Radio Jobs: Where to find them.

For every position that opens up in a radio or television broadcast station or network, the HR Department will receive anywhere from 50 to 100 resumes.  Jobs such as News Reporter, Disk Jockey, and Talk Show Producer are highly coveted and competition for those slots is keen. Landing one of these plum jobs requires talent, persistence, imagination and some luck.  Here follows some of the tricks, tips and ideas that will help you in your quest to join the ranks of broadcasting's elite.

Training:  Your career training can start as early as High School these days with media departments offering radio and television production classes.  Get involved early in your life and begin learning the skill sets that will qualify you to work in a broadcast station.  You will have to know how to operate technical equipment such as recorders, microphones, cameras and computers.  With your home PC you can begin learning the skills of audio and video production by purchasing low cost software to capture audio and video clips into an editing program.  Then begin practicing editing the clips into a cohesive piece that is technically and artistically free of
goofs, gaffs, and glitches.  Almost everyone has access to a video camera these days.  You can practice with your home video camera speaking and appearing on camera (indeed, many of these make broadcast quality pictures) .  Even if you want to work behind the scenes, the on-camera training will give you a feeling about how to coach talent.  You may want to start your career as a radio personality, but some day in the future, the skills of director and producer will be necessary for you to advance beyond the microphone and control room.  Many churches have audio/visual departments where you can volunteer to crew the broadcasting of church services.  Developing good relationships with the department heads at an early age with get you a recommendation that will help you land your first paying job.  Take classes in high school that will help you
develop a personality.  These could be Dramatics, Speech and Forensic Debate.  Many High Schools and
Colleges now offer classes in Video Presentation where you can practice appearing and speaking on
camera.   Your skill set should also include the study of current events.  Watch the news programs (a
variety of all types is best) to pick up the threads of history that are being woven daily.   This is especially helpful if you intend to go into radio news.

For your first efforts, begin producing content.  Today, it is easy to create your own productions and then publish them on the the web on sites such as Facebook and Youtube.  Along with the study of  video and audio production, you should undertake the study of Website Construction.  The web is full of free tools (including the one you are viewing now) to display your creative skills.  Blogging is writing and posting of articles, videos and sound clips.  The subject matter can be just about anything.

Use of a service to search for radio and TV jobs will help you quickly find stations, networks, and production companies that are seeking employers.  Some of these services allow you to post your demo reel and resume so that it is easy to get your audition in front of hiring managers.  For pennies a day you can send your resume and demo to hundreds of HR Managers and News Directors who are seeking qualified talent to fill their ranks.