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Topic: should I take the sketchy job offer?
| Author | Message |
| brooklynbaby | Posted – 5/17/2008 8:07:13 PM | show profile I got an entry level job as a reporter for a small market tv station, and I'm so excited!!! But there are a few things about this job offer that make me a bit anxious. Here are the pros and cons. Would you take the job? Please help me out because I'm at a loss right now. Pros- - The news director will take alot of time to train me, and is fairly well-connected. - The contract wouldn't require me to stay there any particular length of time, so assuming everything else worked out, I could leave whenever I got another job. - It's close to home and I could go home often. I'd also get most holidays off. -It's a job, and those are hard to come by when you start out. Cons- - Here's where things get sketchy- the station doesn't have a studio. The newscast is written and a few packages are done on-site, then the content is sent to a production company, where some anchors do a live newscast. So there's really not a full tv station. - I would have little to no opportunity to get live shot experience. - There's another tv station in town that gets most of the viewership, and this one doesn't really compete with it. I know that starting out, you should take what you can get. I'm not trying to be picky. Does this sound like an ok situation for a beginner? I've interviewed for another position and haven't heard back. The other position sounds better (respected station, lots of awards, sends reporters to wonderful markets afterward), but I have a far smaller chance of getting it. What do I do? Should I let this opportunity pass me by, or should I take what I can get? |
| Marie | Posted – 5/17/2008 8:45:37 PM | show profile Take the job, and if you get the other one, quit. It's really not a big deal as long as you haven't signed a contract keeping you there for a specific period of time. This is the upside of being an employee at will--you can be fired at any time for no reason, but you can also leave whenever you want with or without notice, but it's nice to give notice when you can. Leaving one job for a better one, no matter how little time you're at the first one, is understandable and no big crime anymore, if it ever was. You left after a short time, if anyone asks, because you had a better opportunity. Period. End of story. What would be crazy would be to wait around for the better job and not get it. This way if you don't get the better job, you still have something. Good luck. |
| sophiesMOM | Posted – 5/18/2008 5:10:05 PM | show profile i agree with marie. take the job. i do have one question, though. you are entry level...why would a contract be part of the equation? i've never worked in broadcaasting but are contracts part of the deal, even if it's your first job? |
| foodlit | Posted – 5/18/2008 6:28:32 PM | show profile Agree with Marie as well, take the job, and jump if you get something better. Good luck! |
| brooklynbaby | Posted – 5/18/2008 11:43:18 PM | show profile thanks so much! thank you all so much! Its so scary to make this decision and I really appreciate your input! One more important thing I didn't mention before- the packages they produce are not amazing. Does this change anyones response? I'll be accepting or declining tomorrow, and I want to make sure I've done my homework. Once again I'm thrilled to have been given an offer, and I'm not trying to be picky; just don't want to get stuck in a trap. Thank you so much!! |
| Marie | Posted – 5/19/2008 12:12:04 AM | show profile Take the job if it's an offered. You're never "stuck in a trap." You can quit, even in as little as a few weeks -- or days -- if the better offer comes through. Quitting for a better opportunity is understood. Even if you don't get the better job now, work at the offered job for awhile, do good work, try to learn, and then you can try again later for that other position you think is better. If you don't take this job, fail to get the job you want, you have zilch, and you're not gaining any experience to make you attractive to your desired markets. Does this make sense? |
| snappiness | Posted – 5/19/2008 11:41:36 AM | show profile Take the job! Yikes, are you seeing all the posts here about the lame economy and lack of jobs right now? Take it, do your best work, learn all you can and move on as soon as you get the chance. |
| Louisewasnothalfbad | Posted – 5/19/2008 12:05:58 PM | show profile If it's public access, pass. If it's a real, albeit small, station, what do you have to lose? At least you'll have tape on yourself. Live shot experience? Do you really mean live or do you mean field pieces? There's not a ton of "live, breaking news" out there, and if you're at a tiny niche station, you're not going to be covering breaking news in a meaningful way, anyway. |
