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I'm looking for a full time position

First off I have been part-time my entire 22 years in radio which includes the stations I am at now. I'm not trying to get back in the industry as I am working in it now part-time. Yes I was passed over for I know of two possible promotions in the 4 years where I am at now. Both times I know I could have done the job even the persons that were in those postitions said I could do the job, but was overlooked, for that matter I don't think I was even considered or even asked if I'd be interested in the positions. It was "assumed" that I couldn't do the job or "we had to do what we had to do in a quick fashon to fill the positions". I would have been the perfect choice as I was already working there and they didn't have to train someone else on their procedures.

Yes all my experience has been at an entry level because that is where management has kept me even though I have worked hard and tried to show I have more skills than the basics. Personally I think sometimes it is because I have a vision problem and they "think" I can't do the job or they have a phobia against blind people or something. Yes I know radio is not the place to find work these days and is one of the reasons I took the job at Wal-Mart, but I defiantely do not want to work in the dairy cooler the rest of my life which is whre I am at now. I have talked with management there about me going to electronics and I keep getting a "run around" if you will and not a real direct answer. Yes the benefits are good, but health and peace of mind is more important than benefits. I love radio and I want it to be my career, but I think I'll have to give it up. Maybe I'll go start me a part 15 AM or even an internet station then I can do what I love and forget about working in real radio. I guess I can accept being a Wal-Mart employee. Obviously I don't HAVE talent and moving is more difficult when you can't drive so I'll have to stay where I am and live with it. Again, thanks to all.
 
Hey Double J, I believe I can speak for all of us by saying you've received more than your share of bum raps.
Reality bites! All part of the process of this thing we call life.

You sound like a great guy with a love of the business. If you love the part time, stick with it.
Be proud of who you are and don't be afraid to let the people in charge know you are capable of doing anything.

Best of luck!!
 
12 In a Row said:
Hey Double J, I believe I can speak for all of us by saying you've received more than your share of bum raps.
Reality bites! All part of the process of this thing we call life.

You sound like a great guy with a love of the business. If you love the part time, stick with it.
Be proud of who you are and don't be afraid to let the people in charge know you are capable of doing anything.

Best of luck!!
Click to expand...

That I have and yep reality bites for sure like a Great White Shark! Yeah I do love the part-time, but of course want to move on up to more and feel that it is time to do so. Who wouldn't. I try every opportuinty I can to let others know that I CAN DO SOMETHING. But unfortunately not only are my hands tied, but it seems management's are too. Again I do thank you all for the critique. And you know something interesting? I posted the same resume on an engineering board and I got quite a different response. I did get one possible offer, but on investigation I wasn't qualifed for the position and the other members "hijacked" the thread talking about other stuff. I have to hand it to all of you that you handled the post as I had thought with the exception of possible offers as I got on the engineering board (which I was hoping). Not one there critiqued the resume as you guys have. I thought that was interesting and I thank you.
 
John, first of all, good luck in your job search. If I can be of an assistance, please let me know. I won't belabor the point, there is plenty of good advice to be had in this thread. Used to be that a program director that called the shots would be the one looking at your resume'. It was a given that the program director knew exactly what he/she was looking for because he or she was a career broadcaster. With the advent of deregulation and the way that changed, part and parcel, the industry of radio from top to bottom, things are terribly different. Now, you have radio chains that are owned by corporate entities that own several different properties in several different industries. Now the position referred to as the PD is filled, in large part, by homers who are just doing what the consultants tell them to do. Sure, a PD will feel important opening the job app and its accompanying resume'. And, yes, he or she will catch a boner or get moist because they get to do "PD" things like fax the resume to the consultant, give the applicant a callback to say they received the app(assuming they call at all) and will "be in touch". However, that kind of PD is incapable of knowing what is needed because they don't have the "vision" or the latitude to "act" that allows them to see the "big picture" and get things done...they're relegated to being glorified "step-and-fetch-its" that basically do the "busy work" for the consultant or the regional programmer.

Having said that, I will say that there are a few out there who still get up in the morning ready to kick the world's ass, as far as radio programming is concerned. They are the ones you want to work for...and those are the ones who know what they're looking for.

Now, as far as resumes are concerned, I don't have too much to add to what has been laid out already for you here in this thread. Everyone has given great advice, and WMC is especially on target about a lot of stuff. One thing that resonates with me is that whoever it is that is going to receive and interpret your resume does NOT have time to read "War & Peace". Unless you are applying for a management position, I would keep the resume to no longer than a page. I would keep it broadcast oriented for radio jobs, retail oriented for retail jobs and sales oriented for sales jobs, etc. Only go off the board for stuff that should reinforce those qualities or advantages or experience that a prospective employer would be looking for. To give a simple example(far too simple, to be honest), you wouldn't want to say that you gathered chicken eggs at 4am every morning for 5 years if you wanted to get a job as a morning personality. However, you could use that in a creative way to illustrate that you have no problem working long, thankless early morning hours if you're angling for a morning show.

Another thing(and this is a pet peeve of mine), never, I mean, NEVER, EVER say "references available upon request"!!!!!!! That bears repeating: NEVER, EVER SAY "REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST"!!!!!!! If you aren't ready to blow your entire wad on each job application, then you don't need to be applying at all. I never understood why someone wouldn't send their references with the job app and resume to begin with. It-just-does-not-make-sense-at-all. Why make a prospective employer wait? That's like waiting out in the lobby for an interview and when you get paged to the PDs office for your interview, you tell him, "Hey, um, I could go out to my car and put my tie on for the interview if you want...whattaya say?"

Now, a bit about creativity. Over the years I've seen, heard and received many creative applicant packages(I've even been known to send a few). I've heard of applicants sending a newspaper and a quarter for coffee so the PD could read the newspaper and have a cup of joe while listening to the applicants aircheck(lame). I've heard of applicants sending a Playboy or, um, other adult oriented magazines for the PD to peruse while listening(slightly less lame...might also be a deal break if the PD or HR rep is a female or if the PD is a Sunday go-to-meeting Bible Thumper). The best one I ever heard or saw was sent by a friend of mine that I used to work with at 955 the Beat in Atlanta. He currently works in Philly and is the host of the Sunday night "Open House Party". His name is Kannon and one time he put together a package of glittery confetti, two plastic champagne glasses, noisemakers and a bottle of Korbel...oh yeah, he included a paper copy of his resume, his aircheck CD and a DVD of some of his appearances in town. It was an AWESOME package, but he had it all thought out and tailored to what the position entailed. It was a high profile job that involved a lot of personal appearances, so that's the big reason why he included the DVD, it also gave the employer an idea of what he looked like and how he commanded an audience. It stood out, for sure. Just be careful what you do and how you do it. When in doubt, just send the tape or CD, the resume, references and, if you're applying for a PD job, a programming philosophy.

Again, good luck on your job search and email me if I can help. [email protected]. I have always been an advocate for DJs, MDs and PDs.

One final nugget or observation...(and I'm not being critical, dude. I love the posters on this site and the South Carolina site because they are true students of radio), if you're a parttimer and you've been passed over for a fulltime position at your current station, then the possibility is very real that whoever is doing the hiring has gotten used to you as a parttimer and nothing else. You need to get a fulltime job somewhere and reinvent yourself. Then, one day, I promise you, the people that once passed you over will not only want to kiss your ass, you can let them. ;)
 
John, there are some great tips on here...in fact, I've taken some to heart and trimmed down my resume. (hey, you never know these days)

Anyway, I'll keep you in my prayers...you're talented, and I wish someone would recognize it. In fact, I think you may be better suited for the engineering end of things...not to say you aren't talented on air, but I wish I had the technical knowledge you have.
 
and lets remember...any pd, md, om, owner, ect worth his salt that is lookin for an air talent is more concerned more with your air check then how you bs the 'greatness of you' on a resume or whats on your myspace page.

again this only applies if your a talent. if your going behind the scenes, listen to the advice given because there has been alot of good stuff here.


best of luck homie!!!
 
mjcarter1981 said:
John, there are some great tips on here...in fact, I've taken some to heart and trimmed down my resume. (hey, you never know these days)

Anyway, I'll keep you in my prayers...you're talented, and I wish someone would recognize it. In fact, I think you may be better suited for the engineering end of things...not to say you aren't talented on air, but I wish I had the technical knowledge you have.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments and prayers Mike. I wish I had the on-air talent to really be good not just OK. But then again I haven't done much on-air work to hone those skills as good as the engineering side. When I first started 22 years ago at WEED I did it live on Saturday/Sundays and that was it. Now it's one day a week voice tracked. If I had at some point done it 5 days a week for several years then I would be even better than I am. You are one of my radio heroes because you are so good. Again thanks!

I will start on the re-write of the resume this week for sure. I will definately use all the wonderful advise that all has given me. And yes at some point there would be an aircheck sent with all the other items. Now to find that one good aircheck...
 
John--

Please let me share a couple of thoughts that may be useful.

1. There's nothing wrong with your resume. It is fine the way it is. I've been hiring people in radio for 40 years and I'll attest that your resume is much better than most I've seen.

2. I disagree with ssummers about "NEVER, EVER say "references upon request!!!!!!!!" That's nonsense. I've always used "excellent references upon request" on the resume and I've worked continuously in this biz for almost a half-century in capacities ranging from jock to salesperson to PD to sales manager to GM and owner. Frankly, it is a courtesy to those people who serve as your references, so that they don't get bothered by people who aren't serious about hiring you. It is, however, always a great idea to let your references know when you are searching for a new job and to confirm that they'll be glad to say good things about you.

3. Have you talked directly to the GM at the stations in Rocky Mount about your desire to work there full time? You mentioned being "passed over" and feeling that they "assumed" you couldn't do the job, but it wasn't clear whether you had actively pursued fulltime employment there or whether you were passively waiting for it to just drop in your lap (which never happens--to anyone). If you haven't spoken directly to the GM about this, go ahead and do it now. Even if there are no immediate opportunities for you there, he may know of other opportunities. Make him an ally in your search.

4. You mention your sight limitations, but you didn't provide a complete explanation. If this disability limits your job search to the immediate Rocky Mount area, you may actually be in the best situation for yourself right now. If that is the case, talk to the GM there about possibly expanding your duties and hours. Think about how you can be of even greater value to those stations, and see if you can grow it into a fulltime gig, little by little.
 
redneckriviera said:
John--


2. I disagree with ssummers about "NEVER, EVER say "references upon request!!!!!!!!" That's nonsense. I've always used "excellent references upon request" on the resume and I've worked continuously in this biz for almost a half-century in capacities ranging from jock to salesperson to PD to sales manager to GM and owner. Frankly, it is a courtesy to those people who serve as your references, so that they don't get bothered by people who aren't serious about hiring you. It is, however, always a great idea to let your references know when you are searching for a new job and to confirm that they'll be glad to say good things about you.
Click to expand...

We have a difference of opinion, but my point is most assuredly not nonsense. I am speaking as an employer, and as such, have not only been put off by potential employees not including references, but have seen program directors too numerous to mention(small to major markets) toss packages in the trash that had that little caveat "References available upon request". Any "employee to be" that has references should have already checked with each reference to ensure their permission and to give them a heads up. There is no good reason NOT to include references in the initial package...unless you don't have any. I'm glad you were one of the lucky ones who used that phrase and got hired anyway. Maybe your aircheck overcame that little misgiving, maybe it was something else, but the days of "References upon request" are more or less over in this day and age of immediacy. You only have a small window of time to grab the attention of the employer, so you have to make the most of the initial contact that you have or you're going to lose a step on someone else who doesn't make the employer wait. While I respect your opinion, I respectfully disagree with it. Frankly, I feel you do a grave disservice to potential employees everywhere by giving that advice. I'll reiterate, if you aren't prepared to give it your all to begin with, you shouldn't be applying in the first place.
 
You know, after thinking about the subject of "References available upon request", I was discussing it with a very good friend of mine who is a station owner. He brought up a scenario that could be an/the exception to the "never say: references available upon request" issue. I can certainly understand a situation when you are currently employed and don't want your employer to know that you are looking for a job. Sending a list of references from the "git-go" might increase the chances of someone not using discretion who knows your current boss. In that case, the chances of your current boss finding out(before you are ready for him to know) would be increased. However, having said that, John, with your first post on this thread you already served kind of a quasi notice that you're looking for other opportunities, so the exception to the "References available upon request" rule is moot. Hope you guys don't mind, but I've asked my friend to weigh in on the job application discussion here when he gets the chance.
 
"references upon request" - what if your resume sits on file for 6 months, then a prospective employer decides to make rounds on the phone? numbers can change. its not fair to the people that have given you the ok to use them as a reference 6 months ago to get pop phone calls 6 months later either.

What if somebody is sending out a group of resumes? I dont want 10 different offices having my number. If and when an employer gets to that point in the hiring process, then give the prospective hire a buzz and say 'hey I need some references'.

Have heard stories of PDs/MDs on the way out their door using #s on resumes to make calls and try and get contacts at other companies, in other markets, ect...

Also at that time, who is to say the reference isnt on vacation someplace and you may need to give them a different number?

I would only put 'available upon request' as a courtesy to the people I am using as a reference for the above reasons.
 
hamNcheese said:
"references upon request" - what if your resume sits on file for 6 months, then a prospective employer decides to make rounds on the phone? numbers can change. its not fair to the people that have given you the ok to use them as a reference 6 months ago to get pop phone calls 6 months later either.

What if somebody is sending out a group of resumes? I dont want 10 different offices having my number. If and when an employer gets to that point in the hiring process, then give the prospective hire a buzz and say 'hey I need some references'.

Have heard stories of PDs/MDs on the way out their door using #s on resumes to make calls and try and get contacts at other companies, in other markets, ect...

Also at that time, who is to say the reference isnt on vacation someplace and you may need to give them a different number?

I would only put 'available upon request' as a courtesy to the people I am using as a reference for the above reasons.
Click to expand...

Trust me, if a PD does file a package for possible use in the future(happens a lot less than you think), then it doesn't matter when you send the references because, if they're going to be misused, then they can be misused anytime.
 
Ssummers said:
hamNcheese said:
"references upon request" - what if your resume sits on file for 6 months, then a prospective employer decides to make rounds on the phone? numbers can change. its not fair to the people that have given you the ok to use them as a reference 6 months ago to get pop phone calls 6 months later either.

What if somebody is sending out a group of resumes? I dont want 10 different offices having my number. If and when an employer gets to that point in the hiring process, then give the prospective hire a buzz and say 'hey I need some references'.

Have heard stories of PDs/MDs on the way out their door using #s on resumes to make calls and try and get contacts at other companies, in other markets, ect...

Also at that time, who is to say the reference isnt on vacation someplace and you may need to give them a different number?

I would only put 'available upon request' as a courtesy to the people I am using as a reference for the above reasons.
Click to expand...

Trust me, if a PD does file a package for possible use in the future(happens a lot less than you think), then it doesn't matter when you send the references because, if they're going to be misused, then they can be misused anytime.
Click to expand...


regardless...I would never just list references on a resume out of respect for the peoples names that I would use. those are just a few examples. even then, hiring process could take a few weeks, somebody goes on vacation. has a week of big meetings. changes companies, numbers, ect...there are a multitude of reasons.

when somebody is ready to make calls on references, let the prospective employee know then. they can then call their references, make sure they are in town and available and that they will be getting a call over the next couple days. That is respecting the people I already know...not leaving an open ended 'you may get a call sometime over the next few weeks about a job reference.' Some references appreciate that. Its not just about misuse of #s.

besides, if the potential hire is that high on your list, you wouldnt hire them because they prefer to keep their references in hand until you are ready for them? of course not!
 
redneckriviera said:
1. There's nothing wrong with your resume. It is fine the way it is. I've been hiring people in radio for 40 years and I'll attest that your resume is much better than most I've seen.

2. I disagree with ssummers about "NEVER, EVER say "references upon request!!!!!!!!" That's nonsense. I've always used "excellent references upon request" on the resume and I've worked continuously in this biz for almost a half-century in capacities ranging from jock to salesperson to PD to sales manager to GM and owner.
Click to expand...

RNR and I come from a common background and history!

If you are sending a one-of-a-kind resume to one particular station, then worry about what THAT READER expects to see in a resume. Ask someone who works or used to work for him/her.

Let me put on my Story Tellers Hat and relate an example of how we cannot second guess what a prospective employer expects in a resume, or IN AN INTERVIEW.

I was in my late 40's a finishing up a degree. In a race with my own children to see who would finish first. I was down to electives so I took a Psychology Course on H.R. issues. It was an evening class and most students were in my age range. There was one young lady about 25 years old. She had a "Suzy Secretary" style about her and she had a full-time day-job as H.R. director of a small light industrial company. One night during discussion time she shared with us that: "If a potential employee does not ask about salary and benefits in the initial interview, I remove them from the stack. If they are not aggressive enough to ask, they will not be aggressive, industrious employees."

I was the first one in the room to come back with: "But you don't understand. We have all come through years of training and reading books that told us to NEVER ASK on a first interview. If the employers is ready to talk, they will bring it up. If you ask, the employer will assume you are only interested in the money and benefits, and that you have not interest in doing the job itself. You are throwing away apps from some great applicants because they were taught to play by a different set of rules than yours."

Everybody else in the room piled on. I can assure you that the next day she began a whole new process in HER H.R. Department.

Maybe some of you who have been so adamant about what was wrong with Double J's resume need to take a night course and find out what is common policy in resumes today. I have a feeling the policy today is: "There IS NO POLICY... you are on your own. Lot's of luck."
 
hamNcheese said:
regardless...I would never just list references on a resume out of respect for the peoples names that I would use. those are just a few examples. even then, hiring process could take a few weeks, somebody goes on vacation. has a week of big meetings. changes companies, numbers, ect...there are a multitude of reasons.

when somebody is ready to make calls on references, let the prospective employee know then. they can then call their references, make sure they are in town and available and that they will be getting a call over the next couple days. That is respecting the people I already know...not leaving an open ended 'you may get a call sometime over the next few weeks about a job reference.' Some references appreciate that. Its not just about misuse of #s.

besides, if the potential hire is that high on your list, you wouldnt hire them because they prefer to keep their references in hand until you are ready for them? of course not!
Click to expand...

I see what you're saying, but I have to mostly disagree. Here's why: The object of an employee application package(i.e. tape/CD and resume') is to not only introduce the employee candidate to the prospective employer, it is also an opportunity to create urgency and get the prospective employer excited about the respective employee candidate. If your resume and tape excites the potential employer, then they will want to move as fast as possible...no matter how many steps are in the hiring process. Waiting for references slows the process down. Why make them wait? And as far as the actual people who are on the reference list is concerned, even tho I call each of them prior to sending out employment app packages(and recommend that others do it, too), actually, the courtesy has already been extended (hopefully) to the reference when they agreed to be a reference in the first place.

Here's another way of looking at it. Not many employers will call to acknowledge a candidate's package. It is a source of no small amount of frustration on the part of potential employees everywhere. While someone is sitting on their reference list, waiting for the employer to call and set the wheels in motion, what if that employer is already going thru his/her stack of packages and calling the references contained in the packages that he/she has received(happens far more than it doesn't happen). Meanwhile, the prospective employee, sitting patiently by the phone, keeps waiting...and waiting......and waiting...until he reads in R&R that the position has been filled(again, sadly it happens far more often than it doesn't). Hey, I'm not knocking courtesy, I'm all for it. If employers would call prospective employees back in the first place, things would be a lot better. But it's your (or whoever's)career, so, do you want to sit there unemployed, smug in your knowledge that you did every courtesy oriented thing possible while the employer hires someone who sent their references with their package in the first place, or do you want to be calling your references after you've been hired, thanking them for the glowing recommendation. I'll take the latter over the former every time...so will the majority of potential employees.
 
redneckriviera said:
John--

Please let me share a couple of thoughts that may be useful.

1. There's nothing wrong with your resume. It is fine the way it is. I've been hiring people in radio for 40 years and I'll attest that your resume is much better than most I've seen.

2. I disagree with ssummers about "NEVER, EVER say "references upon request!!!!!!!!" That's nonsense. I've always used "excellent references upon request" on the resume and I've worked continuously in this biz for almost a half-century in capacities ranging from jock to salesperson to PD to sales manager to GM and owner. Frankly, it is a courtesy to those people who serve as your references, so that they don't get bothered by people who aren't serious about hiring you. It is, however, always a great idea to let your references know when you are searching for a new job and to confirm that they'll be glad to say good things about you.

3. Have you talked directly to the GM at the stations in Rocky Mount about your desire to work there full time? You mentioned being "passed over" and feeling that they "assumed" you couldn't do the job, but it wasn't clear whether you had actively pursued fulltime employment there or whether you were passively waiting for it to just drop in your lap (which never happens--to anyone). If you haven't spoken directly to the GM about this, go ahead and do it now. Even if there are no immediate opportunities for you there, he may know of other opportunities. Make him an ally in your search.

4. You mention your sight limitations, but you didn't provide a complete explanation. If this disability limits your job search to the immediate Rocky Mount area, you may actually be in the best situation for yourself right now. If that is the case, talk to the GM there about possibly expanding your duties and hours. Think about how you can be of even greater value to those stations, and see if you can grow it into a fulltime gig, little by little.
Click to expand...

On # 3 above, I have spoken with my immediate supervisor (PD/OM) about me going full-time and he has inturn told me basically there is nothing available and porbably won't for the forseeable future. So yes I have actively pursued full-time employment where I am at now. The PD/OM I have worked with for 11 years now and he knows of my desire to be full-time. I have not talked with the GM, but know that when my immediate supervisor says what he says then more than likely the GM will say the same thing since they talk rather frequently together. I have not tried with other stations within the company in other cities/states.

On #4 above, here's a brief overview, when I was born I had cateracts in both eyes. I could not see at birth. I have had operations to somewhat fix the cateracts, but am considered by the state of NC to be leagally blind. I can see well enoigh to get around but not well enough to drive a car or any vehicle. I also have a stigmatizim where my eyes constantly dance thsi causes mw to take a little longer than normal to focus on things. I generally have no trouble seeing with my work at the station or Wal-Mart. With glasses I am 20/70 in the left eye and 20/100 in the right without them I am 10/100 in both (blind). This is from where my mom had Rubella (or German Measles) when I was a developing fetus. Not only was I blind at birth but also had two holes in my heart. This limits what I physically can do even though the holes have been fixed. I could not do physical ed in school. So with the eye problem I am limited to alternative means of transportation i.e cab, bus, friends, parents etc. for transportation. At 41 1/2 I think I do pretty good at whatever it is I do given the mimitations I have in my life. On top of this I am a type 1 diabetic. This occured when I was 25 and I know that one day the limitations of this disease will start to take affect on me. I hope that clarifies some things.
 
Double J you are a rockstar. Workin' hard, holdin' down a couple jobs. Being a true hustler. I hope when all is said and done Im half the hard workin' guy you are.

God bless ya in everything you do man.
 
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