Radio Job Fair....What a joke!

[Mark_Giardina]

I was listening to the radio on my way home Friday and heard an announcer talk about an upcoming radio job fair. The theme was “How would you like a job as a radio announcer, producer and other exciting careers in radio?"

Those of us who are, or have been in the business know this is nothing but a sham.

What jobs? More and more stations are going the route of automation and syndication. We also know this is nothing but a ruse to get people to submit applications just so that these radio stations can show the feds they are making a concerted effort to recruit more talent.

Instead of calling it a "Job Fair" call it what it really is; a resume drop off event.

 

[dampier]

What jobs? More and more stations are going the route of automation and syndication. We also know this is nothing but a ruse to get people to submit applications just so that these radio stations can show the feds they are making a concerted effort to recruit more talent.

Or in the case of Entercom, it should be "how would you like to make a six figure income in advertising sales?!"

 

[raymond_shaw]

this is nothing but a ruse to get people to submit applications just so that these radio stations can show the feds they are making a concerted effort to recruit more talent.

Your are correct sir! They also use it to get people for those other radio jobs...

I happened to walk by such a "career" fair at Marketplace Mall once. I saw a former employer of mine(who runs satellite programming) talking to people. He was no doubt continuing in his endless search for sales people. Stations are also always looking for young promotions assistants. Neophytes come down there hoping for on-air jobs then are told that sales or promotions is a good way to get in the business(and in the case of sales, make some money). "Hmmm, maybe once I get my foot in the door they'll give me an air shift." Well, we were all young and exploitable once.

Or in the case of Entercom, it should be "how would you like to make a six figure income in advertising sales?!"

Their top people may very well make a six figure income. Their bottom people(people they recruit from these ads) get a meazly weekly draw for maybe 3-4 months and then they hire some new recruit who probably also won't work out.

Such is the revolving door of radio.

 

[Ed Trefzger]

Those of us who are, or have been in the business know this is nothing but a sham.

What they are more than anything else are a way to appear to comply with EEO requirements.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Savin' 'O the Green

I heard the same commercial. It's an "Online Job Fair" from the NYS Broadcasters Association.

Here's the direct job fair link:

http://nysbroadcasterscareerfair.com

You can go to the "job fair" without giving them your e-mail address. It seems like a bunch of links to the "employment opportunities" pages of station/group websites. The good news is that the on-line format saves the suckers prospects from having to waste gasoline.

 

[raymond_shaw]

I heard the same commercial. It's an "Online Job Fair" from the NYS Broadcasters Association.

Here's the direct job fair link:

http://nysbroadcasterscareerfair.com

SirRox - thanks for the link. Great unintentional comedy website. Here's a couple gem's I copied and pasted, adding my own comments:

Interested in a Broadcasting Career?

There are a lot of career opportunities in the broadcasting industry. Broadcasting careers appeal to people because of the glitz and glamour of the business and because being in the media allows people to participate in the dynamic information offerings that keep so many people tuned in to their radios and televisions. Radio and TV offer a dynamic work environment, no matter what size the market, and the energy and fun of working at a radio or television station will make your old "cubicle life" seem a million miles away.

A lot of career opportunities? If by "a lot" they mean hardly any and mostly low paying(and working for 5th rate tyrants), then I guess there are a lot of career opps in broadcasting, especially radio. If by dynamic work environment, you mean studios where the A/C and furnace don't work properly, managers can be heard yelling at sales people during "behind closed doors" meetings and job security can best be described as the movie Goodfellas minus the knives and guns....then yes, it's quite dynamic. Sometimes the most "fun" you'll have is going out after work with a few other disgruntled employees, having a few beers and mocking out the boss and his family for a few hours(usually this is on pay day, when you actually have a couple bucks to afford to go out).

Disc Jockeys and talk hosts earn in a range from minimum wage to several millions dollars annually.

Technically, that's pretty much an accurate description. But what they leave out, of course, is most salaries veer closer to minimum wage. The several million dollars annually - uh, that's gonna happen...you'll be the next Howard or Rush..yeah sure.

 

[Radknowski]

I am appalled at the cynicism oozing from this thread. Shocked, absolutely shocked!

But y'know, how the hell are radio stations and the big clusters going to entice potential victims, errr, employees to apply for work? Radio advertising! Sure, it's sorta deceptive, inasmuch as it's a ruse for satisfying EOE mandates and most of the jobs are for sales, but y'gotta shake the tree to see how many apples fall off the branches.

We all know the stations are looking for applicants to feed the ever spinning turnstile in the sales departments. Back in the day, the attrition rate for sales newbees was about 30 per cent. When I was bailing out, it was close to 50 per cent.

What is it these days?

It seems radio companies believe that any man or woman who looks presentable, can speak relatively well and has a basic understanding of math can be molded into a decent sales person. Reading and writing skills certainly help, especially when the newbee gets a phone book dropped on his/her desk and is told to scan the Yellow Pages to develop his/her account list.

A sales friend of mine is fond of saying "to be a good sales person, you have to have three things: a list, a list and a list." And as the management saying goes, the list is the property of the radio station, not the sales person who may have nurtured and developed it.

You wanna hire a entry level jock or board op? Post a flyer or email WBNY, WBSU, WSBU or WCVF... maybe call somebody at WJJL or WSPQ. That's what promotions interns are for. Step up to the big time, earn $6.50 an hour and become a radio star. Maybe in a year or two, the GM actually will know your name and what it is that you do.

What a wonderful business.

 

[SirRoxalot]

What's In a Name?

Maybe in a year or two, the GM actually will know your name and what it is that you do.

Hey, the GM knew my name the first day. He still calls me by name whenever he sees me. Well, OK, he calls me Chief, Bud, Pal, Man, or Bubba. That doesn't mean that he doesn't know my name, does it?

 

[Radknowski]

Re: What's In a Name?

Maybe in a year or two, the GM actually will know your name and what it is that you do.

Hey, the GM knew my name the first day. He still calls me by name whenever he sees me. Well, OK, he calls me Chief, Bud, Pal, Man, or Bubba. That doesn't mean that he doesn't know my name, does it?

It could be worse, he could call you "dude." Seems like a new screen name imight be in order: Chief-Roxalot has a certain ring to it.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Re: What's In a Name?

It could be worse, he could call you "dude." Seems like a new screen name imight be in order: Chief-Roxalot has a certain ring to it.

NO WAY. That would be inviting the wrath of Barry Snyder.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

I am appalled at the cynicism oozing from this thread. Shocked, absolutely shocked!

From the movie Casablanca.

Louie, the French Police Officer: I’m shocked, shocked to hear that gambling is going on at this establishment.

Waiter: Sir here are your winnings from the Roulette table.

Louie: Thank you very much