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Downsizing is a reality that almost everyone in the radio business has been directly or indirectly impacted by.
The initial shock is quickly followed by what now? What’s next, and how do I stand out in an ever-shrinking job market?
Country consultant Kenny Jay of Albright & O’Malley & Brenner advises the following:
- Schedule job searching/networking on a calendar just as you would with a job. Take breaks, and don’t let it consume you
- Put your professional contacts in an Excel doc, organized by time zone, so you can stretch out your networking opportunities depending on where you are. Talk to everyone. Sometimes, a tertiary connection can be the best lead on a new position or open up a connection you need
- Don’t give up if you don’t hear back from someone right away – politely follow up with content you’re working on or a new skill you are developing
- Find one new skill or activity you’ve always wanted to learn or accomplish and do it! Plant the garden, volunteer, run a marathon – now is the time, and it helps you keep a positive mindset
- Take a break from being unemployed. It’s the hardest thing to do, but the odds of you getting time like this during your professional years are rare. Be as present as you can for family because, in our industry, odds are good you’ve made them second for a long time
BONUS: Reach out to every consultant, no matter what format they specialize in. I work with a lot of people who oversee multiple stations or companies that are looking for talent. The amount of people who don’t connect with me because they think we only have Country stations or someone else only does Rhythmic can’t help is an opportunity I don’t want you to miss.
Julian Nieh, known as “JulianOnTheRadio,” has his own approach. He was most recently heard on afternoons at Star 101.5 Seattle until the format switched to Country this past April. In addition to tracking for stations nationwide, Julian’s professional stops include San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Seeking a way to stand out in the crowded job market, Julian produced a video project called “I’ve Been There.”
“It’s basically a video short to provide a little bit more insight as to who I am and what I’ve done. Nothing too deep, but it gives people a vibe of my character along with a little bit of what I’ve been through,” Julian said.
While not created to replace the traditional aircheck, Julian says that providing that alone may not get you the attention you want.
“Personally, I think the standard aircheck is a thing of the past. Although the radio stuff is in there, I wanted to do and show more. It was made to transparently get a job, motivate others to keep going, and show that I’m empathetic to anyone who’s been through hard times. Because, “I’ve Been There.”
Julian knows the 13-minute video might be too long for potential employers to consume in one bite. “I totally get that everyone is busy with life and careers. So, timestamps are in the description specifically if you just want to check out one segment. Regardless, I’m honored and appreciative to anyone who just presses play.”
Check out JulianOnTheRadio’s “I’ve Been There” video here.
Reach out to Julian by email here.
