Table 1Transition record

camera operatortoboom operator

A camera operator already meets 51% of what the boom operator role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From camera operator

51%

Overlap1

To boom operator

13 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

50.2 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 50.2

This move: 50.2 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the boom operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the camera operator profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A boom operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a camera operator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held assess power needs management skills
already held study media sources information skills
already held audiovisual equipment arts and humanities
already held follow directions of the artistic director communication, collaboration and creativity
already held adapt artistic plan to location communication, collaboration and creativity
already held adapt to type of media communication, collaboration and creativity

All 13 carried skills, including the 8 the boom operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 14 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held perform soundchecks required
required, not held program sound cues required
required, not held set up sound equipment required

optional, not held maintain sound equipment optional
optional, not held operate an audio mixing console optional
optional, not held tune up wireless audio systems optional

02 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held consult with sound editor required

optional, not held technically design a sound system optional

03 constructing 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held manage sound quality required

optional, not held assess sound quality optional

04 working with computers 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held use audio reproduction software required

optional, not held edit recorded sound optional

05 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held acoustics required

06 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held supervise sound production optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a boom operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 13 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adapt to type of media skill
already held analyse a script skill
already held audiovisual equipment knowledge
already held follow directions of the artistic director skill
already held follow work schedule skill
already held study media sources skill
already held use technical documentation skill
already held work ergonomically skill
already held adapt artistic plan to location skill
already held apply health and safety standards skill
already held assess power needs skill
already held electricity knowledge
already held health and safety regulations knowledge

7 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held assess sound quality optional
optional, not held edit recorded sound optional
optional, not held maintain sound equipment optional
optional, not held operate an audio mixing console optional
optional, not held technically design a sound system optional
optional, not held tune up wireless audio systems optional
optional, not held supervise sound production optional

32 held skills the boom operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role analyse the scenography skill
not needed by the target role assist multimedia operator skill
not needed by the target role attend rehearsals skill
not needed by the target role cinematography knowledge
not needed by the target role collaborate on costume and make-up for performances skill
not needed by the target role create moving images skill
not needed by the target role create special effects skill
not needed by the target role determine visual concepts skill
not needed by the target role ensure visual quality of the set skill
not needed by the target role file-based workflow knowledge
not needed by the target role film production process knowledge
not needed by the target role follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
not needed by the target role keep up with trends skill
not needed by the target role lighting techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain audiovisual equipment skill
not needed by the target role manage technical resources stock skill
not needed by the target role operate a camera skill
not needed by the target role photography knowledge
not needed by the target role plan audiovisual recording skill
not needed by the target role plan shots skill
not needed by the target role practise camera movements skill
not needed by the target role select camera apertures skill
not needed by the target role set up audiovisual peripheral equipment skill
not needed by the target role set up cameras skill
not needed by the target role supervise camera crew skill
not needed by the target role transfer uncut audiovisual material to computer skill
not needed by the target role use personal protection equipment skill
not needed by the target role use storyboards skill
not needed by the target role work with an artistic team skill
not needed by the target role work with motion picture editing team skill
not needed by the target role work with the director of photography skill
not needed by the target role work with the lighting crew skill

1 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held acoustics required

Index

Other moves recorded from camera operator

Full index of moves from camera operator

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.