Your career prospects will largely depend on your skills, experience and industry reputation. The more experience you gain, the better your chances of securing work, as many opportunities come through word-of-mouth recommendations. To build a successful career, you'll need to be hardworking, approachable and open to new opportunities.

The ScreenSkills Select directory lists college and university courses with strong industry links, making it a useful resource for finding relevant training.

You'll need to adhere to strict health and safety standards at all times, especially when working with electrical systems, heavy lifting and live cables.

Most training is carried out on the job. Lighting skills are usually developed through observing, questioning and working under the supervision of an experienced lighting technician.

Many lighting technicians work on a freelance basis both within television and film and on live events. Jobs are available with specialist lighting companies. You can usually contact them directly to find out about opportunities.

Developing a strong network of industry contacts is key to advancing in this field. Attending industry events, networking with professionals, and staying active in lighting communities can help you establish a solid reputation and secure future work.

Most lighting technicians eventually specialise in a particular area due to the specific demands and knowledge required for different types of productions. In television, for example, you might focus on live shows, studio-based programming or outside broadcasts.

Expect long and irregular working hours, especially on film and TV productions and live events. A standard day in television typically lasts around 10 hours, plus a one-hour lunch break. Start times vary but are usually between 7am and 10am, and some shoots may require working late into the night.

You'll typically work as part of a team, handling specialist equipment, rigging lights at different heights and ensuring smooth transitions between scenes. The role is both technical and creative, requiring problem-solving skills and a strong understanding of lighting design to achieve the director's vision.

Taking a Level 3 qualification in electrical installation is another way into the profession. For information on the various ways to qualify as an electrician, see Electrical careers.

GE Lighting, a Savant company products are only intended for use within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.

If you're working as a freelance technician, you may be able to supplement your income by training others, working for recognised course providers. Or you could offer your services to the photographic industry in addition to broadcasting, film and video.

Although you don't need a degree to become a lighting technician, there are a range of lighting degree courses available, mainly offered by drama schools teaching lighting for performance.

Some lighting technicians move into sound operations or combine sound and lighting expertise, while others transition into special effects, production design or event lighting.

To advance in your career, you'll need to take responsibility for your own professional development. If you're a freelance technician, you'll need to invest in training courses yourself, both in terms of time and cost. Make the most of opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues and industry contacts.

Most lighting work is done on a freelance basis, so you must expect to negotiate rates according to your experience and the type of production you'll be working on.

You can find details of specialist lighting companies by reading the credits on films and TV programmes, and by researching companies in directories such as:

Joining professional organisations such as the STLD can help you to keep up to date with industry developments, expand your professional network and access training opportunities.

Some lighting technicians start out as production electricians or camera operators or even working for lighting supply companies before moving into the role of lighting technician after further training. It's also possible to start out in theatre or live events before moving into TV and film. There are also some entry-level positions available that allow you to train on the job.

Reading trade publications and industry news is also essential for staying informed about new lighting equipment, techniques and best practices.

Create the perfect lighting for any room with Soft White smart LED light bulbs. These general purpose bulbs illuminate rooms with optimal soft white light. Set scenes, pre-set schedules and automations, dim and brighten the bulbs through your smart phone or tablet. Enable voice and lighting control away from home by pairing your Soft White smart bulb with a Google Assistant or an Amazon Alexa with a Cync Smart Plug Hub (sold separately).

Getting free student membership of the Society of Television Lighting and Design (STLD) is also helpful for developing a professional network you can learn from.

Relevant pre-entry experience, either paid or voluntary, is essential for breaking into the industry. Some degree courses include a year-long paid industrial placement, providing hands-on experience and valuable industry contacts that can help when looking for a job after graduation.

You'll play a key role in creating the atmosphere for a production, whether in a studio or outside on location. Your work will help create the right mood, enhance storytelling and influence the audience's response to the action.

Large broadcasters, such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, run structured work experience schemes, but these are highly competitive. You should also consider alternative opportunities such as:

Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such mark by GE is under license.

Networking is also key and you should attend industry events and workshops (such as those run by ScreenSkills) to connect with professionals working in lighting who may be prepared to offer work experience or shadowing opportunities.

In film and high-end TV drama, the director of photography leads the lighting department. While senior lighting technicians may transition into this role, it's more commonly filled by professionals from the camera department.