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It's Your Future ... Stay In Charge
November 8, 2016
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Something's Wrong...Time To Leave
When you start to notice something strange is going on at work that might affect your future, don't get paranoid, but pay attention. Here is a situation an employee is going through.
Worker: The station owner has told us he only has working capital for three months and that we need investors.
Coach: What's the deal?
Worker: He's a great guy, used to be a sports agent in the '90s and that is all he talks about. In fact, he doesn't talk about anything he's done since then.
Coach: Strange, he doesn't talk about any work he did from 2000 through now. I am not getting a good feeling; something doesn't add up. There is a lot of money to be made as a sports agent; whatever he did wrong back then, he will probably repeat the pattern with this company.
Worker: Sam, I am his Executive Director and there are so many things not on paper or that I do not know. There are no policies or procedures in place and I am trying to fix that problem.
Coach: So, the owner doesn't leave himself or his employees in a defensible position? Listen to me, leverage your title and get out of there as quickly as possible. What kind of advice did the guy who had your job before you give?
Worker: He told me to take anything the owner said with a grain of salt.
Coach: And there it is, trust me, update your resume and get out of there while the company is still on its feet. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Leverage your position to get another job while your position and the company still exist. To a future employer, it will just look like you are simply moving your career forward.
Keep Your Resume Updated...
These days the first hurdle is to apply online; only a select few stations want you to use snail mail any more. I am always amazed at the number of resumes I see that need adjustments. Your resume should give information pertaining to radio and not every job you have ever had. If you are a beginner with only college on-air experience, it's okay to list non-radio jobs. However, if you are a seasoned veteran with an employment gap, it is not necessary to put any of it down; it will come up if you get to the interview. The point is to increase the possibilities for the potential employer to focus on your qualifications for the specific job.
Air Personalities ... Programming
On-air talent, make sure to list the digital automation systems you are familiar with; Prophet/NexGen, WideOrbit, Media Touch, Audio-Vault, etc. In addition, include your production audio editing software expertise; Cool Edit, Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, etc. For those with Programming or Music in their future, list the music scheduling systems you have worked on, RCS, MusicMaster, Powergold, Natural Music, etc.
Other Useful Skills:
- Social media abilities
- Website development/upkeep
- Power Point
- Excel or other spreadsheet programs
- Microsoft Word & Office
Set Your Goals...
When you work for someone, circumstances can change and you could find yourself in a situation similar like the in this column. Time is either our best friend or worst enemy. Radio is one of the few occupations which allow you to have the mentality of an independent contractor. Use that time to set goals and work towards them. Do it now and stay on top of the unexpected; make it your choice.
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