Unfortunately, you are a living example of someone who has been sold a bill of goods by a slick broadcasting school salesman who knows nothing about how this industry actually operates.

Although an internship isn’t the greatest way to get a job in this industry, it far surpasses the bad advice given by your teachers at the American broadcasting school. This is a relationship oriented industry. The more relationships you can develop and cultivate along the way, the better your chances become for being employed.

To underscore my point, a study was released in 2008 that revealed 64% of those working in the television and radio industry got their jobs because they knew someone directly from someone in the industry, or they knew someone who knew someone in the industry that enabled them to get their job. That’s nearly 2/3 people working in the broadcasting industry are doing so because they understood the value and importance of a network.

Sending a resume and a demo tape/link out is how jobs were gotten 20 years ago. Today, more than ever, it comes down to who you know being every bit as important as what you know, in terms of broadcasting skills.

At this point, your best bet would be to try and get yourself an internship. Although they aren’t designed for you to develop your broadcasting skills, they do facilitate relationship building, at least.

Frankly, if your teachers at the broadcasting school did tell you to bypass an internship, they should be out of a job. It’s obvious to me they haven’t worked in this industry for a very long time, if ever, when making those claims.

The problem that you are facing is one that I hear about quite often coming from graduates of traditional broadcasting schools. I constantly receive telephone calls asking if I can help them to get a job. Absent the relationships with those in the industry, there is very little I can do for them – unfortunately.

This is the very reason we at BMG created a hybrid between a broadcasting school and an internship. Our students are trained by a working broadcaster inside a local radio station in their area. They’re gaining the necessary broadcasting skills from a working broadcaster, but they’re also placed in an environment where relationships are being developed,and networks being built. in other words, our students are training where the jobs are.

Do you see the difference in the two models?

Best of luck to you, Tanya.

Michael

Furthermore, I have asked a few times about employment after school is out. I have 2 friends that attended ABS and no one has a job yet. One graduated a couple of months ago, and the other graduated a few years ago. I just want to know that I have a job after school is out. I don’t have time to waste. I already have another degree in another field, so going to another school would be a huge waste of time. I asked instructors 2 times about job placement after school and internships. They claim that it doesn’t really matter about an internship because it doesn’t help you get a job after school is out. Why get paid nothing and do all the gofer stuff, when you get out you can simply get a job.

Prior to going to ABS, I applied to a certain local radio station on 3 different occasions.Each time they told me that they normally they only take interns that are currently in school and need intern hours to complete school. There are conflicting views between the schools and the actual radio station.

I love music, and THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS THE ONLY BUSINESS I can truly be HAPPY at doing. Trust me, I’ve had a lot of other jobs. This is my last resort. I cannot go back to my old profession. I have invested tons of money already for ABS. I have to make it! There’s no other way. Even if I don’t have an instructors approval, I will attempt that internship anyway. And, after that if I have to move to another location to get a job in radio, I will. If you have any suggestions, please post again.