Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video : Career development

The majority of sound technicians begin their careers as a trainee, sound assistant, runner or administrator and progress to more specialist or senior positions. In order for a sound technician to forward their career it is essential that they develop specialist knowledge and technical skills through training or shadowing more experienced sound technicians. There are many different roles within both production and post-production. Possible career routes include:

• production: sound assistant, sound technician, sound recordist, boom operator and sound supervisor;
• post-production: sound editor, dialogue editor, music editor, re-recording mixer/dubbing mixer, Foley artist (sound effects) and Foley editor (post-synchronised sound effects).

Some large employers have developed structured career paths for their sound technicians. For example, the BBC grade their sound technicians as junior, middle and senior. Promotion beyond the senior grade would involve moving into management or moving from small/regional stations to large/national stations. These organisations will often support their employees through training schemes, in-house development schemes and various other career development opportunities.

For freelancers there is no set career path. To further their career, a freelancer should develop strong networking skills and attend media events as well as make and maintain useful industry contacts.

Sound technicians can move on to the role of radio studio manager. Radio studio managers maintain the technical standard of broadcasts by controlling sound in studios and on location. At the BBC, radio studio managers oversee the running of the studios, handle all live output and are also involved in the final stages of mixing the overall sound of pre-recorded programmes.