How do you get a job in Irish Radio?

RosieRo

Right, here's the story. I'm in the final year of a music technology degree. Last summer I attempted to gain employment in Irish Radio. I sent out my CV (which the careers department in college thought was grand) and cover letter in answer to many ad and on spec. I had nothing but rejections. This year I finish my degree and I'm seriously worried that I'll be on the dole.

Apart from having a degree in a relevant subject, editing skills/experience, production skills/experience, presenting experience, research and administrative skills and bags of confidence what else can I possibly do to get an job in Irish Radio?

And before anways says it I'm not sleeping with Gerry Ryan to get there. Ugh!

louisecm

Harass harass harass. Be persistent. Annoy them and work for free. I really believe thats the only way. You have to get in there to show them that you're good. Thats how I started, had to work for free for 6 months but I got a job in the end and now I have 4 years experience, loads of contacts and the best education I could ever want.

RosieRo

I had a horrible feeling that might be the answer, but I'm totally willing to do it. Pity I didn't do my degree in harrasment, eh?

What do you do Lousie?

I'd ideally one day like to get into production.

FlutterinBantam

Apart from all that , are you related to anyone out in RTE?

To an auld lag like me this seems to be ONE of the best ways to get in.

Not sure if I'm accurate on these but...

Michelle McCaughran...daughter of Tom??

Sarah Caden..... relation of John??

Aisling Bastable...something to Bart.??

Micheál O Mhuirceartaigh has a daughter as a spotter /statistics for the GAA games

I'm sure there are many more behind the scenes.

Other than that,were you a student radical who espoused Communism/Rastafarianism/Agnosticism and free love for the slum dwellers of Rio and organised at least three full scale riots and two to three half riots in Dublin??
Did you spend two years with the Incas in the high Andes?
Do you pronounce "town" as "taeuwn" and "bit" as "bih"???

An address in D4/6/6w/16/14 or SoCo would be helpful.


Other than that its talent..... won't get you into RTE though

RosieRo

Question 1: No
Question 2: No
Question 3: I could do if I was guaranteed a job at the end of it.
Question 4: No, I went to eleocution dah-ling!
Question 5: Maybe I could make D12 'in'

And as for talent, I think I have my share, a light sprinkling to toot my own horn. Toot toot!

SimonMaher

FlutterinBantam wrote:

Apart from all that , are you related to anyone out in RTE?

To an auld lag like me this seems to be ONE of the best ways to get in.

Not sure if I'm accurate on these but...


Aisling Bastable...something to Bart.??

No, nothing to Bart. 10 Years in the local radio sector though.

Agreed on the persistence thing though, keep working at it and you will get there. Keep sending the letters and make sure you get some experience, even if its in the community/hospital sector. A degree is great but speaking from experience, Im always more impressed by a CV that has some experience on it too. Doesn't have to be RTE or even large scale commercial radio, just has to be experience, getting your hands dirty!

Simon

RosieRo

I always knew I'd have to give it away for free at first, I don't mind because I love doing it. I've worked on two restricted service licences now and I'm wondering how long my mothers charity will hold out...eek!

Lucky for me she's a very charitable woman.

r3nu4l

YEp, working for local radio/hospital radio and/or pirate radio would be a good way to gain 'on-the-job experience'.

I know a lot of the old hacks cut their teeth on the pirate stations, not sure how good it looks on the CV these days.

FlutterinBantam

"luckily for me"...keep at the auld grammar..best of luck hope you get there.

0ubliette

Ive heard its hard to get into. I know myself and 2 friends had done the pulse college course and none of us, or any of the class as far as i know, got anything from it, i moved to computers instead, its a bit easier to find work there.
I think the whole radio and sound engineering scene is very much not what you know, but who you know.

dr.bollocko

You could sleep with Ge.... Oh wait. You said you WON'T do that.
Damn. That makes it tougher.

Must be easier for you to sneak your way through? I mean you aren't necessarily going to be a host or anything, right away in any case? Therefore, with your music tech Masters (Arts or Sc?) surely you should back door through a production / editting / tech or even online support job, and get to be one of those surly people working behind the scenes that nobody questions / has any idea what work they actually do? Then when everyone around the office cant stop laughing / being entertained / wanting to be you, you will surely get your chance to forever revolutionise irish radio.
Speaking of forever revolutionising Irish radio, some young fella said **** this morning when he lost a quiz.
Its this kind of disgusting drop in standards is why we need fresh blood in the radio bid'ness.

RosieRo

Luckily for me I want to go into radio, and not print!!

I actually did the pulse course years ago, when I was straight out of school, I didn't establish a career from it but it gave me the confidence to go forward and it was great fun.

My qualification will be BSc, which seems to carry a bit more weight than a BA.

Maybe I'll reconsider that Gerry Ryan thing....nah! I'll keep sending out CV's and demos and cross all body parts crossable.

crybaby

try and pickup a job in one of the local stations as a sorta apprentice to whoever is doing production there and keep at it on a terrible wage while you learn everything they have to teach, they will be happy with the extra pair of hands at such a low low price. theres so much to learn when it comes to production as I am finding out myself although the Pulse courses are fantastic.

You really need to get a top notch demo together aswell

On the other hand you could try and get a researcher position which are far easier to come by and work your way up from there

Aisling Bastabl

Aisling Bastable...something to Bart.??

To the best of my knowlege I am no relation of Bart Bastable, maybe down the generations there's a link - it is an unusual name afterall.

As for how to get ahead; Hard work and determination. I spent a long number of years working in the independent sector, in Midlands 103, CKR, FM104 and Today FM. It might be an idea to lose some of that cockiness. It's nice to be confident but there's a fine line between it and rubbing people up the wrong way. My advice - put your head down, keep your mouth shut and learn from those around you. If you truly are talented and are prepared to work your ass off (very often for little or no money) you will get there in the end.

r3nu4l

Aisling Bastabl wrote: »

It might be an idea to lose some of that cockiness. It's nice to be confident but there's a fine line between it and rubbing people up the wrong way.

Nice reply Aisling! although I do take issue with the cockiness bit, I'm not sure RosieRo displayed any cockiness. Enthusiasm and anxiousness yes, cockiness, no

Certainly learning from those around you is vital. In most jobs it pays to keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut for a while until you get the lay of the land. As the saying goes "The monkey at the top of the tree can talk sh1t but the monkeys climbing up the tree better keep their mouths closed or they'll end up eating sh1t!"

So RosieRo, have you had any luck with those applications? Did you try any stints on community or local radio?

Stylo

With all due respect Aishling, your reply typifies the horrible horrible attitude that pervades Montrose.

Here's a young girl who has to turn to a forum like this for advice, and imho, has had a bit of craic with other posters who proffer their tuppence worth, and here you come calling her cocky ! Is it that long ago when you were in her shoes ? It's typical of some to immediately put down someone young with exhuberance. That type of ambition needs to be nurtured - not neutered

You have proved that hard work and keeping your head down will get you places, and fair play to you - you have managed to get into the Pantheon that is Irish Radio and TV Broadcasting (with all respect to all the other independent operators) and are doing very well. But you've had you're fair share of luck along the way - just like Pat Kenny or Gerry Ryan has - we all need it !

My tuppence worth, for what it is worth, echoes that of many others, including Aisling. You'll have to get 'real' experience - something that is not taught in college books. Try Anna Livia for starters, if possible, and work for little, or most likely nothing, for a while. Or what about the Radio Academy ? Is that still going ? You could try there.

Best of Luck anyway

S

Slicklink

Rosie,

What you gotta do is narrow down exactly what you do wanna do in radio. You mention production, presenting experience and research. Which of these is it ?

Are you a natural behind the mic ? What type of presentation ? Newsreader/Jock ?

Would you rather be on the production side ?

If its the former, Have you stuck together and demo and bombarded stations with it ? Does it have all the right elements that stations look for ?

Cv's and qualifications will not get you a job in radio. Raw talent is mandatory. If you have that then you will also need persistance, patience and determination. You will probably gain all through experience. Yes you will have to start at the bottom. Lets face facts here, nobody hands you a job in radio on the basis of a third level qualification. It doesnt work like that as its talent focussed rather than qualifications based. If you are really good then you will get noticed quickly enough. Whilst the days of the old pirate radio training ground are gone there are alternatives through community/temporary licensed stations.

You mention you worked for RSL's. This is community radio in the UK, right ?

Do you have a demo that you would like comments on ? Would you be willing to share it ?

If you disregard the banter and the sniping you will probably find that Simon Maher (broadcasting lecturer and Phantom GM) has given you a good steer.

You may also wish to check in here regularly where jobs are advertised.

http://www.radiowavesforum.com/rw/forumdisplay.php?f=12

I see a few are advertised at the mo.

Dudess

This thread is seven and a half months old!

Slicklink

Jeez only noticed the date myself now. Ah well that young lady probably has a job and all by now

PS I saw nothing wrong in Aislings post. It is true. Whilst self confidence is a must there is nothing that gets up a seasoned pro's nose than a young know it all....... regardless of what side of the industry you are working in.

I hate seeing stuff like "horrible attitude that pervades Montrose". What kinda statement is that ? Do you work there ? No you dont as you quite obviously aspire to in you're next sentence. Loose that bloody chip. Like any part of the radio industry there is good and bad, bit like any job, mind you.

Dudess

But I don't think the OP WAS being cocky or a know-it-all, just enthusiastic and good-natured.

Stylo

Worked there for over 12 months Slick - that's how I know. Nothing chippy about it. Still in the industry and lovin it. Just know how stifling it can be out there in D4

S

Agent Smith

RosieRo wrote: »

And before anways says it I'm not sleeping with Gerry Ryan to get there. Ugh!

pat "the plank" kenny?

r3nu4l

Stylo wrote: »

Just know how stifling it can be out there in D4

Funny, the other day both Chris Moyles and Richard Hammond had the same complaint about the the BBC

templeathea

As other posters have said, persistence and determination and luck go a long way, probably further than formal qualifications. These qualities will give you a 25% chance of getting in.

Coming from D4/Blackrock/Clonskeagh or playing Rugby will give you the another 50%.

Being related to someone in there is the final piece of the jigsaw.

If I was you I would focus on TV3/Independent Radio and forget about that waste of taxpayers money in Montrose