Getting You Foot In The Door

• Knock on every door, not just those of your favorite stations. You're trying to get into radio, not a particular type of radio.
  
  
• Be willing to accept part-time positions, or even an unpaid internship. When starting in the business you are looking for an opportunity, not necessarily a job.
  
  
• Don't stop with the Program Director. Promotion Directors, Sales Managers and News Directors need people too.
  
  
• Be persistent, but not pushy. Know the difference. If the station doesn't need you, move on to another place.
  
  
• Don't expect to get on the air immediately, unless (a) you are an exceptional talent, or (b) you are dealing with an impoverished station.

• Be prepared to relocate to a different area or a different region.
  
  
• Check the help wanted classifieds in the major trade publications and on the Internet. Be aware that the vast majority of openings are not going to be advertised.
  
  
• Timing and luck are critical. Being in the right place at the right time is a fact of life in radio.
  
  
• Don't expect a response when you send an unsolicited application. Large stations receive dozens each month. They receive hundreds when they advertise an opening.
  
  
• Your employment package says volumes about you:
  
  
  • Your presentation should be professional, not sloppy or overly glitzy.
    
    
  • Try to get attention, but don't be too cute. You're trying to sell the PD, not amuse them or demonstrate your stand-up routine.
    
    
  • Never send form letters. If it isn't personalized, don't even try.
    
    
  • Include a one-page, professionally printed resume which stresses accomplishments, not just experience.
    
    
  • Don't voluntarily stick your head in a noose. Tell the truth, but stress the fats that aid your cause.
    
    
  • Your aircheck should be tightly edited, extremely brief, and recorded on a quality cassette or on CD. You must impress the PD with your first break or they may not bother to listen to the next one.
    
    
• The purpose of your package is to get you an interview. No reputable station hires people from tapes alone. If the PD is interested, you'll get a call. If you don't get a response, make one follow-up call, but don't be a pest. From the response you get on that call you'll need to determine if there's a chance. If there is, call back again.
  
  
• If you do get a response, even if it's negative, send a hand-written thank you note to the PD. If you speak with the PD but they don't hire you, thank them for their time anyway. You'd be surprised how much some old fashioned courtesy can get you.

• Be yourself. They expect you to be nervous so don't worry about being Joe Cool.
  
  
• Make a conservative, businesslike appearance. Clothing should be well selected and without wrinkles or stains, rips or wear. Shoes don't necessarily need to be shined, but shouldn't be scuffed, and never wear sneakers or sandals. Hair should be neat and clean, clean fingernails, etc.
  
  
• Focus on the responsibilities of the position, not on the structure of the job (hours, duties, salary, benefits, vacations, etc.). There will be time for that after you have been offered the position or at the end of the interview.
  
  
• Pass the hunger test. Let them know you really want the job.
  
  
• Ask for the job point blank, "I want his job. Can I start working for you?"

• Learn from your mistakes. Don't make the same mistake twice.
  
  
• Committment is attached to sacrifice.
  
  
• The two kinds of people no station wants are: Doubters and Blamers
  
  
• Break through the "good enough" barrier. Your shows should never be "good enough."
  
  
• Aircheck yourself daily. review and celf critique. Take daily steps to get better. Willingly accept coaching and criticism from others. Ask your boss for help.
  
  
• Make deadlines for yourself and stick to them.
  
  
• Set goals for your career. Where do you want to be in six months, a year, five years?

• Expect to be fired at least once in your career, most likely through no fault of your own.
  
  
• Develop friends and contacts at other stations. Hopefully they will put in a good word for you when you need it the most and let you know of opportunities at stations they are in contact with.
  
  
• Don't make enemies. Never leave a job in anger. Radio is a small community and you're likely to encounter the same people more than once. The person you make fun of today may be the PD at a station you want to work at tomorrow.
  
  
• Learn as many skills as possible. Become an expert at production, personal appearances, copywriting. When times are tough, specialists are the first ones out the door. The more a person can do the more valuable they are to the company.
  
  
• Live within 85 or 90 percent of your income and make a habit of putting the other 10 or 15 percent in the bank. Be prepared to weather a period of unemployment.
  
  
• Be enthusiastic. For most jobs, enthusiasm is as important, if not more so, than talent.
  
  
• If you're not able to get along with people, forget about radio. This is a people business. No dogs, no robots, only people. If you can't get along with them, you'll have a very difficult time.

Hot Contemporary

"Grab 'em with the first thing you do. be sure the first thing they hear when they put your air check in is a killer. Certain things that would disqualify an announcer to me off the bat are if the voice is too faked, unnatural and oukey. I look for an ability to communicate. Listeners should be able to pick up your facial expression in your voice. I look for intelligence and good, vivid words, but not too much. My theory is, brevity is the soul of wit."

Oldies

"Voices and what they sound like are becoming less and less important than what you say. I look for a professional executor of a format, someone who can relate to the target demographic. Someone who, for example, reads the same magazines as our listeners, who can talk about things that interest them. Now, if we're talking about a morning show person, I'd look for someone with more personality, an off the wall act."

Country

"Basically, I'm looking for a clean job, good voice quality and how together it is. I'd base my judgement on the style, voice and how well it flows. An ideal air check would include intors and outros to four or five records, a PSA, weather report and a minute or two of news."

Smooth Jazz

"You should be yourself, strike a balance between polished and casual. Be brief, people want to hear the music more than they want to hear you talk. Depending on the format, you should know something about the music played on the station, and about the station itself."

Urban

"I look for voice, first of all. How well the voice flows, how smooth it is. How someone reads and attacks copy, how they project, is important. I also look for a personal touch. Do they talk with a smile?"

Classical

"The three P's: pronunciation, personality and presentation. A professional sound, a cheerful, honest personality. Here, we look for people who have a sound knowledge of the music and the musicians."

 
Commonly Asked Interview Questions and How To Answer Them

Tell me something about yourself.
Know your resume details and state them concisely.

Why do you want to work for us?
Do whatever research is possible ahead of time to be ready for this question. Explain that you are impressed with their policies, reputation, working conditions, physical plant -- whatever seems genuine and germane.

Why should I hire you?
Because you are uniquely qualified and your personal goals coincide with theirs. Explain what you can bring to the job.

Why did you leave your last job?
Tell the truth. Don't denigrate your past employer, co-workers or company.

Why are you thinking of leaving your present job?
Be honest, be brief, but be prepared. Internal politics, dead end, too much pressure, too little salary are all acceptable, understandable reasons.

What are your strengths?
Careful study of your resume in advance will prepare you for this question, plus help you document your reply. Does it reveal leadership? Ambition? Loyalty? Determination?

What are your weaknesses?
Nobody's perfect, but be easy on yourself. Don't be negative. You can turn this to your advantage by thinking it through ahead of time. For example, "I have a temper, but one of my strengths is that I have learned to control it and direct that energy toward positive change."

Where do you expect to be five or ten years from now?
This is a favorite. Think it through carefully and resist all temptations to make a flip response. "I want to have your job" can be a dangerous reply to an insecure person. Expecting promotions and salary increases commensurate with your productivity is good.

What is the minimum salary you would find acceptable?
Know the salary range of the job and inquire if this is in line with their scale. Stress job satisfaction and willingness to accept a starting figure you can generally live with. Negotiate as necessary.

When could you start working here?
If you're not working, immediately. If you are working, play fair with your present employer. Give two weeks notice if you work in a non-supervisory capacity; one month minimum if you hold a management or supervisory capacity.