Muaaz Khan was once a youth worker, now he works for BBC Children’s and makes time to inspire young adults starting out in the media industry. He was a panellist talking to delegates at a BBC Outreach employability workshop.
‘It’s strange to think that only last year, I was sitting at home considering my career, and now I’m working at the BBC’
My own big career break came when I attended a networking event - essentially it was a version of speed dating with 50 media industry executives. I tried my best to impress them with my fables of team work and resilience. In the end, it was one person who gave me an opportunity to undertake a four- week work experience placement on Blue Peter. And I haven’t left since.
Top tips at the BBC Outreach employability workshop in Birmingham
Previously, I was a youth worker. I had always enjoyed working with young people. Now working in the broadcast industry and concentrating on my work as a runner for the TV show, the opportunities to help young adults starting out were not as readily available.
Then a request arrived by email asking for BBC staff volunteers to speak on a panel about how to get into the industry, so I jumped at the chance.
Now I have I attended my third such session – this latest was in Birmingham and has been by far the most enjoyable to date.
I was slightly embarrassed to be sitting on a panel next to a BBC producer and an engineer, both of whom undoubtedly had more experience than me.
But that embarrassment quickly dissipated when the questions starting coming in for me: “What does a runner actually do?” and “Can you remember a funny story?” What was even more heartening was that even after the panel session ended, a number of delegates approached me to ask more questions, wanting to find out more about the industry and my journey.
Earlier in the day, there were sessions about selling yourself at the start of your career, interview techniques, and how to write a good CV. Helping facilitate these sessions, I couldn’t help but think how much I would have benefitted from this kind of support years ago.
Young people as a group can have a bad reputation projected upon them. ASBOs and hoodie culture have portrayed young people in the news for all the wrong reasons. But with initiatives like BBC Outreach’s employability masterclasses, and the Media Trust’s Queen’s Young Leaders programme, we’re given excellent insights into all the positive things that young people are doing with their lives.
Volunteering is an integral part of society, whether it’s as a school governor or as a lay magistrate, every can play a role. It only takes a few hours, but you may help someone fulfil as aspiration they’ve been chasing for years.
BBC Outreach & Corporate Responsibility brings the BBC closer to its audiences - particularly those audiences we have identified as harder to reach - with face-to-face activity, community support and staff volunteering.