Getting out there: Newbie

[mengelbr]

I will be making my first resume tape within the next couple of days as a meteorologist and was looking for some suggestions/critiques. Posted on YouTube is an old video that was recorded back in July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTbsaarJR_c


Along the same lines, I've been reading a lot of posts on medialine and was wondering what kind of approach I should take when looking for my first job. Do I send tapes to only openings or can I send just to send? Also, any suggestions on when I can start to apply? I'm already getting pressure from the parents who think it takes a couple months for the process to work, :o . Little do they know, this isn't your "normal" job search. I'll be graduating in May with no care for my eventual destination and can't wait for the process to begin. Thanks guys and gals, your information thus far has been fantastic. Oh one last thing, what are your thoughts about name changing?? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?

[wxgeek]

Also, any suggestions on when I can start to apply? I'm already getting pressure from the parents who think it takes a couple months for the process to work, :o . Little do they know, this isn't your "normal" job search. Oh one last thing, what are your thoughts about name changing?? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?

Your parents are right. In fact, you're LUCKY if it only takes a couple months to land the first job. Some of us (well, ok, just me) took more than 2 years before landing the first weather gig.

If you're graduating in May, it's not to late to start getting tapes out there now. ...send to stations with openings listed, and to stations that don't have openings listed. Of course, make sure your tape reflects your best work.

As for the name change thing, it depends on your name. My "professional" name is a common and familiar shortening of my full name. (Like turning Jonathan into John. And no, that's not my name.) You don't have to get your name legally changed for TV, if that's what you're thinking.

[WisconsinWX]

I started applying in late April of my senior year in college and was moving to my first job in July. That's the good part. The bad part was that in that 3 month stretch I sent out somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 tapes. My advice: send everywhere and take every opening seriously. Hopefully you'll get lucky like I did and land in a place where they take you & the weather seriously once they hire you as well. Good luck!

[rellet]

I was very fortunate to of had the opportunity to work the weekends at a small station while I was in college. This gave me a year and a half of experience before those tapes made it to the post office. I started applying for jobs in late February/early March and had a job by early June. I had 3 bites out of about 40 tapes that I sent out. All of these bites came in May including the job offer that I took, the other 3 Mets in my class looking for a job didn't hear back from anybody until late May through August despite putting out tapes early. I am not trying to discourage you from putting out tapes now, just don't be disappointed if you don't hear anything back until closer to graduation day. A news director once told me that it is very unlikely to be hired during a sweeps month with the exception of July, and June, July, August, and December are the four months of the year with the most movement and openings in the biz (I am not sure how true this is but it seems reasonable). The only other piece of advice that I can think of is practice, practice, practice every chance you get and create the best tape you can. If your youtube video that you posted is truly your first time in front of the weather wall that is impressive. Your tape will only improve with more time in front of the weather wall.

[mengelbr]

Thanks for the information! Any critiques are definitely appreciated. I'm still curious about the name thing. In your opinion(s), what are a couple reasons why a person would consider such (besides it being hard to say)? And I understand you don't have to change it legally. As I’m sure you can tell I’m currently considering the question. However, I'm leaning towards not changing my on-air name just because I’m not seeing any true benefits. This is why I'm asking you guys, lol.

[newsandwx]

Use your contacts to ask for critiques on how to improve. I did this and it helps you focus on putting a solid tape together. I started sending at the beginning of march before graduation. I had 3 stations interested off the bat. Just be honest about your situation and don't lead them on. I couldn't make it by May 1st (graduation)...so their interested decreased.

I sent tapes to almost every opening that was posted...prob 80-100 tapes total. I then sent emails to about 100 news directors from markets 130-60. If I had previously applied for a job, I skipped that ND. I emailed NDs that didn't have anything posted at the time and told them to keep me in mind and included a link to my tape. I probably got 20 responses from that. One ND ended up having an opening and called me for an interview as a result. Just get your name and face out their in whatever way you can. I had pretty good results, but was really looking for the right fit. I turned a couple of jobs down in the process, but most here won't encourage that. I just say know your situation and be honest with yourself about your ability.

Ultimately one of the stations that contacted me in March had another opening in late summer and I ended up here....shortest contract and most amount of money in an interesting market. Best of luck!

[wxaffectsyou]

I started sending out tapes about two months before graduation. By the time I landed my current job I had sent out about 22 tapes, had seven call-backs, and two interviews. The first interview came about six weeks after I had mailed the tape. However, I was hired for my current job about two weeks after I sent the tape.

Good luck on the job search!

[wxgeek]

Thanks for the information! Any critiques are definitely appreciated. I'm still curious about the name thing. In your opinion(s), what are a couple reasons why a person would consider such (besides it being hard to say)? And I understand you don't have to change it legally. As I’m sure you can tell I’m currently considering the question. However, I'm leaning towards not changing my on-air name just because I’m not seeing any true benefits. This is why I'm asking you guys, lol.

I'm a little curious why you're so worried about the name thing. Why are you interested in changing it? Usually it's not necessary.

[Bureau Chief]

It been my experience that an ethnic sounding name is good in some markets, and not good in other markets. Here in the NE where there are large populations from Europe, on-air ethnic names are common, but I can imagine some issues out in middle America. Hispanic names are popular right now too in many markets as insultants try to cater to that segment. Take your cue from the News Director, ask him/her about what to do about it.

Wacowx, you want to chime in here? You have some epxerience in this area.

[TAFKA wacowx]

Wacowx, you want to chime in here? You have some epxerience in this area.

Don't bother changing your name unless asked. I have what is perhaps the most difficult and perplexing last name in the history of TV weather:

STRZEPEK

Yes, I know, need more vowels...

BUT, I have used that on-air in PA and nationally on MSNBC and CNBC as well as on the radio in all major markets...although STREH-pick sounds better than Strzepek looks. :)

When I moved to TX and had to go back into TV again, I used Strzepek in Beaumont, TX, but the consultants that served Waco wouldn't let me use my actual name, so's I changed to Stephens, trying to keep some letters similar.

Bottom line, don't bother doing it unless asked. No one will pass you up for a job based on your name. In fact, the odder the name, the more memorable it will be when it crosses a news director's desk in my opinion. If they want you to change it, they will tell you although I have noticed that happening less than it did certainly in the 70s and 80s.

[MIguel W foX]

I have always been a advocate of the ladies going with a name change. With ample nut jobs out there and the internet, it's not too hard to figure out where you live.

[PackerlandWx]

You shouldn't have to much trouble landing a job. Your clip looked great considering you don't even have actual on-air time yet. I graduated in December and I started sending tapes out in October. I landed a job within a month so things worked out for me. For you I would say you should start sending tapes out in March maybe a bit earlier. I actually was commuting to the city I work in now at the end of college. With that said if you apply to a city nearby, the earlier the better.