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Pet Peeves
"What Jobseekers Dislike About The Process"
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Dave Gordon
Thurston Community TV
Senior Producer
ddgordon@wln.com
My pet peeve is really an observation more than a complaint.
I've got an Emmy, a Cable Ace nomination, a couple of NAB awards, generated over $100,000 of station services (in six months), and have produced over a thousand programs.
These accomplishments I would think are rather impressive for a station at any market. However they were all done at cable access centers throughout the United States. You talk about having a black mark when apply for brodcast jobs.
I've got 12 years worth of rejection letters. My wife calls now refers to these as volumes I, II and III.
This is a cruel business that becomes an obcession for you and I (or else why would we be surfing this particular website). We have got to be one of the most highly-trained, under-paid optimists in any career field. I'm 40 and still think that my break is coming.
I am finding that all the networking, "dues-paying," education, hands-on opportunities, experience and applying all boil-down to "dumb luck." I've had co-workers jump from cable access, right into network producing without even a sniff of a contact. I wish I knew the right thing to do.
Dave Gordon
My "pet peeve" is that despite a willingness to incur all expenses, and to get my own "papers" american news directors are terrified of hiring a Canadian. Can someone tell me on the other side of the border (besides the obvious, "you're taking a job from an american"), why it's such an obstacle? I'd love the feedback for my own sanity. Up here, we don't have much going on -- so where's a girl to go?
Gail - Late Night Anchor
My Pet Peeve is Stations that don't leave a Starting salary
in their Ad. If you can't list it then you have no intention of
paying people what they are worth. If you are ashamed of posting what you
are willing to pay...why should I come work for you. The TV business has been in the Dark ages
for years when it has come to salary....WAKE UP!!!
I've heard some real horror stories about news directors... I'll only refer to my own bad experiences...
Last June, I received a MS degree in Broadcast Journalism from a reputable university. Shortly thereafter, I received my first response from a prospective employer.
The news director, during a phone interview, said he liked my tape. The fact that the station was 1800 miles away from my hometown didn't deter me from offering to meet him in person. Long story... short version: I drove through the night (a 24 hr. drive)at my own expense, to meet the news director for an interview. When I arrived, I was informed that he had hired someone that morning. I was tempted to file a law suit, but instead, chalked it up to a learning experience...
The next phone call I received from a news director was very uplifting...
The job sounded perfect for me. It was in a small market, and it gave me the opportunity to make my mistakes and get better.
This news director, though, blatantly lied to me about the job description, benefit package, and the equipment I'd working with. I found out it was a lie after moving my wife and newborn son half-way across the country, spending most of our savings to do so.
My advice to job applicants: Talk to an employee at the station you apply to. Listen to what they have to say and then decide if it's the right move for you.
My advice to employers: Be considerate. Keep in mind that job-seekers are making drastic changes in their lives to meet your needs.
P.S. The news director that lied to me has since been fired, for matters not related to my experience.
Matt S.
Pet Peeve #1: Stations in small markets demanding years of
experience and a degree for all positions. We all know that you are
going to provide a certain amount of OJT to get even a top reporter
or photojournalist to conform with your style, so cut us and
yourselves some slack -- look at capability, interest, enthusiasm
and life experience. I have been a published writer for over 25
years, had a weekly newspaper column, and was the entire news
department at a no-budget LPTV station. I have broadcast
engineering experience, both radio and TV, and have on occasion
saved a live shot because I knew more than a phojo is expected to
know. I am still learning some aspects of the job because the job
is always changing. Yet what I see is "degree required" for jobs in
Market #2344 (DMA - Around Back and Through the Gate), where you pay
less than they pay the highschoolers at Bubba's Burger Barn.
Pet Peeve #2: "Submit non-returnable tape" -- Come on, can't you
afford to BUY tapes to record ESPN at home? Or is your operation so
cheap you're blacking the brag tapes and using them in the field?
Pet Peeve #3: Expecting us to submit on 3/4, Beta, DV or even SVHS
tape. I'm not sure I want to work for a ND who can't find a VHS
deck somewhere.
Pet Peeve #4: NDs and HR types who lie, whether it is about EEOC
forms, "I watched your tape" or "We haven't been able to reach your
references" -- when are you calling, 0530 Sunday mornings?
Pet Peeve #5: "Why can't you find a job in your area?" I want to
move to YOUR market, but why can't you find anyone around here
willing to TAKE this job?
Pet Peeve #6: NDs who discount small-market experience. My primary
phojo experience was in a small-market operation that had a higher
quality than some Top 25 stations. Small-market experience usually
teaches how to do more with less budget. ANYONE can look good on a
million-dollar weekly budget -- you want the people who looked
almost as good on a million a YEAR.
Pet Peeve #7: "DV experience required" or "Beta experience
required." Funny, but the last time I looked, DV, Beta, 3/4, SVHS,
Hi-8, VHS and Betamax tapes all pretty much load the same way. The
equipment works pretty much the same, only the bells and whistles
vary -- and they vary in the same format as much as between formats.
I'm not a "camera operator," I'm a PHOTOJOURNALIST. Give me a
Fisher-Price kiddie camcorder and I'll do my best to bring back the
shot.
Pet Peeve #8: "List make and model of all equipment used in the
last 5 years." Hmmm . . .in this last MONTH I have used 4 different
Sony Beta SP camcorders with 6 lenses, 3 different microwave and sat
trucks, 3 different editing controllers and half a dozen different
decks, 6 cellular phones, 8 computers, 2 IFBs, and a partridge in a
pear tree. I'm pretty sure at least one of them was a "3000."
Maybe most of them. I'm not a supply clerk. Do you even know the
make and model of the keyboard your computer has had for the last
year?
Pet Peeve #9: We'll send you out for a day with the reporter as an
interview." I spend the money to come to you, then you get me for a
free day of work? If you are hiring for a particular reporter, it
takes half an hour of chatting to know if we will never get along --
and a month to know if we just won't work out.
Pet Peeve #10: When I apply, do well at the interview, am one of
the two finalists, get edged out, then seeing the same ad again 6
weeks later without a callback. Sure, you're busy, but you could
have maybe saved yourself the cost of the ad if you had kept the
resume on file as you promised to do. Some tree paid the ultimate
price to give it to you, can you keep track of it THIS time?
Pet Peeve #11: "I would have gotten back to you sooner, but we've
been so busy here I've had to go into the field myself!" Well, gee,
if you had called me back three months ago, _I_ could have gone into
the field and let you stay there to watch CNN.
Pet Peeve #12: "We want somebody who is familiar with our area.
Have a nice flight back home."
Pet Peeve #13: "Thanks for coming, but we already have someone in
mind."
Pet Peeve #14: Being made to wait simply to prove how important the
Big Cheese is.
Pet Peeve #15: Bait-and-switch (Travelling for an interview then
being offered a job as a tape loader in Master Control).
Pet Peeve #16: "What were you making at your last job?" Not enough
to brag about. What do YOU get?
Pet Peeve #17: "Submit expected pay rate." I expect to be paid
what you pay photojournalists. I didn't realize I had stumbled onto
the set of "Let's Make A Deal!"
Pet Peeve #18: That I'm nowhere near running out of complaints
about the selection process in the broadcast industry!!!!!
Keith Wood
Photojournalist
As someone who's been on both sides of the news director's
desk, I agree with most of the pet peeves people have left
on this forum.
When I started my career as a news director, I promised myself
I would always take calls and always respond personally to
all applicants. After all, it's what I always wanted but rarely
got.
I lied. While I still try to crank out something in the form
of constructive criticism, there just isn't the time to do it
for everyone.
I realize it's frustrating to applicants, but if I took
detailed notes and wrote to the sender of every tape I receive
it's all I'd be doing.
David Schifter
WETM-TV, Elmira
This is the ULTIMATE pet peeve Re: the job hunting process.
NO RESPECT! You achieve one tremendous hurdle by acquring and
interview yet on numerous occasions while interviewing at TV/Radio
stations, the interviewer takes calls, talks to other staff members.
Unless the president was just shot or someone's baby is in the hospital,
the call could wait a few minutes! One time, a woman put a damn CD
in her CD player DURING the interview! I've never been called boring,
but COME ON!!!!
At the very least, take 15-25 minutes and talk to me like
a person! This industry centers on people and human nature and
yes, they're are interruptions. Many stations have been very
professional and through with this, scheduling certain times for
interviewing. I have respected their time frame and have met
stations at times convienent for them. Yet some do not return
the favor.
Stephen Schottman
Weekend annoucer
glidden@buffnet.net
Following a good interview with the current (at that time), I offered to fly to Lexington, on my dime. It takes four
hours to drive to Denver International Airport from my home
in Casper, WY. I had a decent interview and met the news
director. They asked me to take a urine test, which I did.
Then, it was wait, wait, wait. Finally, I called the CP, and he
told me it was up to the ND. "That's probably more than I should tell
you" he said. Another week or so passed. Finally, the ND returned my call.
"The Chief Photog is leaving us. We will have to replace him before hiring the photographer position
you original applied for." More waiting. We're talking a couple of months now.
I called ND. Twice. No response. Now, the position is on America's Job Bank and
another Media Referral Service. I am unemployed, I was unemployed when I busted my credit card out to fly to Kentucky.
Is it asking too much for a return call? By the way, the CP told me, he would have hired me. It really comes down to some common
decency--wasn't my flying out (over $1500) worth a return call? How can a person in a leadership position be so irresponsible and cruel?
Name Witheld
After more than a year of time-consuming, exhausting job
hunting, I feel I've earned this opportunity to speak my
mind. Employers, please keep the following comments in
mind:
1. If I do not have experience on a particular piece
of equipment, don't automatically take me out of the
running. Look at the overall picture -- if I've learned
one system, chances are very good that I can pick up
another fairly quickly.
2. Because I haven't worked in the business for a while,
don't assume there is something wrong with me. And don't
forget, while we are out there hunting in such a
competitive industry, we have to do something else to pay
the bills. Some work as waiters and waitresses, some work
in mailrooms, and others like me are working as
secretaries. Please respect me for doing what I have to
do to survive.
3. Although you have a large number of resumes to review,
don't forget that words on a piece of paper cannot possibly
give you all the information you need about a person.
My biggest problem -- I haven't received many calls in
response to my resume. But, the interviews I have gone to
have gone well. I think interviewing in person is the best
way to judge a person's character and potential.
Thank you for listening.
Teresa Perrier
TNTP420@aol.com
- Being told I need to talk to "so-and-so", two, three weeks later I still haven't been able to reach them.
- My resume matches qualifications item-for-item, line-by-line and I never hear from them again.
- Dead-line for applying passes, then I see sloppy directing, editing, and people winning regional Emmys
for the kind of work I was doing 10 years ago. Then 6 months later getting a letter saying someone more
qualified got the job
- Assuming I'm a rank beginner if I don't have 10-15 years experience on a particular piece of gear.
- Assuming I can't do the job.
- Interview for an editing position then agonizing over the idea of hiring me as a grip.
Tony John
tjohn@cole.sinclair.edu
Since 1989, I've had numerous television HR managers, directors or
producers outline what "they" would like to see on a tape. This
wide variety of ideas of what is "best" is, at the least, most
confusing to the intern-seeking student or job-seeking graduate.
Most job openings create a flood of resumes. A few minutes spent
responding to each would create a very positive image for your
station.
It would be most appreciated by those of us that deal with your
future employees, if you would:
- decide on a standard format for video resume tapes.
- acknowledge receipt of application/video quickly. (Most
applicants now have access to e-mail, don't you?)
- keep the applicant advised of their status with your company.
(Again e-mail is quick and cheap.)
- timely return the rejected video tape, with comments.
- call, write or e-mail their school of graduation. Let us know
how we are doing; during the application stage, after hiring
and during their employ with your company. If we are
kept abreast, then we can train your future employees better.
George Cotton
Chief Engineer
mcgc@atuvm.atu.edu
An instructor at my school told me news directors will sometimes advertise a
position that DOES NOT exist in order receive applications for the purpose
of satisfying EEO requirements. I would hope none of the stations I have
applied to would do this. This would be very misleading to hopefuls, as well
as expensive and exhaustive of time and resources.
Brian D.
I'll tell you what I don't like about the process...
My biggest peeve is this...
Employers and job agencies that advertise these so called "ENRTY-LEVEL" positions... Then you read further in the position requirements and it says... "must have 4 to 5 years experience." How in the world is someone supposed to have 4 to 5 years experience when you're just out of college! It used to be that the words "ENTRY-LEVEL" meant just that... entry level with no experience necessary. If you went to school for 4 years, and spent a ton of money only to find no jobs... you would be mad too.!!!!
Witheld
1. Stations that post job listings on their Web pages, and then delete the page entirely when the opening is filled. Many people bookmark station job pages for quick reference, and getting
a "404 Not Found" error leaves a bad impression, as well as providing no information. At least leave the page up with something like, "Sorry, no openings at this time", with a link to a
site like "TV Jobs".
2. No acknowledgement of any sort to an application for a current opening. Even a form letter or postcard lets the applicant know that the resume was at least received and not lost in the
mail, and is a simple professional courtesy.
3. Don't assume that a person applying from a larger market won't be interested in the salary you can offer. Try asking before eliminating someone! Many of us want to relocate to a more
rural area because "quality of life" is more important than the ego trip of working in a Top-5 ( -10, -20, etc.) market--especially for people who are older and have families. Most serious
job seekers have done some research into the cost of living in the areas where they apply. If I wasn't interested in your station or area, I wouldn't have applied in the first place.
4. Stations that list equipment in their ads and demand that candidates be familiar with all of it. Next year, you'll go to NAB and buy some new toy. What will you do, fire your whole
staff? None of us know how to run an all-digital plant (DTV), for example. Why not look for maturity, judgment, and potential instead of someone who just swallowed a Grass Valley manual?
Alan K.
I really can't understand how a News Director in oh, let's say
a #180s market can be presumptuous enough to demand three
years of experience for a reporter. Hello, why would someone
with three years of experience go to a #180 market when
he or she could just as easily get a job in the top 40 market
I work in?
Witheld
Problems with the whole interviewing process:
- No letter telling you how things are with the job.
- Position Titles listed but no description of the responsibilities.
"Production Assistant" I have seen 4 totally different descriptions for this one.
- Rejection letters that tell you that your resume is impressive, but not what they're looking for.
The one I had like this didn't tell me what they were looking for!
- Interviewers that take no interest in you at all.
Had one guy that seemed half-asleep!!
No Name Provided
It amazes me how HR departments or news directors at television stations expect you to help them fulfill their EEOC requirements by filling out an application when they have no intentions of hiring you. They then try to trick you into returning the application by stating that you are still being considered for the job when in fact they have already picked someone else. And what's with news directors flying you thousands of miles for an interview and then telling you they are going to keep looking because you don't have enough experience? Hello! You could have saved both of us time and energy by looking at the resume before you called me for an interview.
Television Reporter
Most of my references are located overseas since my major experience came from
working as a freelancer in the Middle East. Employers ask for references yet
make no effort to contact anyone outside North America even when provided with
fax numbers and e-mail addresses.
Also, many job postings require a college degree, several years experience, advanced
technical/writing skills and a "whizz-bang" demo reel but do not give any salary
indication. After going through the expensive process of producing a quality reel and
making duplicates, employers offer ridiculously low salaries and poor benefits. Only Top
50 stations and public TV broadcasters give me any hope of securing a worthwhile position
and these positions, as is to be expected, are the most competitive.
Tom Stevens
ttevens@ocean.st.usm.edu
If you don't want any phone calls... at least send some sort of not stating the resume arrived!!!!!
V Formica
Listen up news directors: My pet peeves.
1) News directors who list about 10 qualifications for a job, such as weather where they want an AMS seal, 3-5 yrs. experience, etc., and then want to pay $25,000 a year. Come on, get a life guys. Don't bother because you aren't going to get someone with those qualifications for that than can put two sentences together!
2) Posting a job when in fact they already have someone in mind. A waste of my time and money. Please don't bother. Put an ad in the local paper. That way the rest of us around the country won't waste our time responding to an ad where you have no intention of hiring anyone submitting a tape.
3) Most news directors in general. They hire fairly good news anchors but most of you can't seem to get your sh*t together when hiring sports or weather talent. When are you all going to wake up and figure out the viewers DON'T WANT MR. SCIENCE!! They do want someone credible, but interesting. Not some friggin science teacher. The weather should be informative AND fun. Most of you folks hire zeros. In that, I mean sports and weather people who add nothing to the broadcast, but also turn off no one. Hire someone who is a plus! You all need it at a time when most of your overall audience numbers are eroding badly. WAKE UP FOLKS!!!
Bob Price
Meteorologist
After working abroad for 15 years, I'm contemplating a
return to the US, scouting job possibilities, and relearning
the lay of the land. The peeves on this and the related page
are a sad comment on the state of things. As someone who's
been on both sides of the desk, I know screening and hiring
can be as tough as hunting for a job. Applicants need to
remember that and help their own chances by displaying good
skills and team potential. At the same time, too many in
executive positions have zero people-managing ability. Some
food for thought in the form of "peeves" encountered in my
current job search.
1) Arrogance and bad manners; they just don't work well in
ANY situation. You may think you're doing the interviewing,
but you're being sized up yourself as a prospective boss or
colleague. You're also representing your company, saying a
lot about how you and it operate. Bad manners and arrogance
suggest immediately that you a) quite probably haven't got
your act together, and b) aren't any one I WANT to work for
or with. Given the wide-open, fast-paced quality of today's
news business, that may be worth keeping in mind. Not only
could you be in the applicant's chair sooner than you expect,
that "kid" sitting across from you could very well be in the
executive seat 5-10 years down the road!
2) Requests for my "salary history" -- have never really been
able to figure out their purpose or value. It's an intrusive
and maybe even illegal request. And what does the answer
tell you? I've worked for peanuts and for as much as 85K
per annum -- not necessarily in that order. Right now, I am
earning less, but gaining experience that should prove very
valuable to both me and my next employer. Judge me by my
record and skills acquired, size up the contribution you
think I can make to your team; I'll decide whether the wage
you offer is enough -- based on a combination of factors.
Malian
CCTV/CRI
Newshound/wordsmith
jodie_jin@3Mail.3Com.com
Having been on both sides of the coin, my comments can be taken by both empoyer and applicant.
Arrogance kills: Not often, but some news directors & management are so arrogant they forget they once were involved in the same process not long ago. It is hair raising for applicants. Time and understanding are hard to give due to constraints of the job, but an effort is required to help these people learn from the experience in a positive way! BE CONSTRUCTIVE NOT DESTRUCTIVE IN YOUR COMMENTS! Don't be so shallow in your thoughts that an over sight such as color bars on a resume tape or not putting your "title" on the cover letter lets an excellent talent slip away. We all have and do make mistakes! Take a look at some of the typos on this pet peeves page alone!
Applicants, don't tell your perspective empolyer you are the one for the job and to stop looking for other applicants out of what you have read in a help wanted ad! Confidence is one thing, but don't be a used car salesman, or should I say salesperson. Also do not apply for jobs that ask for experience you may not have yet. In time your experience will come. Save you and the empolyers' time and money. Keep in mind people in news rooms are on extremely tight schedules, under heavy pressure, and are often overworked. If they are advertising to fill a position they may be short staffed on top of the above! Reading and viewing resumes and tapes, and getting a reply out to the (literally) 100's of applicants is enogh work in itself! Throw all that on top of their regular duties of running a busy news department, and you can understand why many applicants don't hear anything back. Choose wisely where you send your tape if it is important to you. Good Luck!
Patrick Breen
CAP Productions
Executive Producer
pbreen@k-online.com
I know news managers cannot look at every resume tape, read every word of a resume/cover letter. But at least, read enough or look at five frames of a tape! I've had letters addressed to me as "Mr. Quin Tran". If folks actually read the second paragraph of my coverletter they would know that I'm married and that "my husband and I are looking to relocate." You can't miss either the fact that I'm a woman -- my tape starts with a montage of me. This has happened dozens of time, I've collected them all over the last five years. I guess they assume every "Quin" is a guy. Never assume anything!...
Quin Tran
Reporter
Dear TV JOBS,
I have been applying for anchor positions for a year,
on and off and I get very frustrated with ads that say
"absolutely no calls". In other "non-journalistic job
searches", I called prospective employers to death so they
were able to associate a voice with a resume and letter. In
fact,I remember calling LA from London to secure an
internship with Entertainment Tonight.
However, I respect the news directors wishes and do
not call when requested. I only wish I could get:
- a rejection letter
- an acceptance letter
- a phone call/smoke signals/Morse Code
...to know what I am doing wrong. In fact, I have no idea
what is supposed to happen in these situations. Do they
actually set up interviews or something? All I've ever
gotten are FCC forms and job applications to fill out.
I graduated from one of your "Top 5" schools for journalism
and its's gotten me nowhere except +$25,000 in debt. If it
sounds like I'm bitter it's because I still live at home and
feel like a total loser!!!!!!!!!
Perturbed in PA
"broke and disgusted"
I am tired of receiving veiled threats of "failure to return our EOE form may result in a discontinuance of consideration for employment." If you want my gender or race to prove to the FCC that you are a diverse recruiter, pay me for it...at least with a SASE. I have NEVER gotten an interview with a company whose request I've complied with. Also, I have NEVER been asked to fill one of those out for a company I have interviewed with. Take note, job seekers!! Don't help a company that has no interest in interviewing/hiring/responding to you.
There may be good reasons why a seemingly "overqualified" candidate is applying. Do not dismiss them out of hand.
Phone interviews are a lame and lazy way for TV stations to conduct business. I am willing to drive 11 hours (a one day drive) for an interview. Show your commitment to the Vision part of television--fly me in if you are across the country. I am dismayed to find that glorified mikestands (i.e. reporters) are the only valued people in some newsrooms. Hey, hire a sketch artist.
12 year veteran
Videographer
It is tough trying to find your first job. Rejection is expected but it is harder to hear nothing when you have worked so hard to get a tape together, pay to mail it and then never know if the news director saw your tape. Any response would be helpful. I appreciate the very few who give some kind of form check list with feedback. (i only got one of those) I never know what the best way to follow up on sending something to a station that wants NO PHONE CALLS, callers will be disqualified. I respect their request but then I am left haning....wondering if they are considering me at all. It also bothers me when I take the time to travel and visit stations and news directors can't even humor me for 5 minutes. On the other hand there are news directors that in front of you tell you how great your tape is and can't believe you don't have a job yet. When there is an opening at that station they pretend they never said that. One last peeve is when you fly out for a last interview and the news director is offering you the job...why beat arround the bush? Don't hint to see if they are intersted just ask if they want it. Agree on a date when they need to know by and stick to it. I was offered a job and was to tell the News Director my decision on a monday but when I called they told me I called a day too late. Give the entry level people a break, it is rough when you are starting out. We are still learning all these new rules in order to do something we love. It isn't for the money you know. Beginers don't make much! :D
Entry Level Reporter
Some things are hard to express on paper. I really get
tired of hearing how "over-qualified" my co-workers are.
If your that (darn) qualified and too good for your present
position than get the (heck) out! No one wants to hear your
miserable dribble!
After speaking with a potential employer, it is
very frustrating not to hear ANYTHING! Did I get the job?
What was it that I could have done better? Any advice
that may help me land a future JOB?
The interviewing process has gotten very mysterious,
especially in the TV industry. It seems that everyone that
is already in the business has a different approach to
getting the JOB. Let us know what you want and remember
that you too were once in our position.
If your are reading this you are already taking some
positive steps in creating a better TV industry.
Mike Smith
Stringer in Houston
During my search for a job I really hate the fact that News Directors don't take the time to send rejection letters. I would rather to know the job is closed instead of thinking that I have a chance. It is really frustrating spending hours each day looking for a job and then never hear anything. Please send rejection letters.
Name Witheld
I met a news director at a convention hosted by a professional journalism organization convention.
He was reveiwing tapes. He acted so excited about my work and asked to keep the tape. I told him it was my only copy but he stressed that he REALLY wanted to keep it so I gave it to him.
He works in a market I really want to work in. He promised to call me back the following week. That was almost one year ago. For about two months after that I called once a week. Left a message with his assistant. He never bothered to return my calls or my tape. Not only was he dishonest, but he was also very unprofessional.
Name Withheld
I appreciate it when a news director takes a few moments to at least mail you a rejection form letter back.
BUT, I find it very disturbing when the news director sends the WRONG rejection letter.
Over the past two years, I have received three rejections from the SAME TV station in PA.
EACH TIME, I received a rejection form letter for the WRONG position.
I wonder how well the hiring process is conducted when you get the wrong form letter three times?
However, I am grateful to news directors who return resume tapes for those who did not get offered a position!!!
Name Withheld
As does anyone in this business, I hate it when:
- A job is posted and you are supposed to resopond to an
initial or a "Chris," "Terry," or a "Pat." Can we know
a proper gender?
- I have to wait and wait to hear from a station because I
respect the "No calls" mandate.
- Anyone tries to be funnier than they really are.
Betsy Kling
Weather Anchor/Reporter
mkling@bgnet.bgsu.edu
REASONABLE AD:
Applicant should be familiar with switchers, still stores, audio boards,
and associated production equipment. Applicant should also be eager
to learn new equipment as it arrives.
UNREASONABLE AD:
MUST have experience with all of the following: GVG 300 switcher,
Spencer Technologies 2000-T1 with option #2, Wheatstone 700 audio
board with Mix-Minus option #4, Utah Scientific 1200 Router with
three audio layers and software version 1.24.
Given the amount of gear on the market, it is unreasonable to expect
an applicant to have experience with exactly every piece of equipment
you own. More often than not, it doesn't take long to get used
to a particular brand of equipment. The concepts behind the equipment
are usually the same from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Furthermore, many people (esp. in Engineering) transfer to a new
job so that they can work with the newest equipment and stay on
the cutting edge. So, an applicant who doesn't have experience
on your particular equipment may very well be a better choice
because they are interested in staying on top of their field -
not just settling for the same old stuff. When a good engineer
transfers jobs it is often because they are looking for a challenge.
Do you really want an employee who took the job just because it
was better money?
Sean
Engineer
scwallac@concentric.net
When a P.D. says he'll have an answer in two weeks, and after six weeks-- you're still hanging on a string with no clue of his hiring intentions.
J. Knudson
Announcer
I've been on both sides of the desk, as a production manager and as an applicant. I echo some of the comments made on this page.
- It costs me about an hour's time and over $5.00 to send as resume and demo tape so - employers
- Please acknowledge you have received it
- Return the tape.
- provide some feedback about the presentation
- provide a specific name to whom materials should be sent
- if you are just screening applicants, don't request a tape until you narrow down the field.
- Provide a job description, either for application and/or at the interview. this should include such information as the salary range, benefits, hours of work.
- When interviewing, please pay attention
- Don't assume that if the applicant hasn't used your paricular make and model of a controller, DVE or graphics generator, they are not able to handle your gear. The knowledge of the PROCESS of editing is much more important that specific equipment
- Don't assume because someone has large market experience or has a long history in working that they may not satified if you're a smaller market. Some people would prefere a smaller location for other reasons. ASK
- Forget the idea of OVER QUALIFIED, unless you are so insecure about your own position. Someone who could be a great asset could get away. Again, someone with a lot of experience probably has their own adgenda and would not have applied if they were not serious,
- When talking with an older applicant, don't assume the "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" Most anyone with more than a dozen years of experience has had to undergo and adapt to a lot of changes.
Applicants
- Clear, consise and straight foward resume and cover letter, with correct grammer and spelling.
- You are not just applying for a job, you are marketing yourself. This is especially important if you are a writer/producer who is trying for a job where making commercial what sell is important.
- Do your homework, find out who you're sending the letter to, research the station as to programming, location, other stations in the market and so on. Use the internet - much of the info is there
- Have your goals and objectives well in mind. If necessary write a script for the intervew. Nothing make a better impression than quick, consise and well thought out answers.
Paul Johnson
johhns@newnorth.net
I'ts hard to know if your tape is any good and it would be great to get some feedback. Also, I'm confused because some news directors like getting phone calls and others are completely bugged by it.
S. Anderson
Weather Anchor/Reporter
cizerle@mind.net
I detest the interviewer who enjoys making the interviewee uncomfortable.
How are you going to find out if this person is employee material if you
make them squirm the entire time? Questions like "what is your worst quality?"
.. and "describe a situation in the news-room that you couldn't handle."
You're both taking the time out of your day to do the interview, make
it a pleasant, friendly conversation.
No Name Provided
My pet peeve is when employers say "I'll call you" to a potential employee and then never call. Many a time has a news director said to me "I'll call you next week" or "I'll call you Monday" and I'm left waiting for a call that never comes. Most of the time I don't even get a rejection letter which I much prefer over hearing nothing at all. It's rude and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If an employer is not going to call, or doesn't know if she/he will call, then don't say "I'll call you."
Rachael Ruble
KBGE (IND), Seattle
Reporter/Show Host
fraya@msn.com
- I invest a lot of time, effort and expense in preparing my resume and demo tape. Is it too much to ask to send a confirmation?
- If you haven't a need beyond the hiring process for my demo tape, please send it back so I may send it to another company. What do you end up doing with all those demo tapes, anyway?
- The Golden Rule applies here: Treat an applicant as you would like to be treated if you were one. Chances are you will be one again.
Brian Chesler
professional job seeker
chessieb@themall.net
Interviewers who:
- Take calls during an interview
- Give a tour but have no interntion of hiring (spare me, please)
- Say "call me in a couple of days" but avoid you when called
- Watch tv during the interview
- Do not allow interviewees answer questions before switching topics
- Talk too much!
Susan Jefferson
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