"From Certification to Career: What It Really Takes to Break Into Broadcast"
- szymborskipiotr
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
🎬
Finishing your EVS training is an accomplishment — no question.
Whether you’ve just completed your LSM-VIA or XT course, you’ve proven that you’re committed to mastering the technical craft of live replay.
But let’s be honest:
Training is just the beginning.
What separates those who build a real career from those who fade out isn’t the certificate on the wall — it’s what happens after the course ends.
🎯 The Hardest Part? Getting Experience.
Broadcast is a high-stakes environment.
No one will hand you a seat in the OB van just because you know the software.
You have to earn your place by proving you can perform under pressure.
And here’s the reality for most newcomers:
You may have to start by working for free.
Shadowing experienced operators.
Following production teams.
Showing up early, staying late, doing the unglamorous stuff — just to be seen.
📖 My Story: From Shadowing to the Olympics
When I started out, I didn’t wait for an invitation.
I drove — often alone — from Warsaw to the Netherlands, month after month, at my own expense.
Why?
Because EMG Netherlands gave me a green light to follow their football productions.
Thank you, Klaasjan Strengers.
I wasn’t paid.
But I was present.
Learning. Watching. Practicing. Asking questions. Earning trust.
And that journey eventually led me to work at the Olympics.
🎤 My Honest Advice?
📍 Don’t chase money. Chase experience.
📍 Don’t wait for permission. Ask to shadow. Show you’re reliable.
📍 Don’t skip the grind. The hard part is the path.
Because without real-world experience, no amount of training will move your career forward.
🧠 Let’s Be Real for a Moment
It’s all about repetition.
Repetition. Repetition. Training. Training. Training.
I’ve got 7 EVS certificates — and to be honest, most of them are just a feel-good pat on the back.
The real value?
It comes when you ask your friends to give you a shot.
To shadow. Shadow. Shadow.
To try. Try. Try.
There’s nothing more important than practice.
Because even when you think you’re ready…
The clock ticks: 3, 2, 1 — and suddenly you freeze.
Your hands sweat. You forget everything.
That’s when it hits you:
Real broadcasting is different from training.
And it’s in those moments that real professionals are made.
🛠 Tools to Help You Stay Sharp:
🎓 Broadcast Training Hub (VOD):
📘 EVS Manuals (Rewritten by professionals):
🇬🇧 Live Broadcast Masterclass (with The London School of English – British Council Accredited):
📩 Broadcast Pulse Newsletter – The newest info from the broadcast industry:
This industry rewards those who show up, stay humble, and prove themselves — again and again.
If you’re one of them, your moment is coming.
Watch. Learn. Broadcast.
— Piotr Szymborski
Founder – University of Television
🇬🇧 In partnership with The London School of English (British Council Accredited)
📩 Broadcast Pulse Newsletter
Watch. Learn. Broadcast.
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