corporate environment

Fake it till you make it.

C.L: I have always prepared myself to be a producer since the start of university. However, RMIT focused more on the pre and production stage that I had only little knowledge of post. My job here includes getting as much clients as possible, organising work schedules for the editors, making quotations and deals, achieving monthly targets and finding networks in the industry.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: Not very prepared, for the work I’m doing. Some core skills were missing which I had to teach myself, namely lighting and the business aspect of professionalism in meetings, tenders, budgeting,

Z.F: I felt pretty confident when entered. You think you’re prepared, but you’re not really, on set you want to help but you’re not sure where to. The course prepares you as much as it can hands on and theoretical wise. But there’s something you can only learn from the experience of being on set. There’s a gap between the end of your degree and being a professional DOP, that’s experience. Its not RMIT's fault, its possible to get this experience while at university. But its hard to juggle uni, work, social life, family, but the driven people will find a way to do that. Now knowing what I know, I think it is totally possible.

E.C: I felt uncertain, but I knew if an opportunity came knocking, I would have taken a chance despite a sense of hesitation.

A.M: Honestly when I started I felt completely out of my depth. However the environment has fostered my growth rapidly and has gained a ton of experience in a short period of time

B.W: Generally when looking for jobs online, entry-level positions are rare and I do feel under qualified for many of the other jobs.

 

6. Where did you look for jobs and did you find what you were looking for when searching?

 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: I started ABC freelance 2010 during university. I remained at grandstand until 2013 when an old colleague set me up with a media job in Berlin in digital media. I had a nine-month contract working on a startup project

E.S: Found through RMIT grad network, searched on seek and with contact etc

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: I didn’t really search for jobs, because of timing of finding employment after postgrad, missed out on 6 month unemployment ‘buffer’ other factors: I was very young when finishing undergrad, I didn’t feel like starting a career. Most jobs don’t get advertised in journalism realm, simply word of mouth.

Z.A: I looked at seek.com.au and applied but found nothing paid.

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: I had a Sports media job through RMIT graduates network. I assumed it was beyond 3rd year, companies surprised how few people responded, straight to the interview copyright - Through colleague freelance - network rise - seek, I considered seek to be ‘bad’ not tailored enough, dealing with more managerial/ corporate apply directly through companies they can appreciate work/ talent over experience, recommend you to others, seek looking for 5 year experience resume

M.W: Shooting applications through seek.com.au

C.L: Mostly online and yes I did find what I was looking for.

 

2014 Graduates

MJ: I turned to Seek, Loop, Pedestrian, Facebook groups such as RMIT grad jobs website. It’s about getting coffee with different people. 'Keep your ear to the ground'.

ZF: Seek, RMIT, Paul Richard emails. The hard thing was knowing what the job I want is called: the lingo- the 'professional titles'. Generally the more complicated the title is, the lower they are on the food chain.

EC: I would have taken any photography project that came, but what set off my career as a photographer was starting out with my passion project (Bersih 3.0). From then on, people took notice and the offers started coming in. JOM Magazine and even Paparich came around.

A.M: I am continuing more or less on the same path as before however I feel much more competent in my skills now. I am hoping that by next year PLGRM will either begin earning money and I can make this job my primary income, or I can find a paying gig elsewhere.

B.W: I have regularly looked for jobs online e.g. pedestrian jobs, seek, ethical jobs etc., but also haven't really applied for many. Maybe because I still haven't found a position that I am really attracted to/I feel under qualified for many/there are so many unpaid positions

 
7.Have your career expectations changed since you entered the workforce?
 

2010 Graduates

E.S: Glad I have the media background and a sense of the industry, but I am now focused on becoming a designer.

 

2011 Graduates

A.T: Because this job was never ideal, I’m still waiting for something else; Channel 10 specifically.

 

2012 Graduates

M.S.L: No they haven’t really changed my direction

R.H: I’m still unsure about the future but I enjoy my current industry and role. I see it in my next future career

Z.A: Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do to get to where you want to be but I wasn’t ready for that.

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: Editing as a practical bounce board to get into the industry, saw as easiest way to get into industry/not get pigeon holed producing/directing end goal. I’ve shifted a small amount towards doing advertising, online video platform main focus. I want to get involved in more small things rather than larger corporate things

M.W: It was a lot harder than I originally thought. I would like freelance work on top of my regular job but I wouldn’t do it full time for fear of job security. I want to get to the point where people approach me for work not as many jobs in radio.

C.L: A lot. I became too ambitious and was expecting a lot of fun and exciting projects after graduation. I wanted to do independent shorts but it won't pay the bills. I wanted to stay in Australia but I didn't get a working visa. I realized that I have to accept where I'm at right now, in order to get to where I want to be. My mission now is to learn as much as I can in this field, to use this time as a learning experience, and to work my way up.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: I considered feature films, with little projects on the side. Now it’s not a priority; funding is much too bureaucratic.

Z.F: Yes, I think so. It’s going to be a lot slower than I had anticipated. This 'experience period' will be longer. Not to say people don’t get lucky. I’ve realized I want to do more producer/direction role. I would like to be the designer as well as the creator.

E.C: It is impossible to only focus on projects you would like to do, there must be a balance between giving what the audience wants and what you want. For the line of photography, it is very subjective.

A.M: Yes and no. I am continuing more or less on the same path as before however I feel much more competent in my skills now. I am hoping that by next year PLGRM will either begin earning money and I can make this job my primary income, or I can find a paying gig elsewhere.

B.W: I knew it was going to be tough and competitive so not that much really. Maybe I have also discovered that there are lots of dull positions out there so I need to lower my job expectations (that sounds very depressing). Also I haven't really entered the workforce so it’s difficult to answer.

 

8. What do you value most from your degree?
 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: The ability to work collaboratively putting more effort into learning editing tools would have gone a long way

E.S: I Value making connections with people. I valued the creative environment and being around like-minded people.

 

2011 Graduates

A.T: The resources provided by RMIT

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: I enjoyed interviewing people for stories real world scenarios, practical PNR work. I felt elements were incredibly disorganized, especially despised communication subjects. I Didn’t feel the course lead me to a job, the postgraduate course felt more directed to gaining employment valued basic technical knowledge advantage of the post graduate was all the internships were already organized.

Z.A: I think for me, I learnt a lot at uni about myself, so about what I can and can’t do. I studied philosophy and literature as my major and I learnt more in that than in the media course. In term of the media course I learnt a lot about branding yourself. That part of the course was really good. At the end they get you to do a portfolio, which is really helpful especially when you’re applying for jobs. In terms of actual working life skills I am yet to find out .

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: I Value the broadness of knowledge. I realized that there was still a lot to learn. Having a specific combination of skills technical skills can be learnt later, the theory is far more important, having the ability to back up creative debates with theoretical base the ability to judge work, it's about creating a skill set which employers will like.

M.W: Applying for jobs and using connections execution of the final semester didn’t really work, more networking would have been better to help prepare, not being afraid to ask for a job or help. Really like the RRR thing because it was a real scenario.

C.L: The networking was great.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: Three years to think about yourself, and what you want to do with your life, and meet likeminded, amazing people. I only focused on the tasks that I felt I would learn most from. I loved the way it encourages you to think about things you normally would have to be challenged by, or be directed to engaging. The course focus wasn’t on how to use a camera, but it was about 'how to create meaning, how to edit, how to push boundaries. The technical stuff is secondary to that'.

Z.F: The flow of connections (industry wise) but I put a high value on the people I met: friends and "colleagues".

E.C: Through out my period in this degree, it pushed me to work harder. The classes built my interest in photography. I valued creating a unique style of photography.

A.M: Practical hands on experience and networks

B.W: I have decided I need to study more so will do my masters next year.

 

9. What have you had to develop most from work?
 

2010 Graduates

E.S: The importance of interpersonal skills and delegating tasks. The importance of creativity and sharing ideas when you get them. Develop Adobe suite skills.

 

2011 Graduates

A.T: Communication skills are very important and also working with people.

 

2012 Graduates

R.H: Practically, becoming much more effective with developing work. It previously took me 6 months to develop a package, now I do it everyday. I learnt how to write for TV

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: It’s easy to get stuck very quickly. Take risks and move on.

C.L: As the youngest in the company and the field, it was hard to gain the trust of my potential clients. I had to change the way I dress, the way I behave to be taken seriously. I also had to research current affairs in order to have sophisticated conversations with them. I had to be wiser and braver than my current age.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: For freelances, accounting, finance, book keeping, staying organised. The big lesson is being professional while still being yourself. Professional isn’t being grumpy, reclusive. You can still be happy, genuine, yet do your job really well.

E.C: Flexibility and being able to adapt under different circumstances. Sometimes doing projects or works that are not within his interest. Building patience is an important aspect that leads to things I want to do

A.M: Technical skills. Going in I wasn't very confident with different types of camera equipment and editing programs but I've adapted my skills to work with a range of different equipment.



 

10. Did you complete any internships/placements, how has this helped you?

 

2010 Graduates

M.S.L: The ABC was the internship that directly resulted in work; I didn’t do any other placements other than that.

E.S: I did an internship at soundfirm but didn't care/take an interest in the company. In hindsight I didn't realize the opportunity I had. I also did an internship for set design, but again in hindsight didn't appreciate it. I should have done more internships.

2012 Graduates

R.H: Do as many as you can. It’s about building networks/contacts.  I did an internship at Radio national -creating a radio documentary. I found it too slow moving causing my change of direction. I undertook a few one-week placements with Win news in Bendigo, Southern Cross and six weeks with 7 News in Melbourne.

 

2013 Graduates

T.P: Internship as PA for ghost films; it didn’t aid that much in networking as part of another company, helped getting creative work, added little things that kept going along career paths. I could have done more with internships would recommend to do as many as possible value of gaining professional experience, developing skill set

M.W: I did an internship at Evergribe - an online catalog for events. I was writing descriptions of events on website. I did data entry at  â€˜creative insights media’. I was in charge of helping small business clients with their social media plan but that didn’t lead to anything. Creative Insights fell through as a company but gave a good reference for my current job going directly to companies I would like to work for,

C.L: I did and it landed me this job.

 

2014 Graduates

M.J: I did an internship at HRAFF, Startup Smart. I Learnt the BTS of festivals, marketing and distributing collateral. Although it wasn’t something I want to pursue, but at least you know what you don’t want to do.

E.C: JOM Magazine started out as internship but it led me to a permanent job with the company and also other event projects.

A.M: I worked a few internships in editorial, website administration and at a music label. These all helped me experience different industries and get a feel for what I wanted to end up doing.

B.W: I had a seven-month position as programming intern for MIFF and a three-month internship with Unicorn Films. This has helped hugely with contacts/references/insight into the industry/many more things. I have a continuing position with MIFF because of my internship. I should also utilize the references I have made from both placements. I've been taking it a bit easy since they finished up.

 

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