How to Actually Get Hired in Broadcasting
Real advice from Larry Gifford, longtime Program Director (710 ESPN Radio LA, Fox Sports Radio, ESPN Radio Network), on what gets an application read — and what gets it deleted.
Your Quick-Start Plan
Go to radio-locator.com, enter your zip code and how far you’re willing to travel, and pull up every station in range by format.
Start a master tracking document with columns for station name, call letters, job board URL, and who you spoke with.
For each station, find their job board. Stations must publicly post openings to maintain their FCC license, so there’s always an answer.
A Detail Most Applicants Don’t Know
By law, radio and TV stations must publicly post their job openings — the station’s own website counts. Most of the time, if a job is posted there, it’s real and open. Occasionally a station keeps a listing up to satisfy that legal requirement even after the role’s been filled internally, so don’t panic if you don’t hear back right away — it’s not necessarily about you. Either way, just knowing this exists puts you a step ahead of most of the applicants you’re competing against.
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Customize your resume for each specific job.
Keep it to one page, especially early in your career.
Include actual references (name, title, contact preference) — not “available upon request.”
Have a specific, real goal — not a vague “I want to work in radio.”
If you’re new to broadcasting, use a functional resume format instead of chronological.
Chronological vs. functional, in plain English: chronological lists your jobs in order, most recent first. Functional leads with your relevant skills instead — better when you don’t have much broadcasting job history yet.
Don’t
Include typos — it signals you won’t double-check your work on the job either.
Pad it to multiple pages or bury the relevant information.
Send a generic “open to anything” resume — it reads as a non-starter.
Demo / Work Sample Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Send longer, raw, unedited segments (10-15 min) rather than a polished highlight reel.
Showcase yourself, not your guests.
Label every file clearly with your name and phone number.
Make it easy to navigate if sending multiple tracks.
Don’t
Send only short highlight clips.
Send a sample that doesn’t match the job (a music demo for a sports opening).
Apologize for an old sample — send your current best work instead.
Know Who You’re Talking To
Research the company, not just the station — who owns it, how many stations, recent news.
Confirm the hiring manager’s exact name and title before you send anything.
Double-check names that could go either way. A real example: a well-known manager named Chris (spelled “Crys”) is a woman — plenty of applicants assumed “Mr.” and were wrong before they even started.
Get the call letters and market exactly right.
Follow-Up Do’s and Don’ts
Do
Follow up about one week after applying, and again a week after any interview.
Ask at the end of an interview what the appropriate follow-up timeline is.
Confirm your application was actually received.
Get the name of whoever you speak with and use it on future calls.
Don’t
Never call or email if the posting explicitly says not to.
Don’t follow up daily or every other day.
Don’t ignore stated instructions on format.
Remember that bigger thing we mentioned? Here's step one.
STEP ONE
Get Two Free Personal Reviews
Enter your name and email and we’ll send you two coupons: one for a review of your job application email, and one for a review of your resume or cover letter — real feedback from BSMG, not generic advice.
- A personal review of your job application email
- A personal review of your resume or cover letter
- No cost, no obligation — just real feedback you can use right away
Get two free personal reviews of your application materials
No spam. No obligation.
P.S. — Once you’ve actually sent out an application using what’s on this page, ask us about our free consultation.
“Your future is shaped by the habits you repeat”
All the best,
Michael Madden
Founder, Broadcasters and Sportscasters Mentoring Group
mm@BroadcastingSchool.com