The following is in response to an email which I received from a hopeful candidate. It is one of hundreds we receive each week and hopefully my response will benefit other hopefuls
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How To Interview for Talk Radio Host

How To Interview for Talk Radio Host Job

I don’t normally respond to emails. Usually you’re either who we’re seeking or you’re not. If you are, we schedule an interview. If you’re not, then you simply don’t hear from us.

Your email touched a chord with me and with your permission I’d like to offer some tips which may help you to uncover the opportunity that you’re seeking.

I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like to be hungry and wanting your first break. Hopefully, I can pass on some tips that will help you achieve your broadcasting goals.

First, let me state that we are not a “radio station”. Probably the best you can hope for from a radio station in this area is about $40k a year and you never know when you’ll be out of a job because they change formats or decide to go into a different direction.

The position you inquired about is a six figure position. We invest more in promoting our hosts than most stations pay their hosts (upwards to $50k). Our new hosts earn between $150,000 to $300,000 a year depending upon their market and how much time they invest into their careers. They work an average of two to three times a week and they don’t have to worry about the change of formats. They are basically their own boss and control their incomes.

We can afford to pay them quite a bit more because we already have everything in place, the sponsors, the audience, the decision makers, etc… We know how to promote them and build their brand quickly.

As you may be aware, the current administration is trying to gain control over radio station content, several key players such as Citadel Broad casting are in bankruptcy, Congress is trying to pass a bill which would require music stations to pay taxes or royalties for songs they play, even blogradio is going to be effected because the President recently signed an executive order to place the Internet under the control of the FTC, the industry itself is in a state of high fluctuation due to these upheavals. This means you’re going to discover it’s increasingly difficult to find a broadcasting position in this economy and if you do it may not last long.

That’s the doom and gloom…

We’re a bit different from what you’re expecting however our decision making process is much the same as a radio station you may be interviewing for. So, woman to woman here are some tips.

Tip #1: Know the position you’re applying for. Who is the niche? What specifically are they seeking? In our ad we stated that we were seeking someone who was entrepreneurial and business oriented we also provided some of the “must haves” however your inquiry didn’t mention that you could do any of these things or you were aware of how to do any of these things.

It’s important for you to respond to the elements of the position that the interviewer is seeking. There are specific reasons why they mention what they are seeking. You want to let your interviewer know that you have the qualifications needed. When you ignore this then you tell the interviewer you don’t have these qualifications.

Tip #2: Project confidence in your inquiry. Don’t leave it up to them to decide if you’re the right person. You tell them that you are. In your inquiry to us you weren’t sure if you right for us or not. This immediately tells the station that you’re not because you don’t know. Instead, you tell them that you are and will make a follow up call to schedule an appointment.

Tip #3: Don’t tell them what you’re not. In your inquiry you told us that you weren’t 40 and that you didn’t have very much experience. Instead tell them what you are that would help them to see that you would be an asset.

For example, we were seeking someone with a voice range of 40 rather than the age of 40. You could have stated that you can project a mature confident voice that would inspire confidence and trust into our listeners. In this way you turn a negative into a positive. You’re giving us reasons to say yes instead of no.

Tip #4: Eliminate irrelevant information. Those who are interviewing are receiving a lot of inquiries to the position. They want a quick snap shot of who you are rather than what you’ve done. Keep in mind they’re seeking a “personality”.

The school you went to is irrelevant and could be a determent. You may be exactly the person we’re seeking but mentioning “Fenton, MO” the interviewer thinks, “hick” or determines that they can hire you less expensively than someone from the Missouri-Columbia which has been listed in Money Magazine as a solid broadcasting school.

Telling your interviewer you’re from “Central Methodist” can also be a deterrent if they don’t share your religious belief or they may think you’re going to be too prudish, uptight, naïve, etc…

It is good that you have experience and you should mention that you were station manager, etc.. However, mentioning something like “Eagle Radio” doesn’t really tell the interviewer anything. Is this a hard rock station? Gospel music? Sports?

Your mention of your sports background may be confusing and project that you’re mostly interested in becoming a sports broadcaster. You may have inadvertently labeled and limited your opportunities.

The point is that what you place into your inquiry or your resume or what you say and do in your interview is very important. Even how you dress for an interview is important and the photos you send are important.

You have to really think about the “image” you’re projecting. Always keep in mind that your interviewer has an image in mind for the personality they’re seeking. You always want to conform to that image as closely as possible. Never distract them with irrelevant info that could negate your chances.

Tip #5: Get the Interview: As mentioned before don’t leave it to the Interviewer. If you want a job then you’re going to have to ask for it. You’re going to have to be more proactive. Broadcasting is a highly competitive field.

The best way to get an interview is to make contact and see if you can take the producer, executive producer or some other decision maker out to lunch. They’ll be flattered and if they’re savvy enough they’ll appreciate that you’re willing to be proactive and take some risks. This tells them more about you than anything else.

Tip #6: Take them to lunch. This could be the best $15 investment you’ll ever make. Be sure to scout where to take the person to lunch at. It doesn’t have to be expensive but fast food is out of the question and you want to ensure that you meet in a place that is relatively quiet. If the restaurant has music so loud that you have to shout over it then that’s not a good place to meet. You want a nice relaxing environment.

The longer you can hold your lunch companion’s attention the more likely you are to make an impression. Everyone is pressed for time but I’ve known our interviewers to be gone for three hours and the person usually got hired.

And for goodness sake, turn off that damn cellphone. There’s no excuse for it to be a distraction.

Tip #7: Dress to project success. Keep in mind that your future employer has a definite image in mind. They are looking for a “personality”. How you dress should project your personality, what the interviewer told you they were looking for and help the interviewer see you in the position they have in mind.

I’ve seen women (and men) show up for interviews in shorts, showing tattoos, with facial piercing, clogs, without makeup or too much makeup, faded jeans and other godawful clothing. They may be in style but they are not part of the image that the interviewer has in mind.

You never want to project that you’re uptight or a prude. You do want to project professionalism, maturity, confidence and sensuality. It’s also ok to be nervous and admit your nervous. Whether you’re male or female, this always gets the empathy of the interviewer.

You have to keep in mind, that the station is going to invest some money into promoting you. For a local station this could be $500 to $1500. In our case, it’s $50k plus. So, you want to dress like you’re worth the investment and know how to dress.

For men, this could mean casual dress bordering on dress. Suits are not necessary and may project stuffiness but shorts or sweats are definitely a no-no. Dress pants and dress shirt are fine.

For women, I would highly recommend going with the classics such as a dark A-skirt (skirt should always be above the knees), white button down blouse, hose and heels. I know that women who wear the above always stay on the list of our interviewers. Very light perfume and appropriate accessories are also a good choice.

The interviewer is thinking how you’re going to look in the promo photos, on billboards, etc… It’s not just about your voice or personality it’s also about what you project about yourself.

(Don’t be afraid to send lots of photos in various poses so the interviewer will find what they’re looking for.)

In our case, our talk-radio hosts meet with sponsors, conduct seminars and workshops (or host them), are promoted heavily in publications such as the local Chamber of Commerce or Business Journal publications, etc.. their photos appear frequently and they interact frequently with their audience. So looks are also important as well as the personality of the host we choose.

Tip #8: Know what you’re going to discuss. Don’t spend the lunch or the interview time talking about yourself. Instead, find out what the interviewer is looking for and why. Let them know that you have those qualities they are seeking. Let them know you understand. Let them know what you’re willing to do for them. Let them know you’re willing to do whatever it takes without any complaints in order to succeed. That’s what they want to hear. Talk to them about their goals instead of yours.

Interviews are about seduction. If you can’t seduce, entice and compel the interviewer to spend time with you or to hire you or at least give you a try — then chances are you won’t be able to seduce, entice or compel their listeners to listen to your program.

It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, whether it’s radio, television or any other position — the interview is always about seduction. The best way to seduce is to get the other person to talk about themselves. Establish rapport. Build a relationship with the interviewer. If you can’t do that then chances are you won’t be very successful as a talk-radio host.

Tip #9: If you’re turned down don’t give up. Just because you’re turned down doesn’t mean there’s not a position for you. You may not fit the position or someone else may fit the position better than you. Most people tend to quit at this point.

However, if you’re sincerely interested in learning or a broadcasting career then ask the interviewer what else you would have needed to be chosen? What else were they looking for? Where do you need improvement? Do they have a non-salary internship program?

Be willing to work for free if necessary — to get your foot in the door. Even if you’re working for free you’ll be in the best position to know when new projects are being started, be able to position yourself, move up and even pitch your own ideas. You’ll gain respect.

If you’re not chosen, take the initiative, offer to take the interviewer out to lunch again and suggest ideas to the interviewer. See if they’ll meet with you again. You already have an advantage that others don’t have simply because you’ve met with the interviewer. Take advantage of this to position yourself for new projects.

I know of one young lady who took one of our interviewers to lunch, once a week for three months before she was given an opportunity at her own show. She established a relationship with the interviewer that eventually paid off for her. She was willing to take the initiative, be proactive and do what she needed to do to get the opportunity.

You never know, their first choice may have canceled out, become sick, had a death in the family or some other issue. You’re right there and that gives you an advantage.

Tip #10: Be willing to do what it takes. This is a highly competitive industry. More so for women than men. That means you have to be willing to do things you may not want to do or believe is fair for you to do. If you’re serious about your career than be willing to do what you need to do to get your foot in the door.

Our new hosts, both male and female, are asked to do things which they believe may not be part of their “job description”. Especially the first three months. However, this is the time when we really take a look at them and see how ambitious they are. Are they worth us branding them? Are they someone who has some future? Are they success oriented? Can they see this as more than a “job”. Are they worth investing money into?

We are not looking for someone who is comfortable with a “job”. We’re seeking people who want to be independent and build a real career for themselves. Who are not satisfied with $40k a year. People seeking a “job” are a dime a dozen. The first three months we are testing our hosts to see how really dedicated they are to their careers. Separating the Doers from the Dreamers.

What are you willing to do to prove yourself?

Don’t be afraid to take the initiative, be proactive and do whatever it takes to get in the door.

As I mentioned although we are not a radio station we do make our decisions in a very similar manner. We already know exactly who our market is, who are sponsors are, how we’re going to market our program and what we need to do to ensure it’s profitability.

We receive hundreds of applications every week from people who have dreams of breaking into broadcasting. Let me give you an idea why what we offer is better than what a local radio station can offer.

Instead of the traditional paycheck you have the opportunity and incentive to hone your talent in order to earn higher incomes.

Let’s say you interview a best selling author. Have a great interview with them. He has a special offer for your listeners. You’ve done a great job in presenting the author and your audience wants the special offer.

Let’s say that out of 20k listeners only 200 take advantage of the special offer and you only earn $25 for each listener who does. How much would you earn for that one show? If you had four shows a month? What if you were really awful and could only compel a hundred listeners to respond to the author’s offer? (you probably wouldn’t be working for us any more if that was the best you could do).

The better you get at interviewing the more money you’d earn. Instead of only compelling 200 people to respond you can compel 300 you’ve just given yourself a raise.

However, that is just one part of the income stream. You can also earn money from hosting seminars or workshops for a specific industry, being a keynote speaker for sponsors, radio commercials/endorsements, spokesperson, etc…

Is this realistic?

Yes for Doers it is realistic and there are hosts who are doing this and much more.

This is why we create custom programming rather than try to own a radio station with limited profitability. This is why we seek very specific individuals who have personality and a “look” as well as intelligence.

We are continually creating and developing new programs for specific industries. Take a look at our home page to review what we’re currently doing. If you have an interest in any of these topics feel free to contact us.

If you have an idea for your own program, feel free to make an appointment with us to pitch your idea to us.

–Susan Roberts
Executive Assistant