Do I have the Experience?

[MovinUp]

Hi Everyone. I've been lingering for awhile now and finally decided to join the discussions. I need some help/advice. My question is do I really have the experience I think I do?

Here's some background: I worked my way through college as an assistant and then as a behind the scene reporter(37 hours per week)and received great hands on training and insight. I had the position before I began school and then later received internship credit for it. Since graduating (almost 2 years ago) I have not been in the business and now am looking to jump back in.

I've had mixed responses when I tell people that I have 5 years experience (1 year was hosting a weekly cable access show) so my question is do I really have 5 years experience even though 4 years were behind the camera, or do I have 1 year? How should I address this issue? Any advice about experience and how to jump back in after being gone for so long would be greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so long winded.Thanks

[John M.]

If you're seeking an on-air job, you can rightly claim to have one year of on-air experience. How I'd address the issue is to list your jobs on your resume and let someone else decide how much experience it constitutes.

Why DO you want to get back in after your absence? The question might come up. Have a reasonable answer and the career gap won't prove insurmountable.

[SpxGrunt]

If you're applying for an on-air position, have a great tape. Period. Experience is great, but as we've seen from other threads around here, it's all about your tape.

[Spike]

Originally posted by MovinUp:
Here's some background: I worked my way through college as an assistant and then as a behind the scene reporter(37 hours per week)and received great hands on training and insight. In other words, you were a field producer. I don't care if your station called you a reporter; if you weren't on the air, nobody else is going to consider you one.

You can say you have five years experience in news, but if you try to pass yourself off as having five years of experience as a reporter, people are going to think you exaggerate at best and are a liar at worst. If you're willing to exaggerate that, what ELSE on your resume might be exaggerated? If I'm a news director, I don't want to even get involved in finding out.

[Roy Hobbs]

I read today that a 2005 grad jumped from the Quad Cities to Orlando.

Experience isn't valued anymore. Plain and simple. Your plain old One Year may serve you better.

Might even get your tape looked at...and it's at THAT point, IF it happens, that "it's all what's on the tape."

Good luck to you, keep plugging away!

[adam & doctor drew]

I agree with the others: if your tape is good, experience won't matter.

and if your tape is bad, 100 years experience won't help you.

but to answer your question, you have at best 1 year of on-air experience.
even that's a stretch since I assume you weren't getting paid at the cable access station.

[Randy Steinman]

Originally posted by Spike:
..if you try to pass yourself off as having five years of experience as a reporter, people are going to think you exaggerate at best and are a liar at worst.
Agreed. Well said.

Be upfront about the experience you have. Lie about it, and odds are you'll be exposed within the first month anyway.

[Charlie Brown]

Originally posted by Roy Hobbs:
I read today that a 2005 grad jumped from the Quad Cities to Orlando.

Experience isn't valued anymore. Plain and simple. Your plain old One Year may serve you better.

Might even get your tape looked at...and it's at THAT point, IF it happens, that "it's all what's on the tape."

Good luck to you, keep plugging away!from the Quad Cities to Orlando?

damn

[Stack It]

I can't add much, other than this: You're only as good as your tape. I wouldn't lie about experience either, you need to be honest. This business is a small world, if one station hires you and you're not quite what you led them to believe because of your performance, the word will get around. They won't tell other stations, but when you're up for future jobs, you had better believe that new employer will call your old one asking about you. They'll spill the beans. I'm not trying to scare you, this is how TV works. Be forthright and put together a good tape. If you've got "it", you'll have no worries.

[ December 07, 2006, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Stack It ]