Trine works as a booking coordinator at BTI Studios

I graduated the summer of 2014 from the AP degree programme in Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management and went on to do a Top-up degree in Design and Business with a specialisation in Fashion Management at KEA, where I graduated in January 2017.

A tough but educational internship

During my Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management study programm I did my internship in an event company, and that was probably one of the reasons that I chose another route then what the AP degree prepared me for.

Internship is in itself a great idea. Unfortunately, my internship did not go very well and I should probably have followed my instinct, but I was under a lot of pressure. I had to find an internship, and struggled with the question of accepting a less attractive internship offer or play it cool and risk not having an internship. It was a tough period, but I got to know myself better and now I would not have been without it.

Career goals

When I chose the AP degree programme in Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management, it was a fairly new programme. What attracted me to it was the event aspect. I love planning, coordinating and structuring. My motivation was to raise the service level in Denmark, because I think it is lacking compared to foreign countries. For several years I worked as a ‘Mystery Shopper’ and because of that I had a concrete approach to what I wanted to change, but not one dedicated career goal.

My job

After my graduation at KEA, I searched quite widely in my job search and got a job as booking coordinator at BTI Studios. I applied for the job through Jobindex and actually got a rejection to start with, but luckily for me, it turned out that the person they initially hired was not the right match for them and I was offered the job. If it were not for the specific job posting, I do not think I had ended up in this industry – it is a bit of a niche and a whole new world for me, but I love it. It is very different from what I have tried previously.

As a booking coordinator, I administer the four sound studios at BTI Studios and book actors for dubbing*.

At BTI Studios we work with a lot of different productions, ranging from television speaks to cinema films, but most of the time we work with series for various streaming services or children's channels. With up to 20 active productions at a time, we have a lot on our plate at once. Do the actors manage to record the estimated in time? Are the projects prioritized correctly? etc. There is a lot to be coordinated to make the right episodes and to make sure that all deadlines are met.

A typical work day

When I get to work in the morning, I check if everything has gone as planned the evening before. Sometimes I estimate which tasks the actors are supposed to finish, but if e.g. a song has been overlooked in the manuscript, it takes longer time to record the whole session and they will need to come back to finish the recordings.

I also check for new manuscripts, look through all bookings to avoid mistakes, after which I go to meetings with the project managers and give a status on the tasks.

In a work day, that is characterized by a lot of talk on the phone, various meetings and administrative tasks, I really have to watch my steps for everything to come together. It is not always a bed of roses, but like so much else, it gives the coolest feeling when you reach the finish line.

I have not been here very long, but it is completely different from what I have previously done. I really like the job, it is fun, and my tasks are great and very different.

My tasks are often about television seasons. One season might be 20 episodes, where we need to submit 5 episodes at a time. There are often several tasks at the same time and sometimes with the same actors. I have to coordinate the actors’ schedule, so they do the right episodes and keep their deadlines.

When I come in in the morning, I check that everything has gone according to schedule the night before. I estimate what the actors can do during a session, but, for example, if there is a hidden song in the script, it takes longer to record and we have to book the actors again. I also check if new scripts have come in, go through all the bookings to catch any eventual mistakes, and then I meet with all the project managers to give them an update.

Future plans

Right now I am happy about where I am, but I do of course have ambitions to develop professionally. I can see myself continuing in this business, but I can also see myself doing something else.

My previous experience is based on very practical work compared to this job, which is more administrative. It gives me new skills across different fields.

What has Cphbusiness provided me with

I use what I learned in my AP degree to put things in perspective. I have learned theories to support the practice I gained from my time in the service industry. The degree has also given me a better idea of how things are connected and I understand the consequences of my decisions and actions better.

The alumni network

I am part of the alumni network’s Advisory Board. At the advisory board meetings, we go through the various alumni initiatives and give feedback. I have also participated in a couple of events to get some inspiration. I use Cphbusiness Alumni to network, and at the advisory board meetings we have a lot of fun and exchange ideas. When I was looking for a job, I also used the events to network more focused.

My advice for job seekers

Use your network. Use Cphbusiness Alumni’s many offers, such as the conference From Study to Career. Do not let yourself feel knocked down. Instead, use the feedback you get from job interviews constructively. Do not give up – you will get there. Sooner or later the right company will discover your talent.

Best regards,

Trine Simling
Alumna, Cphbusiness

*dubbing (or ‘voice acting’) means placing Danish voices on foreign productions.