Email thecoach@radiocoach.biz, 1 888 680 7234, Radio Talent Coach Sam Weaver is an air talent coaching authority in terrestrial radio, online radio, and podcasting.  Sam makes his services affordable for veteran announcers and broadcast beginners. Personalities of all formats including talk radio are welcome. This particular entry is intended to help those wanting to get a better understanding of what it takes to be successful in programming or promotions.

If you are just beginning your career as a program or promotions director, it is important to always have three plans handy for any proposal; Plan A, B, and C. There are always reasons why the best laid plans need altering. Regardless, always have the other plans ready just in case. It was a valuable lesson that a General Manager once taught me, “what if”.  You need to over prepare in this business and in life.

 Getting Your First Commercial Radio Job

Question:

I graduate in June with a degree in Music Communications. I have worked at my college-station for two years and an internship at a station last winter. We learned how to put together a demo last semester, but I am still not sure how to go about getting a job. I have submitted over 100 resumes without any responses. Do you have any advice?

 Answer:

It is always good to reach back for information from contacts at your internship. There might be a job there. Also, contact the Pd’s in your town and ask for advice on how to get a job. Make that person a mentor and ask if they would mind critiquing your work. This approach might speed up the process for finding your first radio job.

Conclusion:

There is a theme you continuously hear when applying, “You need to get more experience.” And you are trying to figure out how to do that if no one will hire you. I could put twenty air personalities in one room and all would have different stories of how they got their start in this business. However, there are two things they would have in common, persistence and perseverance. Keep trying and remember, it only takes one person to say yes.