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10 Questions with ... Gabe Salgado
January 5, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
After 14 years of working mainly part-time/freelance jobs and internships, it's time for me to take my career to the next level and get a full-time industry job.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
Knowing that all of my hard work will pay off once again as it did in the past. I've proven myself in many different forms of media and I have the experience and background to succeed in this industry.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Working a full-time job outside of the business to make ends meet.
3) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for a while. Tell us your observations from the outside.
Lately, I've been coming across people who leave the industry for other careers. The reasons vary from burnout, to cutbacks, or other personal reasons. For some people, working in media isn't as exciting as it used to be, but with that being said, I'm hopeful that this could open doors for me because I haven't given up and I'm still motivated to work in this business.
4) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Sometimes you need to humble yourself and work for free. Even with my experience, I still occasionally "intern" just to keep my skills sharp.
5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
All Access, journalismjobs.com, and individual station/network/parent company websites.
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
A full-time sports media position. I can host and produce Sports/Talk shows, I can anchor sports updates, I've covered games as a reporter, I've done some on-camera work, I've been featured on talk shows, and I'm a sports writer (newspapers, magazines, etc.).
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)
In all honestly, getting a response has been very difficult. I've either gotten interviews, but never found out whether or not I got the job, or I applied for a position only to get silence in return.
8) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?
I've seen lower. But I'd be willing to take an entry level salary to prove myself and showcase my abilities.
9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
Covering major sporting events. I've had the privilege of covering both professional and major college teams. It's helped me network and make connections within the business. It is also a humbling experience because only a chosen few get those kind of opportunities.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Be patient, be humble, and don't take anything for granted. No matter how small a job may seem, it may lead to bigger things if you apply yourself.
Bonus Questions
Seen any great movies?
Straight Outta Compton. If you're not a fan of Gangsta Rap, you should still check out the movie because if anything you'll learn some history about the music business.
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