Today I applied to two reporter jobs, both out of state.
I sent my resume, TV tape, and writing samples to:
WENY-TV Elmira, NY
WBOC-TV Salisbury, MD
I also applied to the Associated Press in Washington, DC. This one was via email and just wanted my resume and references.
In an effort to keep myself on task (and free of boredom) I am making daily, weekly, and monthly goals for myself. This is really helping me to stay focused on the career search and organized about where I have applied, or would like to apply. I'm sure I'm nothing compared to Julie, but I'm trying really hard to stay organized!
May 25, 2005
May 24, 2005
My First Week Home
This week was my first full week home from college. I've been trying to keep busy so I don't get too bored sitting at home while everyone else in the world is off in school or being employed! Haha. I'm really itching to find some part-time work or something to eat up time, but with my interview in 2 weeks, it's not really worth it. I may be moving soon!
In preparation for the interview I have been brainstorming on ideas of what to do for my presentation. I think I've come up with a pretty creative idea, if I don't say so myself. What I'm going to do is give everyone a "DVD" about me. I'm making cover art for the box with my resume and probably a photo or something. The DVD booklet is going to basically be the printed out version of my presentation, and then the CD inside is going to be my e-portfolio! (Proud, Mr. Weaver?) They won't actually be able to view my e-portfolio at the interview because I only have 2 minutes, but it will give them something to hang on to afterwards and check out later. Pretty nifty, huh?
The career search is still on! While the NBC interview is the big one I have, that hasn't stopped me from applying elsewhere. I'm utilizing contacts that I currently have with people working at other stations and looking for new leads. I'm sending my materials to Melissa Batulis at WENY-TV about a one-man band opening there. Hopefully she can pass my tape on to the right people. I'm waiting to get copies of some old rundowns so that I can include them in my producer package. I've also applied to a few radio stations. Today I sent apps to:
WKST-FM Pittsburgh, PA
WXTM-FM Cleveland, OH
KMXV-FM Kansas City, MO
We'll see what we get back.
Lesson of the week: Office supplies are expensive! But if you're thrifty you can save on some stuff. Post office workers can also be a help or a hindrance. Local workers in New Wilmington let me pay almost $3.00 a parcel with media mail to send out cassette tapes for jobs, but the guy who helped me today in Cranberry Twp. told me that if I sent it first class it would only cost $.83! That's a big difference to a poor kid who is sending out around 5 tapes a week. Ask questions!
In preparation for the interview I have been brainstorming on ideas of what to do for my presentation. I think I've come up with a pretty creative idea, if I don't say so myself. What I'm going to do is give everyone a "DVD" about me. I'm making cover art for the box with my resume and probably a photo or something. The DVD booklet is going to basically be the printed out version of my presentation, and then the CD inside is going to be my e-portfolio! (Proud, Mr. Weaver?) They won't actually be able to view my e-portfolio at the interview because I only have 2 minutes, but it will give them something to hang on to afterwards and check out later. Pretty nifty, huh?
The career search is still on! While the NBC interview is the big one I have, that hasn't stopped me from applying elsewhere. I'm utilizing contacts that I currently have with people working at other stations and looking for new leads. I'm sending my materials to Melissa Batulis at WENY-TV about a one-man band opening there. Hopefully she can pass my tape on to the right people. I'm waiting to get copies of some old rundowns so that I can include them in my producer package. I've also applied to a few radio stations. Today I sent apps to:
WKST-FM Pittsburgh, PA
WXTM-FM Cleveland, OH
KMXV-FM Kansas City, MO
We'll see what we get back.
Lesson of the week: Office supplies are expensive! But if you're thrifty you can save on some stuff. Post office workers can also be a help or a hindrance. Local workers in New Wilmington let me pay almost $3.00 a parcel with media mail to send out cassette tapes for jobs, but the guy who helped me today in Cranberry Twp. told me that if I sent it first class it would only cost $.83! That's a big difference to a poor kid who is sending out around 5 tapes a week. Ask questions!
May 17, 2005
Officially Unemployed
Again, I put this plea letter out there:
Dear World,
Please give me a job. I'm good for it.
Thank you,
-Pat
Welcome to the world of unemployment! A place inhabitted by most of my graduating class of 2005. But nothing to worry about... yet. Graduation was great. Like most people, I was a little ticked that we had to be inside the sweltering field house (old people were dropping like flies!) but it was a great day, regardless! My family and friends kept asking me if something was bothering me on graduation day, because I was acting really cold and emotionless. Nothing was wrong, but I think I just didn't know how to feel, so I didn't feel anything! I'm very excited to be a a graduate and enter the "real world" (oh ya, Dr. Rhoad's speech was AWESOME! Take THAT nay-sayers!) but I'm also really sad to say goodbye to my friends at WC. I'm really bad at keeping in touch with people, so I'm going to try really hard to keep up with everyone. Hopefully the blog will help out!
The career search is a monkey on my back right now. It's not even a monkey, it's King Kong, but I told myself that I'm going to take the rest of this week to just relax and adjust to being at home again. I have about 30 opennings bookmarked and ready to go, but I need some time to chill out. I'm a little discouraged at the fact that I didn't make more copies or more varieties of my resume tapes. The good thing is that I copied most of my audio files to my laptopk, so I can just burn CDs when I need them. It's the TV tapes I'm worried about... not too worried, though. I'm honestly applying everywhere, and I don't care if I have to move or if I have to stay in Pittsburgh at live at home. I just want a job. I got a surprising comment from my Dad at graduation. Despite the fact that the phrase, "get a job!" came out of his mouth every other sentence, he told me that he wants me to take some time and find the job that's right for me, not the first one the comes along. I'm going to take that advice, as tempting as it may be to take the first offer.
I have a second interview at NBC on June 8th. It's a panel interview against several other candidates for the position. I have to directly compete against them to prove why I would be the best page. I have to give a 2min presentation (with no audio or video elements, or singing or dancing haha) about why they should pick me for the position. It's a pretty nerve-wracking task, but anyone who knows me knows that I like taking other people down, so I'm sure it will be fun! Mwahaha! I'm going into the city a few days early so that I can apartment shop and explore the city some more. If I get the position I am definitely going to take it. I think I would regret turning it down way more than anything else I could do. Opportunities like that don't come around too often, but like my Dad said, I'm going to looking carefully at the job before I sign anything. One of my Brothers, Bob Allen, was accepted into the Actors Studio in NYC for the fall. He'll be moving to the city in August, so if I am still going to be there, too, we're going to be roommates. I am excited to be able to have a rommate that I know and have already lived with before.
Well, that's all that's going on in my life right now! I'll keep you updated when I find anything out. I hope everyone else keeps updating their blogs because I always read them! Until next time...
Dear World,
Please give me a job. I'm good for it.
Thank you,
-Pat
Welcome to the world of unemployment! A place inhabitted by most of my graduating class of 2005. But nothing to worry about... yet. Graduation was great. Like most people, I was a little ticked that we had to be inside the sweltering field house (old people were dropping like flies!) but it was a great day, regardless! My family and friends kept asking me if something was bothering me on graduation day, because I was acting really cold and emotionless. Nothing was wrong, but I think I just didn't know how to feel, so I didn't feel anything! I'm very excited to be a a graduate and enter the "real world" (oh ya, Dr. Rhoad's speech was AWESOME! Take THAT nay-sayers!) but I'm also really sad to say goodbye to my friends at WC. I'm really bad at keeping in touch with people, so I'm going to try really hard to keep up with everyone. Hopefully the blog will help out!
The career search is a monkey on my back right now. It's not even a monkey, it's King Kong, but I told myself that I'm going to take the rest of this week to just relax and adjust to being at home again. I have about 30 opennings bookmarked and ready to go, but I need some time to chill out. I'm a little discouraged at the fact that I didn't make more copies or more varieties of my resume tapes. The good thing is that I copied most of my audio files to my laptopk, so I can just burn CDs when I need them. It's the TV tapes I'm worried about... not too worried, though. I'm honestly applying everywhere, and I don't care if I have to move or if I have to stay in Pittsburgh at live at home. I just want a job. I got a surprising comment from my Dad at graduation. Despite the fact that the phrase, "get a job!" came out of his mouth every other sentence, he told me that he wants me to take some time and find the job that's right for me, not the first one the comes along. I'm going to take that advice, as tempting as it may be to take the first offer.
I have a second interview at NBC on June 8th. It's a panel interview against several other candidates for the position. I have to directly compete against them to prove why I would be the best page. I have to give a 2min presentation (with no audio or video elements, or singing or dancing haha) about why they should pick me for the position. It's a pretty nerve-wracking task, but anyone who knows me knows that I like taking other people down, so I'm sure it will be fun! Mwahaha! I'm going into the city a few days early so that I can apartment shop and explore the city some more. If I get the position I am definitely going to take it. I think I would regret turning it down way more than anything else I could do. Opportunities like that don't come around too often, but like my Dad said, I'm going to looking carefully at the job before I sign anything. One of my Brothers, Bob Allen, was accepted into the Actors Studio in NYC for the fall. He'll be moving to the city in August, so if I am still going to be there, too, we're going to be roommates. I am excited to be able to have a rommate that I know and have already lived with before.
Well, that's all that's going on in my life right now! I'll keep you updated when I find anything out. I hope everyone else keeps updating their blogs because I always read them! Until next time...
May 8, 2005
The Week When I was Finished with College
This week was my last week of classes and finals of my college career. It really hasn't sunk in that I will be leaving this place I've called home for the past four years. Almost all of the underclassmen are gone and I've had to say a lot of goodbyes... some of which have been for good. I'm not too sad right now about leaving, mostly because I still have a week left, but the messages that I've been getting from the underclassmen have really touched me. Surprisingly, most of them have been thank you notes instead of goodbye notes. It's weird for me to think back on what I've done at Westminster and the impact that it has had on my peers. I'm not saying that I've done anything all that spectacular, but it really means a lot to me to hear such words of encouragement from my friends.
Tonight was when the finality of college has start to hit. Normally I would have had a fraternity meeting tonight, something I've done for the past 3 years, but that's all over with. And I'd probably be getting ready for bed right now so I could wake up at 6am for "Pat & Megan in the Morning," but that's over with, too. I started to clean out all of my stuff in my office and realized, "Hey... it's not my office anymore!" Kinda sad. I'm going to miss this place very much.
The career search is scary. That's all I have to say. After my last final tomorrow I'm going to crank out a billion resumes and send them out. Hopefully I'll have a job. OH- I got a call from NBC last Wednesday. I have a second interview for the Page Program on June 8th! I need to prepare a 2min presentation (with no audio or video elements) displaying why I would make an awesome page. I'm pretty anxious about the situation, but then again, I'm pretty excited! Anyone that knows me know that I love a good competition. bwahaha. While I'm in the city (again) I'm going to do some serious apartment hunting. Someone just told me that I'm brave for just packing up and moving and I guess I sorta am. But to go by my life quote, "People who have little failure in their lives are people who aren't taking enough risks."
I know that I don't really have to do this anymore, but I found an article on MSN.com that I thought was horribly ridiculous. It's called, "Are ugly children less loved?" Read it if you must...
Tonight was when the finality of college has start to hit. Normally I would have had a fraternity meeting tonight, something I've done for the past 3 years, but that's all over with. And I'd probably be getting ready for bed right now so I could wake up at 6am for "Pat & Megan in the Morning," but that's over with, too. I started to clean out all of my stuff in my office and realized, "Hey... it's not my office anymore!" Kinda sad. I'm going to miss this place very much.
The career search is scary. That's all I have to say. After my last final tomorrow I'm going to crank out a billion resumes and send them out. Hopefully I'll have a job. OH- I got a call from NBC last Wednesday. I have a second interview for the Page Program on June 8th! I need to prepare a 2min presentation (with no audio or video elements) displaying why I would make an awesome page. I'm pretty anxious about the situation, but then again, I'm pretty excited! Anyone that knows me know that I love a good competition. bwahaha. While I'm in the city (again) I'm going to do some serious apartment hunting. Someone just told me that I'm brave for just packing up and moving and I guess I sorta am. But to go by my life quote, "People who have little failure in their lives are people who aren't taking enough risks."
I know that I don't really have to do this anymore, but I found an article on MSN.com that I thought was horribly ridiculous. It's called, "Are ugly children less loved?" Read it if you must...
May 2, 2005
The Week when I posted in between Weeks
This week in broadcasting has had a lot of ups and downs. I'm actually sort of combining a few weeks into one post because things have been crazy around here! Like I said before, the First Annual Broadcast Communications Festival went really well. I think we would have had a lot more interaction with the campus had the weather actually been nice for the end of April, but it was fun, nonetheless. I anchored my last County Line ever on Thursday night, and to tell you the truth, it wasn't that sad. I honestly thought I was going to be more nostalgic than I was, but I think the audio problems that ruined the show pretty much kept me from getting too sentimental. I'm sure it will sink in soon! This morning I had another "last"- My last Pat & Megan in the morning. 3 years in the making lead to a really nice goodbye. We had a lot of listeners call in to wish us good luck and to say goodbye. We even had a phone call from GERMANY! (Danke, Amy Sasfai!) Megan cried a lot, which was to be expected (sorry, Meg) and although I didn't shed a tear, I was pretty sad. It's scary to think that I'm finishing up being important in broadcasting and have to go back to being a nothing again... yikes!
The career search is on pause right now because I have a TON of work to do for my classes. 2 things are wrong with that. 1) I'm a senior. 2) I'm a broadcasting major! These papers are going to kill me. I have to admit- it's VERY difficult to write a 10 page paper when all I'm used to writing is 30sec readers. I still have my huge stack of papers for places to apply, and once finals start I'll get sorting throught those. Horray for free time!
I was sent a webpage by '04 grad Amanda Oliveri (congrats on the new job!!!) that has a lot of funny, and also disturbing, video clips from television broadcasts. Some of them are just funny to watch, while others can show you what happens when people cut corners in the newsroom. Check it out here.
The career search is on pause right now because I have a TON of work to do for my classes. 2 things are wrong with that. 1) I'm a senior. 2) I'm a broadcasting major! These papers are going to kill me. I have to admit- it's VERY difficult to write a 10 page paper when all I'm used to writing is 30sec readers. I still have my huge stack of papers for places to apply, and once finals start I'll get sorting throught those. Horray for free time!
I was sent a webpage by '04 grad Amanda Oliveri (congrats on the new job!!!) that has a lot of funny, and also disturbing, video clips from television broadcasts. Some of them are just funny to watch, while others can show you what happens when people cut corners in the newsroom. Check it out here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)