At what point do you say no to a CC job offer?

[troone]

I know - contradiction in terms.

But, has anyone heard of local situations where a salesman, jock, or any other jobhunter has said to Clear Channel, "Hey, I appreciate the offer, but I just dont think I want to work for your company. Yes, I need work, but I can't uproot into a situation where my stability is that of a 2nd lieutenant in Da Nang."

Did Cletus or Paul Koffee (sp?) or the GST people really think this was going to work out? Did they need it that bad? Do Randy Cook, Art Mehring, Giant Brian or the salespeople at the Braves Radio Network ever buy a car or take a nice vacation knowing that they'll need every dime in 13 months? I really feel for those people, but when will ther be pushback on this?

I know Cox cant be excused from this either, but with them at least there's a chance you're a station that's doing well.

 

[Richard Kimball]

Any broadcast professional with a modicum of pride enters the arena thinking he/she can make a difference, regardless whether it's Clear Channel or somewhere else. I'm sure that's true of the people you mentioned, and until the intentions of the new CC management were made clear, there may have been some reason for that optimism. Now? Not so much. There have always been certain companies or individuals that many of us have tried to avoid. There are also many of us who enjoy a challenge, even if the odds are long. Given the hiring freeze, there won't be too many situations in the near term for prospective employees to turn CC down, but I'm certain there will be plenty of individuals who just won't bother to apply. There will also be individuals, in the current economy, who will consider themselves lucky to find a job no matter where it is. When the family is counting on you to put food on the table, you can't always afford too high a degree of self righteousness.

 

[fussbudget]

As soon as its offered? There is better job stability as a Wal-Mart greeter.

 

[lipripper]

With the constant shrinking/shortage of jobs in radio right now, you take the gig, make as much money as you can (stow it away) and accept the fact that it is only short term.
Unfortunately, it's what "The Beast" has become.
Until that "college kid" comes out with the new format of being live, local and entertaining, I don't believe we will see any real talent developing on the air. Someone said it best..we'll have nothing more than "gate-keepers."
Don't look for people getting into a station now days and spending 20+ years there. Those days are long gone.

 

[bnaivar]

"What?....and give up show business?" :

 

[RhubarbFan]

I would accept a job offer from CC,even it's for 13 months,if it pads the resume' to get me some more experience that will help me get a job with someone else then yes.

 

[its time w (your name)]

Already turned down one. One from another major operator too.

I dont voicetrack. I dont read cards. (only) I'm not interested in moving for a radio gig.

I dont "need to be on the radio" that badly.

Surprise! I am working and happy.

You dont need to be on the radio that badly either. Cut the cord.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Already turned down one. One from another major operator too.

I dont voicetrack. I dont read cards. (only) I'm not interested in moving for a radio gig.

I dont "need to be on the radio" that badly.

Surprise! I am working and happy.

You dont need to be on the radio that badly either. Cut the cord.

In my case, I was out of work (IT Field) talked to some friends at the CC stations where I live and they said I could get some part-time. I thought what the heck, part time is better than nothing.... I was all set until they brought out the non-compete (6 months) . For part-time, no hours specified? You can forget that!

Went to CBS, did voicetracks (not bad), read liners (only) (hated that part). Did some live shows too. That was the worst, computer did everything, I sat there totally bored. In 1 hour I had 90 seconds of content, mostly liners and weather, no joy. So after waiting around for the format to loosen up a little (it never did), I decided to leave....bye!

I agree, cut the cord, look elsewhere.

 

[jennyG]

Since I have major market experience and the demos to prove it.."padding the resume" is not important. I would not move for a radio gig.. those days are over.. and no way would I ever move for a CC job way way to unstable. However if I was offered a gig in Atl (not that I am even looking) I might take it, but no way would I even consider uprooting my family for that company. I moved to ATL for a CC job worked for them for 2 years and got "laid off due to budget cuts" Yeah I would work for them ... just so long as it works for me.

 

[bgwilde1]

I have a good friend who turned down the opportunity to program 'GST.

He was at another station and was told basically to make the move there or he would have no position. Given his situation at the time, he had no plans to move to program 'GST, and is now on the beach working on a new careeer outside of radio.

If you are early in your career, CC might not be a bad place to make your chops. If you have some time in the biz, their prior history gives one pause when considering them as an employer of choice.

CC thinks that because they "are" radio, people will always want to work for them. I know of some who will never let their lives be darkened by the CC stain on their resume, others who wished they never took an offer from them, and others who do not care about their rep and will work for $7/hour just to gather a little experience.

 

[trig]

Does anyone know anyone anymore that says, "I prefer to work for Clear Channel as my first choice." Very rare I am sure, unless it's a format they really have a passion for and prefer that alignment.

If your not a company good people want to work for, that company will not get the better pick of the litter, therefore sending the stronger people to your competition. This problem snowballed Clear Channel while the Mays took a blind eye for short term results.

The old saying "it's not the company, its the management your working for," went out the window once Clear Channel started blowing through managers as frequently as people change their underwear. Unfortunately many companies are following right behind Clear Channel's mistakes sending the best quality hires across the street, even if it's is for less money.

Note to the bean counters, People want and deserve stability in their working lives.

 

[gr8oldies]

If you want stability, radio has NEVER been the place.

 

[troone]

What gets me is that the axe men dont even pretend to be remorseful about it anymore. The line in the story is always, "We have to do this to stay competitive." You don't even get the "This is extremely painful...hardest thing we've ever done, etc" disclaimer. Sympathy, apparently, is for wimps.

Cox makes millions of dollars in profit every year and then they balk at having to touch the principal after 75 straight profitable years? Or Clear Channel after 25-30 years?

I own several media businesses with their respective staffs and I can tell you point-blank that a full-time staffer would never be laid off until I was at my last dollar. I've been socking it away for a while so that when a recession comes along, the staff and I can keep swimming.

I mean, Home Depot? You're kidding me!

 

[trig]

If you want stability, radio has NEVER been the place.

Maybe true if you are an on-air personality... but for those who aren't, have you ever worked outside of Atlanta in radio? I encourage everyone who hasn't to consider it before judging the overall radio industry that way.

 

[gr8oldies]

I've never worked in Atlanta. I've worked many other places, most of them Mom and Pops. Many were revolving doors. I've had my share of layoffs and firings for reasons unrelated to performance, once with a 7-months-pregnant wife when we had moved 300 miles to take the job a few short months ago. So if anyone is thinking that radio in the good old days was like working at General Motors in 1970, it wasn't.