If you want to become a master control operator, you typically need to have a bachelor's degree in a communications field. In some cases, employers may be willing to hire applicants who have degrees in another, related discipline, but only if you have several years of relevant work experience. For the most part, employers look for candidates who have at least three years of experience working in a television production environment. It is particularly desirable for candidates to be experienced at working with live programs or productions.
As a general rule, shift work is a necessary part of this type of job. You should be prepared to work nights, weekends, or holidays, if you want to become a master control operator. If you are just starting out in this career field, you will be more likely to have to work on one of the more undesirable shifts or schedules. With time and work experience, however, you may achieve a higher ranking position that allows you to work a more normal schedule.
The majority of these positions are not on a supervisory level, which means that you probably will not have to be responsible for the work of others. Many employers prefer to hire people who have strong leadership abilities, however, as this illustrates a person's ability to deal with many situations. If you want to become a master control operator, you should have an outgoing personality and the ability to make sound decisions about your work. If you demonstrate good leadership skills, you could advance to management-level positions later in your career.
To be successful in this type of job, you generally need to be familiar with a variety of broadcast television operations. These may include signal elements, file formats, signal flow, and broadcast measurement. To become a master control operator, and be successful in this field, you need to be comfortable working with many different aspects of technology, as it pertains to television broadcasting. In addition, you need to have the ability to anticipate problems that may occur with equipment, and be able to quickly resolve them.
You should also have a keen eye for detail, as a large part of this job will involve trouble-shooting problems that arise with audio, video, or broadcast signals. You also need to have strong technical skills, so that your employer can rely on you to resolve problems quickly and efficiently without having to call others for help. Of course, you should also have exceptional computer skills and be dedicated to your work, because the hours can tend to be long, and the demands of this job are usually great.
