Getting A TV Job: Get It In Writing!

Let's say you've finally done it - you got your first TV job, or even your second TV job.  You've gotten past the phase where a news director calls you to say that you got the job.  Now is the time for contract negotiations.  It is also the time to start making sure EVERYTHING you discuss that may or may not be placed in your contract is seen in writing.  Do not assume that just because a news director says that they will give you something that they will. 

Here is an excerpt from the book on this topic:

Throughout your career there will be questions you have about this or that, and sometimes they will be relevant to the future of your career. They might be questions about your pay, about a raise you thought you were supposed to be seeing but haven’t yet seen in your paycheck yet, or comments about a co-worker that is bothering you that you want to make sure your immediate supervisor knows about.

To find out more about this section of the book  and other related sections, please click on the "Buy Now" link at the top of this page or click here.  You can also download the PDF version for about half the price as the printed book.  Enter MAYSAVE305 at checkout and save 15% on the book that will help you get your first TV job throughout the rest of May!

~Aaron Shaffer

Getting A TV Job: 15% Off The Book Cost!

Enter MAYSAVE305 at checkout and save 15% on the book that will help you get your first TV job throughout the rest of May!

This could be a great graduation gift or just a great gift to yourself! 

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the book in the next day or so!

~Aaron Shaffer

Getting A TV Job: Your First Contract

In the TV news job hunt, there are many highs and lows.  One of the highs is getting a job offer after an interview goes well.  The low that might immediately follow is due to a contract that has just been given to you.  There are many common clauses inserted into TV contracts that are discussed in the book, one of which being the notorious "anniversary clause."

Here is an excerpt from the book talking about contracts & contract laywers:

Hiring a contract lawyer is strongly recommended, despite the costs, to read through the contract and find any flaws. Under no circumstances should you sign a contract on the spot if you have an in-person interview. Make sure you have at least a few days to look over it and get a lawyer to look over it. 

I, personally, make sure to use a contract lawyer for every contract.

To find out more about this section of the book  and other related sections, please click on the "Buy Now" link at the top of this page or click here.  You can also download the PDF version for about half the price as the printed book.

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the book "So You Want To Be A TV Star?" along with more personal stories from the author!

~Aaron Shaffer

Getting A TV Job: Know Your Current Events

What's one of the most embarrassing things that can happen in an interview with a TV station?  You not knowing some major player in a breaking news event (a commonly known president's name, or the head guy at the Federal Reserve), or you not knowing anything about some major breaking weather event that just took place.

Here is an excerpt from the book where we discuss knowledge of current events, along with the importance of that knowledge:

A common problem in news is when a new reporter or anchor doesn’t know what’s happening in the world – they just want to be famous on TV. It is important that you’ve at least heard significant people’s names and have a rough idea of what they do and who they are. That way, when breaking news happens you’ll have a good idea of who the person is and how significant the news is. What is the worst and most embarrassing thing that can happen when you don’t know who someone is and you’re anchoring or reporting? You have to ask who that person is. While it won’t be the end of the world, it doesn’t help your image around the station at all either.

Keep that in mind not just while you are applying for your first job, but also after that as well!

To find out more about this section of the book  and other related sections, please click on the "Buy Now" link at the top of this page or click here.  Remember that until April 30th you can order the book with free shipping by using the code APRILMAIL305 upon checkout.  You can also download the PDF version for about half the price as the printed book.

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the book "So You Want To Be A TV Star?" along with more personal stories from the author!

~Aaron Shaffer

The Phone Interview

In a traditional job (i.e. not a TV job), you will likely get a phone call at some point from a potential employer or a recruiter.  They will ask you a few questions, making sure you are a good candidate for their position.  Eventually you will get an in-person interview and both you and your potential employer will figure out if you are a good match for each other.

In television news, the story is much different.  Most, if not all, of your first (and even second or third) job interviews will be done via the telephone.  This section of the book helps to prepare you for what to expect in those situations:

We just spent all of this time and paper space talking about the in-person interview – but the odds are that more than half of your interviews will actually take place over the phone. Even if you end up with an in-person interview, you probably had to get through a phone interview of some sort first, in order to end up with the in-person interview. As such, this topic is definitely one to consider. 

Some people will literally move across the whole country for their first job without even seeing the station first.  While that is not recommended, it might be what it will take in order to land your first job.  Try to seek out opinions on the station and their building before doing something drastic like that (posting a thread in Medialine asking about the market is a good start).

To find out more about this section of the book  and other related sections, please click on the "Buy Now" link at the top of this page or click here.  Remember that until April 30th you can order the book with free shipping by using the code APRILMAIL305 upon checkout.  You can also download the PDF version for about half the price as the book itself.

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the book "So You Want To Be A TV Star?" along with more personal stories from the author!

Making A Resume Tape: Watch Yourself

In a previous blog posting we discussed the need to get critiques from people you intern with.  Another great - and very important - way to make your tape better?  Watch yourself.  You will likely be one of the biggest critics you will ever have.

Prior to getting my first on-air job I would practice in front of the camera.  I remember one time where I declared after recording a fake weathercast for my tape that it was "the best I had ever done."  Upon getting home and watching what I had just recorded, I got to that weathercast and was appalled, thinking "that was the worst I have ever recorded."  That appalling weathercast was the one I had declared to be my best.  Watching yourself is very important, here is an excerpt from a section on doing just that from the book:

Sometimes you are your own worst critic. Make sure you find other people more experienced in the business to do true critiques – but also make sure that you are taping yourself as you practice your skills. You do it in different ways, but it is important for all facets of the news industry – be it reporting, anchoring, or weather. 

We talk about the answers to questions surrounding resume tapes, and give you suggestions on how to make the best possible resume tape in "So You Want To Be A TV Star?"  To find out more about this section of the book  and other related sections, please click on the "Buy Now" link at the top of this page or click here.  Remember that until April 30th you can order the book with free shipping by using the code APRILMAIL305 upon checkout.  You can also download the PDF version for about half the price as the book itself.

Stay tuned for more excerpts from the book "So You Want To Be A TV Star?" along with more personal stories from the author!

~Aaron Shaffer

Radio Interview Tonight!

Radio interview on KULT tonight for Northern Iowa University on the book... listen at http://www.uni.edu/kult starting at 9pm tonight.

We'll have more updates on the blog in the next couple of days!  Stay tuned!

~Aaron Shaffer