What Those Newbies Do...

[midwestnewsgirl]

Hey everyone!

I, like FrontierMan, am headed for my second job!!! After a very long search, I have found a new job, in a top 50 market, with a great owner, and decent salary! Yay!

My question is about starting the new job, since it's been a while since I've been new somewhere.

What is it that new people do at your station that drive you up the walls?!?

I know I should NEVER start a sentence with "Well, at my old station we..." but what else?

Thank you!!!

[TVMattNYC]

Just don't try so hard to be our friend.

Trust us, we'll like you.

Just give us a little time to get to know you.

[Who Cares???]

Listen and learn...

[The Mockingbird]

If you're female, have sex with all the male producers. If you're really good, they'll let you do it for an extra fifteen seconds.

[cinehead]

Hey everyone!

I, like FrontierMan, am headed for my second job!!! After a very long search, I have found a new job, in a top 50 market, with a great owner, and decent salary! Yay!

My question is about starting the new job, since it's been a while since I've been new somewhere.

What is it that new people do at your station that drive you up the walls?!?

I know I should NEVER start a sentence with "Well, at my old station we..." but what else?

Thank you!!!

Look, listen and learn to how things are done at your new station. It's likely they have an established system of how to do things that works for them. Learn it and adapt to it.

[Pinkie]

It's going to take you awhile to get used to how things are done at the station. That's going to annoy people. Don't worry about it, they will get over it and so will you. Just remain eager to learn, friendly and humble and you'll pick up the ways of the new station quickly.


Good luck!

[Roy Hobbs]

Just don't try so hard to be our friend.

Trust us, we'll like you.

Just give us a little time to get to know you.

Oh, I have a feeling I'd like her a lot more as my friend then you would, Matt.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

(BTW Thanks again for a great nickel tour last year Matt...always nice to soar in the lofty heights of the Hallowed Halls)

[Roy Hobbs]

Hey everyone!

I, like FrontierMan, am headed for my second job!!! After a very long search, I have found a new job, in a top 50 market, with a great owner, and decent salary! Yay!

My question is about starting the new job, since it's been a while since I've been new somewhere.

What is it that new people do at your station that drive you up the walls?!?

I know I should NEVER start a sentence with "Well, at my old station we..." but what else?

Thank you!!!

Jesus had it right when he told his followers: "Be quick to listen and slow to speak."

It's amazing how much you'll learn and pick up just by keeping silent and speaking only when spoken to.

Given a newsroom, that will be especially handy as you determine who's who in terms of white hats and black hats, backstabbers and old bats.

[Union Label]

Keep in mind that your new coworkers will have probably done a more thorough and accurate job of vetting you than your new employer has. This is a very small world where everyone seems to know everyone else. Potential bad apples are usually well known long before they spend their first day on the payroll. If you have skeletons in your closet, don't count on keeping them secret. Even though the announcement of your hiring from the ND paints a flattering picture of your education and work experience, all it takes is one call to someone you've crossed paths with in the past in order to sully any benefit from a glowing resume. I doubt if many among us can brag about not having committed a gaffe or two earlier in their career. Trying to hide them is never a good idea.

Good luck with the new job. Do a lot more listening than talking during your first days and weeks. Unless you were hired by someone to shake up the operation, your best bet is to try and fit in. If you think you have a better idea on how something should be done, get to know the players for a while before speaking up and making suggestions. If you are scheduled to work a weekend or holiday, take it in stride. Newbies usually get the worst shifts whether it is market #1 or #210 and you won't be the newbie forever.

[s'news]

In particular, listen to the photographers.

[Union Label]

In particular, listen to the photographers.

This is excellent advice. Most photographers tend stick around on their jobs a lot longer than most NDs. Many of them tend to be a whole lot more savvy too.

[east coast producer]

Oh, I have a feeling I'd like her a lot more as my friend then you would, Matt.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

(BTW Thanks again for a great nickel tour last year Matt...always nice to soar in the lofty heights of the Hallowed Halls)

Hell, next time you're there, I'll rent you my keycard for $5 and you can have the run of the place. (Avoid the cafeteria. They'll a$$rape you at the register worse than Matt would!)

[midwestnewsgirl]

Thanks for all the advice so far!

I will certainly keep my mouth shut (as hard as that may be) and soak in as much as possible.

Please keep these suggestions coming! I really want to make a good first impression! (during my interview, I only met the weekenders I'll be working with.)

[TopRamen]

Ask for lots of advice on the locale--places to eat, shop, live, etc. Gather input. People like sharing their opinions and those are good icebreakers!

Also, sounds silly, but get an idea of the corporate culture--is it a dressy shop? Casual? As a young producer at my first paying gig, I made the mistake of showing up all classy and in a suit. There were people there who never warmed to me. It was definitely a t-shirt and jeans place. Be true to yourself, but don't be such a standout that others feel that you're trying to make a value statement about yourself. I think that is where I went wrong.

[overthehill]

Be humble. Don't come in with an attitude or ego. Despite what you may think, you do not know more than anyone else in the newsroom and you're probably not better than everyone in the newsroom.

No matter how many times you bring in story ideas and they get shot down, continue to bring in more ideas. Don't feel bad that they don't like your ideas. They will sooner or later.

Beyond getting familiar with names, personalities and such IN your newsroom, invest time in getting to know the community/city/market beyond the stories in your newscast and what's in the local papers. Get out to experience the city/market, in your free time. Just knowing the geography helps a ton.

Don't assume you know how to pronounce everything. Ask first. There are no dumb questions; only dumb answers.

Did I say be humble? You'll earn respect with each and every story you do correctly.

Expect to fail sometimes. Learn from each failure and mistake.

Be excited to work every day...even though you may not be. Attitude will earn you more positive pub among your co-workers sometimes than skill.

Find someone to be a mentor in the newsroom right away. Someone you can turn to for those "stupid" questions and the--"am I doing OK? questions and someone who will be critical and honest with you.

Good luck.

[Bureau Chief]

Buying lunch for ALL of your co-worker couldnt hurt!

[TVNewsLady]

I just went through this. Definitely talk with the photogs, if you're in a Top 50 there's a chance some of them have been there for a decent amount of time. Get to know your producers, this is extremely important. Get to know their styles and what they expect out of you. Stand back and really take in the newsroom's vibe. Those people who want to be your friend, may just want to know what they're up against.