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Living In The Moment & The Moments Ahead …
September 8, 2020
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Radio is a specialized field and many air personalities have been at the crossroads in their career on more than one occasion. I believe there is such a thing as a “survival gene.” Some have it and some don’t. A few seem to always land on their feet regardless of circumstances. You can call it a blessing, luck, or divine guidance from above or below. Lady luck is assisting this out-of-work air personality.
Coach: How’s the job hunting?
Air Talent: It's going. A lot of board op openings, a few part-time weekend possibilities, but finding full-time has been a no-go. I’ve been doing some teaching at a local college. But I’ve got good news, my wife just got a promotion with her job and we are moving. Plus her company is going to pay for the move.
Coach: Do you know anyone where you guys are moving to?
Air Talent: Not at all, what do you think, should I start calling programmers before I get there?
Coach: No, wait until you've moved and get settled in. Then start the process of applying online and connecting with OMs and PDs on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And check with industry friends to see if they know anyone programming or on the air there.
Air Talent: Okay, I can do that. What else can I do?
Coach: You said you have been teaching. I suggest once you get there to offer yourself as a guest speaker at colleges and universities in the communications or broadcast departments. You might catch on to a teaching opportunity or even better, a lot of times stations post openings on the bulletin boards in those departments.
Air Talent: Huh, I did not know that, but it makes sense to post in those departments.
Coach: Up until now, how has your career been?
Air Talent: Pretty good, I got laid off about a year-and-a-half ago. Up until then I had steady work in radio for over 17 years. Money-wise I did okay. Along with my wife's job, we’ve done pretty good. We don't have kids. I have my teaching certificate and was able to find some substitute work through a friend in the school system here.
Coach: Good move. Even when you find a full-time job where you are going, put your certificate to use and continue to teach, even if it's a community college or adult education evening classes. Unless there's a conflict of some sort, treat your full-time on-air gig like a part-time job.
Something else, I don't know if yours is the case, but I have had friends and clients with distinguished careers who couldn't get past the first interview. A couple of years ago an industry friend told me about an interview that was more like a hero worship session.
The PD acted like a groupie asking what it was like to work for this or that person or how was it working at that radio station. My friend never got a second interview. While he and I were discussing it on the phone, I had a moment of clarity. It dawned on me that the PD was intimidated and thought he could not afford my friend.
Air Talent: What was your advice?
Coach: I told my friend to make it clear in all his upcoming written inquires or interviews that his financial needs were in line with the current industry salary standards. In other words, make sure your future employer knows you are affordable. I am not saying sell yourself cheap but put the potential employer in the best position to offer you the opportunity to say yes or no to a job.
Air Talent: Sometimes I forget what an insecure business this is. I bet I have missed out on some jobs because of that same reason. Oh, before I forget, I need to tell you that I’m also open to anything radio related including some of these streaming stations or services. I could do those from where we’re moving to.
Coach: You strike me as patient, grounded, and realistic. With your attitude and your wife as your support system, I think you will land or create an opportunity of some sort.
Air Talent: Thanks, my wife and I work as a team. It’s has never been about who works where or who makes more money.
Eyes Wide Open …
Working in radio and audio media is a revolving door, some of us revolve more than others. When it comes to your career in the radio business, you must think “in the moment” and about the moments ahead. Resist becoming negative and keep your eyes open to the possibilities of how and where you might fit in. It’s all in how you look at things. -
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