How to Create a Resume Tape

A resume tape is your key to breaking into the television industry. Showcase your best, most interactive and polished work in a way that moves smoothly and rapidly and keeps the news director on the edge of his seat.

Things You'll Need

• VHS tapes (or DVDs if stations accept them)
• Tape sleeves and labels
• Padded mailers

Instructions

1. Collect your best work. Make every live shot and story count if you feel you have slim pickings. You never know what day might be the day when you do that unforgettable live shot that makes the cut. You'll want compelling stand-ups, live shots and three packages that offer a mix of hard news and more lighthearted feature stories.

2. Develop a slate. This doesn't have to be fancy--just a full-page graphic with all the pertinent details: your name (the one you'll go by on television), address, phone number and email address. Make sure all this information is correct and up to date. The last thing you want is a news director who's interested but can't reach you. Details and accuracy are important as a journalist, so that will certainly reflect poorly. Keep the slate up long enough that a news director can read the details and write them down--in other words, at least 15 seconds but no longer than 30 seconds.

3. Start with your stand-ups. A stand-up montage should be no longer than 30 to 40 seconds. It should showcase you in a variety of situations, including snippets of live shots, stand-up bridges and stand-up ins and outs of packages. You should also showcase a few situations where you are interacting with a reporter or handling a live toss well. The key is to put the best stuff first--the most unusual, creative stand-up where you also look and sound the best. If you don't, the news director will pop out your tape and not even look at the rest of it.

4. Launch into your live shots. Depending on the live shots you have or the type of role you seek and organization you are applying for, you can put the live shots after your packages. However, if you are a reporter out in the field, it's best that the news director see right away how you handle yourself with fire trucks blaring in the background and gale force winds blowing you down. As with stand-ups, you'll want to go with the work where you look and sound the best, as well as the work that is most "out of the box." Throw some shots at them that you know they've never seen before.

5. Select your top three packages. This can be most difficult. Depending on the type of job you are after, you'll either want to go with two hard news or investigative stories and one lighthearted feature or two features and one hard news story. Usually, you'll want to go with the first option. Start with the best package, whether it be a feature or crime story. Make sure the story is free of anything distracting, including production errors that may have occurred during a live segment.

6. Add anchoring or examples of interaction with colleagues or interview subjects. This is primarily if you are after, say, a weekend anchor position. This is not necessary if you are after a reporting gig. If you are seeking a full-time anchor position (typically not an option for a first gig unless you have a standout tape as the result of an internship and are working in a small market), you'll want to start right off the top with examples of anchoring.

7. End with the slate. You'll want to repeat the slate at the end, so if the news director makes it all the way through, he once again can quickly grab a pen and scribble down your information. Again, leave it up long enough for him to write down your information.

8. Review your tape. Check for any production errors, jump cuts, audio or video flaws. You want the tape to be as flawless as possible. Get feedback about content and quality from those you trust who are also experienced with the industry. You'll also want someone who can be brutally honest with you; that way you won't spend your hard-earned dollars sending tapes all over the country that won't get a look or, at worst, will get a snicker from a news director.

9. Affix a label. Your label should be typed (not handwritten) and include both the information on the slate and a "table of contents" of sorts, listing the content of your tape in order of appearance and hit times for each segment--for example: "Stand-up Montage :30, Hit and Run Investigation Package 1:35."

10. Invest in some sharp video sleeves. You can buy these sleeves in bulk online, or if you have friends in master control, they might be able to provide some for a fee. These need not be fancy but should be clean because they will make your tape presentation look smart.

11. Opt for padded envelopes or a sturdy box. This will protect the video. Before shipping, add your paper cover letter and resume to the box with your tape. Check and double-check that all three items are included before shipping. Also, you need not send priority. Just send media class, unless you procrastinated and have no other choice but to expedite shipping.

Tips & Warnings

• Though there is some dispute over this, generally you don't want to leave any breathing time between any segment. In other words, don't include a second of black in-between the stand-ups and live shots or live shots and packages. Let each segment run together. You don't want to give the news director any reason to turn away.

• The television industry is one of the most competitive and difficult to break into. Don't limit yourself to medium and large markets or a certain geographical area, especially if this is your first television job. You can't afford to limit yourself and must be open to any opportunities. If you aren't willing to make that sacrifice and start from the ground up, this isn't the business for you.