How to Make Sure You Always Have a Job in Radio

With constant ownership turnover, competition from new media platforms and fewer jobs available by the year, maintaining an on air announcing position gets ever harder. The key to staying employed is by making yourself invaluable to your station. These tips could apply to several positions at a radio station, but we'll focus on announcers (disc jockeys).

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An announcing job in radio

How to Make Sure You Always Have a Job in Radio

1. The most important thing you can do is always keep you eye (and ear) on job one: Your air shift. If your Program Director critiques your performance, avoid being offended, but rather take criticism and advice to heart and apply them in your future performance. In addition, make sure you are air-checking (recording) every one of your shifts and listening to them yourself with a critical ear at least once a week. Learn from yourself. Are your breaks littered with pauses? Too much use of particular words or slang? Take note and improve constantly. Every shift should be better than the last. Apply this step to your production work as well.

2. Be aware and more-than-knowledgeable of every facet of your station's operation. Any self-respecting announcer should also be aware of things like Arbitron and F.C.C. guidelines, for example. Make sure you are an expert on the musical style your station programs and any technology (equipment) your station utilizes. Beyond programming, this may include engineering, traffic and scheduling and sales. Maintain a good relationship with every fellow employee and learn about their job. Ask questions and display a genuine interest. Become an expert on their job as well as yours. A jack-of-all-trades is always invaluable to employers.

3. Volunteer for extra duty. Is there a free remote broadcast that an announcer is needed for? Do it. Is someone needed to take the station van out to promote the station? Do it. Is the person who schedules commercials on vacation or sick? Offer to fill-in. Do a great job. Make sure you've mastered Step 2 so that you know what to do.

4. Market yourself in your community. A great way to do this is to volunteer your time and talent to charity or non-profit organizations. Does someone need a local celebrity or M.C. for an event? Offer your services and get your name and face in front of people. Maintain the contacts you make. This adds to your name notoriety in the community and thus makes you invaluable to your station.

5. Maintain a good relationship with everyone at work, from the lowliest intern to the highest-ranking executive. Every single person you work with should know your name and have had personal contact with you. Avoid cliques and stay neutral in feuds. If you are dragged into the middle of such a situation, be a mediator. Avoid being a rumor-monger. Everyone at work should always be comfortable knowing that the line of communication to you is always open. Maintain a positive attitude.

6. Manage yourself. Maintain a date or notebook with your list of duties and check them off as completed. Be well read in general and especially on radio and broadcasting issues. Subscribe to pertinent publications if your station doesn't.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your air check constantly updated (at least once a month) so that it's sharp, timely and ready to use in case the worst happens and you need it.
• Develop and maintain relationships with fellow radio professionals for the same reason.
• Don't stretch yourself too thin. Do what you are capable of.

Resources

• Radio & Records