no experience, lots of enthusiasum

[CAT11]

Does anyone have any advice on getting a job you don't have specific experience in? Can you make up for it with brains and enthusiam?
I am applying for a job as a radio show producer. I have experience in event production, and newspaper, just not radio.
Any thoughts?

[Phoenix]

Having interned in radio, I may be able to help you a little :)

You may already know this, so my input may be a repeat for you, but it can be hard to break into the journalism industry. It varies on how difficult it is to become a radio producer. A lot of producers I have known or heard of in morning radio get their start as interns and then move into slots (so they're still pretty young). I would suggest doing an internship in radio for this reason if you are having difficulty breaking in. Then again, getting an internship may also be difficult depending on the market you're in. There can be fierce competition for the few slots that exist. Summer is usually a peak time for interns so try fall or spring if that is the case.

With your event management experience, you may have some luck applying for a promotions position. So that may be another option for you. Your newspaper experience (depending on what you did for the newspaper) may help you get a job in the news dept. of a radio station, which may also be an "in." Unfortunately, you may have to try to work your way up and gain some radio experience before becoming a producer.

When applying for a radio producer position, I'm pretty sure stations want you to have what's called an "air check" tape. It may consist of samples of your best on air segments (so they can hear what you sound like - sometimes the producer is also the host of the show...don't know if this is the case for you) or spots you have produced in the past (creative segments or what have you). If you're applying for a morning show producer position (which I'm thinking you are?) then you will probably have to prove to them that you have ideas to bring to the table and are a creative individual that can keep a morning show going and successful. (B/c it's ALL about ratings! Ratings are how the station generates revenue and can justifiably charge more for its commercial spots. If your morning show isn't good and not getting the ratings they want, management will have no problem yanking it off the air and replacing it.)

Did this help you at all?

[CAT11]

Phoenix-
That is a great help. I am going to shoot for the moon....
I live in a middle market. Here is the whole description

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Produce Breakfast Boys show on KZZU and The Dave Sposito show on 920 AM
Book guests and phone interviews
Create program ideas and segments
Screen phone calls
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be entusiastic, organized and an energetice self starter
Previous radio experience preferred
Dependable / team player
Good communications and computer skills
Valid driver’s license


I am all those things, and a bag of chips, as I said to someone last night!

These guys are well established (10-15 yrs) and seem to partner with younger females ( to round out thier masculine side). Anyway anything else you can think of?

[Phoenix]

Hey Cat - glad that helped you out. Sounds like you may have a good fighting chance if they typically pick younger females to work w/. My advice to that would be to think about whether you'll be able to work well with them given their personalities and age (kinda goes along w/ the team player thing). Morning show people can sometimes be quirky or sarcastic or the like. Not all, but some. :)

Having a valid driver's license...you may be required to help out on remotes (doing promotions). Which means you'll have to be somewhat flexible in your day. (Flexibility is usually a must at a radio station.) B/c these guys will come off the air in the morning and then do appearances at the local bookstore, mall, cell phone store, etc. Remotes are (from what I've been told) where jocks make a good deal of their money.

Booking guests...I don't know that they are expecting you to have connections to people in the industry? I think some singers and actors have their PR people call out to stations to see if they want to book interviews and others you may have to do calls out to get them. I don't have any experience on that end so I'm not sure.

That's all I can think of...best of luck! It's great that you're shooting for your goal!! :) (If you have anything else I can try to help you out w/ just send me a PM or post.)