| Topic Name: |
Big Market Weather Openings |
| Message Name: |
WTVJ |
| Date Posted: |
05/17/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
in my opinion, to what you write about agents and "word of mouth" jobs. But, I suspect less truth than you think. Support of what I just wrote can be found through my own experiences in the past month, as I've conducted a new job search without an agent:
1. If one is a "salesman" type, and doesn't mind making tons of calls and playing a numbers game, you'd be surprised at how many news directors, even big market ones (I've talked to three Los Angeles news directors, and news directors in Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, etc.) come to the phone or even return calls. You have to have the time as well as the inclination for this.
2. I've learned of a few upcoming openings this way, in other words, openings that were not widely known.
3. Unlike yesteryear, many job openings are on the internet.
4. A consultant told me the other day that less people are going for representation.
5. I talked to an agent a couple of weeks ago who says he's having a hard time placing clients in my field. I seemed to be doing just as well for myself as he was doing for his clients, in fact, better because at that time I had an interview lined up and what amounted to an offer from another station. That's another story.
Supporting your point, notice I didn't list a New York City news director. I was not able to reach a single one by phone. Also, the call method I wrote about above works if there's an opening at the time one calls. If an opening occurs two weeks later, most news directors probably will not go out of their way call you to let you know, even though you called during the past couple of weeks inquiring. Now how about the networks? Certainly, if one is a reporter in Cleveland and wants to be a correspondent for CBS, yes, I think an agent is very useful. But, now, if a reporter or weathercaster is in Cleveland and wants to go to Los Angeles, he can send a tape to Talent Directors for some networks (NBC, CNN, and FOX are examples). And agents know when a client is leaving a station, therefore knows of an opening. That is a definite advantage. I could go on, but will end it there. |
| Message: |
Any word on who's going to Miami?
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