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Attn: Former TV MCOs

K

Keith_Lake

Guest
The job of television master control operator is slowly becoming extinct. Much like radio disc jockeys of boygone days, their jobs have been replaced by automation, centralization and consolidation.

What's a good line of work for former MCO's to get into? And more to the point, how do you convince personnel people that you can do something other than TV technical operations? I contend the skills and experience I gathered during my 16+ years in the TV and radio trenches could be very easily transferred to another type of work, but I'm having the devil's own time convincing corporate HR people of that. I've had more than one HR drone tell me, "we're not a TV station" when it was plainly obvious I was more than qualified for the position I was applying for (computer skills, organizational skills, working under pressure, etc.). In the meantime, I can't get arrested while people who can barely write their own names are being hired all over the place.

Does anyone in straits (i.e., career obsolescence) have suggestions for job-hunting strategy modifications?

KL

<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/lastradio.html">The Last Radio Station<a>
 
Next application try a little creativity in job title. Chances are the station where you once worked has been sold between 2 and 10 times since you worked there and the HR records are a mess....if anyone can find them. Not lie, mind you, just make the title fit the aspect of the work that most closely lines up with the skills required in the job you're applying for. Tilt the description of what you did as well, omitting anything that points too sharply at TV.

Imagine a broadcast engineer trying to find work in manufacturing (is there any of that left in this country?). Forget about the transmitter; try something like "data systems administrator". Talk about maintaining multiple networks for scheduling (logs), accounting, control of complex electronic communications systems. Consider alluding to the intricacies of managing the technical aspects of the work of others (jocks) without direct authority. The required diplomacy, etc. DON'T tell 'em about having to whack some of them between the eyes with a well oil-soaked 2x4 just to get their damned attention!

Get the drift????

Oh yeah, don't forget the safety aspects like keeping incompetents from electrocuting themselves...anything with the safety buzz-word sells these days. Yeah, I know, above was engineering oriented but you can surely find parallels in master control operation. Especially maintaining rigid schedules and solving complex problems occasioned by failure of external systems and emergencies.


<P ID="signature">______________
It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them! (if any)
--Friedrich Nietzsch</P>
 
> Does anyone in straits (i.e., career obsolescence) have
> suggestions for job-hunting strategy modifications?

Haven't looked in other fields, but I jumped from MC to the Director's chair at my station. (I still have to run MC 2 nights a week, though since they're not hiring any new MCOs in anticipation of "central-casting", and I am the back-up if the person slated in MC is sick).

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
I can sure relate

> The job of television master control operator is slowly
> becoming extinct. Much like radio disc jockeys of boygone
> days, their jobs have been replaced by automation,
> centralization and consolidation.
>
> What's a good line of work for former MCO's to get into?
> And more to the point, how do you convince personnel people
> that you can do something other than TV technical
> operations? I contend the skills and experience I gathered
> during my 16+ years in the TV and radio trenches could be
> very easily transferred to another type of work, but I'm
> having the devil's own time convincing corporate HR people
> of that. I've had more than one HR drone tell me, "we're
> not a TV station" when it was plainly obvious I was more
> than qualified for the position I was applying for (computer
> skills, organizational skills, working under pressure,
> etc.). In the meantime, I can't get arrested while people
> who can barely write their own names are being hired all
> over the place.

> Does anyone in straits (i.e., career obsolescence) have
> suggestions for job-hunting strategy modifications?

My love of radio in college while studying for my BSEE got me
into the stream .... DJ'ing at first back when you could pick
your own music led like it has for many others to C.E. of AM's
and then a major market FM only to be lured away into the TV
engineering maintenance crew of a network affiliate where I served
10 hard years only to be downsized by the schmucks that run it
and to be further screwed by the government when a C.P. I was after got snatched
away by Clear Channel after I spent 10 years and all my money and more hours than I care to remember ... I found being self employed in the capacity of engineer/consultant to be very satisfying albeit a larger struggle to find an ongoing base of clients off which to make a living. I too have dinked with my
resume (as per Les' post) trying to get an interview ... it has been especially slow these last years (hint: Bush, GOP slime, all coming unraveled now in D.C.).
Patience, (dwindling)resource management, networking (go to the local shows and conventions, join a user group in an area where you feel confident of your knowledge) ... I've tried all of that ... even going back to class for a certificate in multimedia ... If you are in your 30's you still have a chance.
At 54, I have little confidence in the present economy and my love for radio is long gone.

Get out while you can still forge a career in a new direction. Broadcast is now just a commodity to be bought and sold by huge companies and operated in such a way as to minimize the need for technical savvy types.

Back where I worked TV, the maintenance staff has shrunk from 12 to 3 in the last 10 years. Radio C.E. positions in town have shrunk from 15 to about 6 as a result of ownership consolidation. Even the manufacturers rep. jobs have shrunk since there are less clients to service.

I hate to sound all doom and gloom, but if you had walked in my shoes you'd probably feel the same.

Good luck.

A.<P ID="signature">______________
Electricity is really just organized lightning.
~George Carlin</P>
 
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