Job experience

[Pinkie]

I'm looking at some job listings online and I'm surprised by what employers are looking for. There are some jobs in what I would consider entry-level markets (i.e. smaller than 150) that want 2+ years experience and others in mid-range markets asking for 5 years. I can't imagine someone with 3 years experience wanting to go to Nowhereville to make $17k. Is this wishful thinking on the part of NDs?

[Charlie Brown]

there's nothing wrong with setting the bar high...better than saying "if you can walk and you can talk, we want you to walk into our newsroom so we can talk to you."

[Roy Hobbs]

It's been my experience that years in a job ad mean nothing. Other than a CYA for hiring the usual.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/blogs/beaton/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/usccheerleaders.JPG

[hoosiergirl]

I think my first job in market 190 asked for two years experience. I was like where? Market 200? Hee hee. It's a wish list, and for entry level I consider your internships experience. Apply anyway, stressing your internship experience in your cover letter explaining what you actually got to do.

Once you get to markets in the 120's and up you'll need a couple years of 'real' experience typically. Typically.

[overthehill]

Putting two years experience on the job listing often eliminates recent college graduates. that's the whole purpose of the 2 year deal.

[TVMattNYC]

Putting two years experience on the job listing often eliminates recent college graduates. that's the whole purpose of the 2 year deal.

OK.

So where are these people applying for jobs in Market 100 million supposed to get those two years of experience?

Mexico?

[Spike]

OK.

So where are these people applying for jobs in Market 100 million supposed to get those two years of experience?

Mexico?

http://www.backtothe80s.com/images/wallofvo_mexicanr_45_large.jpg

[trunky]

from my experience, the heads at the stations still won't think you've got any experience AFTER you do your first two years. Apply for everything you think you can honestly handle and tell them you can do the job, period. Then after you've bitten off more than you can chew, chew it.

[TVNewsSpy]

I'm on air in a top 40 market and don't have 2 years total experience yet. My first job in market 120+ required two years. So, there.

[Omega Man]

I don't think that's anything to brag about.

[The Mockingbird]

It says a lot about the industry, honestly.

[Produce man]

It's been my experience that years in a job ad mean nothing. Other than a CYA for hiring the usual.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/blogs/beaton/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/usccheerleaders.JPGDamnit, now I'm hungry...

[QVectorman]

I'm on air in a top 40 market and don't have 2 years total experience yet. My first job in market 120+ required two years. So, there.

Do you want a cookie and a pat on the back:rockon:

[TVMattNYC]

It says a lot about the industry, honestly.

Oh get over it already.

I started on the air in Market 19 nearly 20 years ago.

A colleague of mine started on the air in Market ONE nearly 40 years ago.

[Another side]

I think my first job in market 190 asked for two years experience. I was like where? Market 200? Hee hee.

I love that post.

[WOS]

My last job was at a 70s market and they used to advertise 2 years exp. Several recent reporter hires were straight out of college. I think they advertise that, hoping to get some experienced reporters, but when it all comes down to it, they'll hire whatever they can get, as cheaply as they can get them.

[east coast producer]

Oh get over it already.

I started on the air in Market 19 nearly 20 years ago.

A colleague of mine started on the air in Market ONE nearly 40 years ago.

D@mn!! My parents weren't even alive back then.

What was it like for your buddy to cover the signing of the Treaty of Versailles?

[s'news]

The signing of the Treaty of Versailles?

I've got that one. I was there.

I had to keep the lay-in short for my live shot, to make my slot. A radio guy had a big mic flag in the shot during the actual signing, and somebody spoke up in a friendly but professional way, and we got it out of the picture. And a young broadcaster named Lorne Green was there, not far from me, and had his first big story.

Good times. Good times. We all partied later at the Versailles Inn.

[!]

Then after you've bitten off more than you can chew, chew it.But do NOT be angry or bitter when you choke and are fired.
Because your own ego got you in over your head.

[Roy Hobbs]

Market 39 in exactly 18 months out of college.

Hung out with Meredith comparing professional notes 23 months after graduation.

#313. Meredith Vieira's network career skyrocketed after meeting Roy Hobbs in Chicago :p

[Roy Hobbs]

My last job was at a 70s market and they used to advertise 2 years exp. Several recent reporter hires were straight out of college. I think they advertise that, hoping to get some experienced reporters, but when it all comes down to it, they'll hire whatever they can get, as cheaply as they can get them.

We have a winner for honest, accurate and pragmatic Post of the Month.

[trunky]

"But do NOT be angry or bitter when you choke and are fired.
Because your own ego got you in over your head."

I'm talking less about ego, more about determination. Bold and persistent doesn't have to be cocky or egotistic.

If you sink rather than swim, then it may have been in the cards and that happens all the time, and not at all just to rookies.

So no, don't be angry or bitter quite yet. There are many things you can become bitter and angry about later, years down the road, well into your sparkly journalistic career.

You have to make it there though. You can get in the game or not, up to you.

[TVNewsLady]

I graduated from college nearly 8 years ago and am now am in a Top 40 market surrounded by colleagues that have anywhere from 18 months experience prior to this market, and one with ABSOLUTELY NONE. I agree with previous posts, the ads mean nothing. It's who you know, how little you'll work for in terms of pay, and if your work is decent.

[Charlie Brown]

...and on that note, San Diego is now hiring OMBs.

[QVectorman]

I graduated from college nearly 8 years ago and am now am in a Top 40 market surrounded by colleagues that have anywhere from 18 months experience prior to this market, and one with ABSOLUTELY NONE. I agree with previous posts, the ads mean nothing. It's who you know, how little you'll work for in terms of pay, and if your work is decent.

I must ask a question b/c I have noticed the same. I have known several producers that are absolutely horrible to work with and their work is NOT decent. Yet they still move up to mkts 10-40 after only a year of experience. We were all excited to see them leave, since we didn't have to deal with them anymore, but their producing was horrible (bad timing, bad ppl skills, horrible time cues, bad theory on story placement, freaking out when shows go heavy, freaking out in breaking news, ahh the list goes on) Do these things not matter in the big picture to measure the quality of a producer from a news stand point? (asking b/c I'm from the weather side) My question is how do they get these jobs....do they have a great tape? Or is the demand that great for producers in general that market size doesn't equate to quality and experience anymore?

[!]

Or is the demand that great for producers in general that market size doesn't equate to quality and experience anymore?
Yes..

[The Mockingbird]

Oh get over it already.

I started on the air in Market 19 nearly 20 years ago.

A colleague of mine started on the air in Market ONE nearly 40 years ago.

I think you missed my point. The reason that producers are so upwardly-mobile is because they are not on-air positions. A much smaller percentage of the herds of Broadcast Journalism students want to be producers.
Add non-competitive industry salaries, and you now know why there aren't enough competent producers.

[Galaxian]

I think you missed my point. The reason that producers are so upwardly-mobile is because they are not on-air positions. A much smaller percentage of the herds of Broadcast Journalism students want to be producers.
Add non-competitive industry salaries, and you now know why there aren't enough competent producers.
Depending on where you go, producer salaries can be somewhat lucrative, especially if you're COMPETENT. In my experience, stations are willing to pay a bit more to get the right producer, because so few people want to deal with the bullsh*t of being one. Some of those who do apply for producer jobs are reporter wannabes, and that sends up a red flag.

But you're right about the salary. I interviewed for a producing job in a 50-80 market recently, and was a bit shocked to learn the salary would likely be mid-$20,000, at the number-one station. Wow. With salaries like that, I can't blame myself for trying to find a job in public relations.

[TVMattNYC]

Depending on where you go, producer salaries can be somewhat lucrative, especially if you're COMPETENT. In my experience, stations are willing to pay a bit more to get the right producer, because so few people want to deal with the bullsh*t of being one. Some of those who do apply for producer jobs are reporter wannabes, and that sends up a red flag.

But you're right about the salary. I interviewed for a producing job in a 50-80 market recently, and was a bit shocked to learn the salary would likely be mid-$20,000, at the number-one station. Wow. With salaries like that, I can't blame myself for trying to find a job in public relations.

EXACTLY.

Yes, it's true that good producers are hard to find.

That is, for the money these broadcasters are offering them.

If you're paying a producer $20K in market 15, you'll get a producer who's worth only $20K. The ones who are worth more aren't willing to work for that kind of money.

You get what you pay for.

[Mayhem]

I think position has alot to do with it... A main anchor in market 160 could easily make more than a reporter in market 90.
A Chief Meteorologist in market 150 could easily make more than the weekend guy in market 100.
That being said, if the post is for a reporter in market 180 with 2 years experience... good luck.

[my moniker]

I used to be on-air, produced my own newscasts, I've done a bit of everything.

I left the business just to live where I want to live - but I'd be interested in producing in this market. Given what you all are saying about the quality of producers you'd think they'd bring me and let me get my land legs again... but this is a pretty good market so they probably don't have to take that risk.

Meanwhile, I'm seeing lots of technical errors in many of the newscasts I'm watching... so it must be even easier to get production jobs!

[The Fedora]

I think position has alot to do with it... A main anchor in market 160 could easily make more than a reporter in market 90.
A Chief Meteorologist in market 150 could easily make more than the weekend guy in market 100.
That being said, if the post is for a reporter in market 180 with 2 years experience... good luck.

exactly correct.