Radio Jobs and Careers - How can I work in radio?

Over the years I have had many people ask me how to get a job working at a radio station, or more specifically, "How can I become a DJ?".

Below I have posted a list that has links to many useful resources for finding a job in radio.  Many of the links will have job listings for; DJ's or air personalities, advertising sales, promotions, and management, for markets all over the USA.  You could easily browse these links and simply apply for any gig that you feel your qualified for. 

If you have never worked in radio, and would just like to get your foot in the damn door, I have a few suggestions that you might try.

1. Intern:  I started by working as an Intern at 98 Rock in Tampa Florida.  I simply lied to them and told them I needed the credits in order to graduate from USF.  Oddly, I wasn't attending USF or any other college at the time.  I worked for almost an entire year for free before they found out I wasn't in school.  On my last day, they decided I was too valuable to let go, so they hired me as a part time producer for the morning show.  Many people start working in radio as interns.  You'll work for FREE, but you will learn.
2. Promotions Assistant/Street Team:  Promotions assistants, or street team, work very long hours and get paid very little money.  But hey, at least they are getting paid.  You will need to be available for weekends and holidays, with a good attitude.   Promotions assistants won't get much air time, if any, however your foot is in the door and the contacts that you make are worth the effort.  Plus, you might just find a great career in promotions.  Promotions Directors are considered management, plus they get first dibs on the perks.  I know several jocks who started out by working as a promotions assistant.  Isn't that right Jeremy?
3. Contribute to a Show:  By calling in to your favorite DJ's show and contributing material, you just might prove yourself a valuable asset and score a paycheck.  Don't underestimate this method, I know several major market jocks who started out by doing this very thing.  Maybe you're good on the phone, or can make comedy bits or parody songs.  Radio is the black hole of content, it will eat everything you throw into it.  Trust me, if you got some talent, there is a show that would love to use it.
4. FAKE IT!  Why not?  It's too easy.  First, tape a days worth of breaks from your favorite DJ.  Daytime Jocks work best.  Write it all down.  Then, copy what he does, word for word.  Make a recording of yourself doing the same breaks.  Now you have a demo.  Send that demo into your local radio stations Program Director and offer to work any shift, weekends, nights, fill-in, anything.
5. Learn:  You can teach yourself, if you have the patience.  There are plenty of books and trade magazines that have all kinds of information and tips on how to be a good radio personality.  Read them, study the art, then try to make your demo.

Ready to make a Demo?
But of course you are! Your a superstar man, we just didn't know it.  But before you go and make your awesome demo, here are a couple of things that you might wish to avoid.

• Never Ever Say:  With ya, For ya, On Deck, a little somethin, I'm crazy, That's cooky, 'round the corner, my main man, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazup, Hey Everybody, or Yo.
• Be very careful not to use to many crutch words like:  Man, dude, Yo, allright!, Um, So, well aaa, and aaaaa, o.k..
• Never give the time twice.  ex.  It's 5:06, six minutes after 5 o'clock.  Unless of course you wear polyester to work and it's 1978.
• PUKING:  We call it puking when people start talking all weird when they are on the microphone.  It's almost like vomit is going to erupt from their throat.  Strip club DJ's are always "Pukers".  Just talk like yourself, be clear, be cool.
• The Rollercoaster Delivery:  This is when your voice goes from High to Low, Fast or Slow, and back again, all during the same sentence. 
• Repeating yourself:  Repeating yourself:  It's annoying.  It's annoying.
• NO MORE DJ's with the last name of:  Stone or Steel.  If i hear one more female DJ with the last name of Stone or Steel I'm going to freak out.  "Hi, this is Lisa Steel with your late night requests".  O GOD!

Some things you might want to do:

• Think about what you going to say before you start talking.  What's the point of the break?  How are you going to start?  How are you going to end?
• Be Quick.  When you first start off, your better off doing short breaks that are concise and to the point.  ex. "Chicago's Great Rock, 106.8, The Beaver, I'm Joe Shmo with 30 minutes of non-stop classic rock including; BTO, AC/DC, and it all starts off with Aerosmith, Next".
• As a general rule, it's better to talk about what's coming up, rather then what just happened.  Keep it moving forward.  Tease it.
• Don't read the liner cards (live promotions or advertising) word for word.  Yes, read them, read them before hand, and come up with your own way to say the key information in your own way.  Type it out if you have too.  Liner Card readers suck.  See the first suggestion again.
• Have your friends listen to your demo.  Have your friends and family listen to your new demo.  Listen to what they have to say about it, but better than that, watch them as they listen to it.  You can actually see how your breaks effect them by just watching their facial expressions.
• Keep trying!  There are not a lot of radio jobs and lots of talented DJ's looking for work.  You will get rejected!  We all do.  Don't get discouraged, keep working on a new demo, make it better, submit it again, and again, and again.  Eventually, you will score a gig.
•  

O.k., you made your superstar radio demo.  Great job!  If you would like me to listen to it, and tell you what I think, you can send it me via email.  Turn it into a mono mp3 file, and send it to me:  bob@bobnarley.com

I wish you the best of luck in your new quest young Jedi.

Radio Job Links:

Here are some links that you can use to hunt for radio gigs.  Some are the corporate job listings, which work great.  Other links are to websites that also list jobs.  Try them all.  Send out the demo's!  Good Luck Rookie!

Once you have a demo, this website should be your first stop.

Here are some other job websites, some are outdated, some aren't.  Try them.

Emmis
Entercom
Fisher
Flinn
Forum
Granite
Greater Media, Inc.
Jefferson-Pilot
Journal Broadcast Group
Kaspar Broadcasting Group
Milwaukee Radio Alliance
Perry Publishing and Broadcasting
Pilot Communications
Pinnacle
Pride
Radio People
Saga
Shaw
Sinclair
Sorenson
Standard
STARadio
Tribune
US Radio
VerStandig
WIC

Other  Radio Resources

Applause Music Careers
Cyberspace Jealously-Guarded Recruiting Secrets
Canadian Radio Jobs
OnAirLA.com
Radio Aircheck
Radio Airchecks
Radio Connection
ShowBizJobs.com
Sportscasting Jobs
Triad CD Creators

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