Broadcasting Mentor

Getting into a new professional field is never easy, and it often helps to have someone to help you along the way. Someone to go to for advice, to teach by example, and coach you along your own career path. This person is often referred to as a mentor. A mentor by definition is an established career person who counsels an aspiring professional about the ins-and-outs of a particular job. A mentor is particularly helpful if you want to break into broadcasting.

Like many sectors in today's steep job market, in broadcasting, it's all about whom you know. As much as college education or credentials, connections give you the edge you need to become a broadcasting professional. But if you can't break into broadcasting in the first place, then how can you get a broadcasting mentor? There are a lot of frustrating catch-22s revolving around breaking into broadcasting. Luckily, this doesn't have to be one of them.

Getting a broadcasting mentor might be easier than you think. Broadcasting schools, apprenticeships, and training programs offer hands-on experience that hook you up with a broadcasting mentor as part of their curriculum. Best of all, these broadcasting schools generally accept anyone dedicated enough to complete the application program, and guarantee you placement with a mentor in a station near you! That's right: hands-on learning from a real broadcasting mentor, with no experience necessary.

These broadcasting schools and training programs are generally the most inexpensive and efficient ways to get your foot in the door in broadcasting, and experience the exciting daily work of broadcasting professionals! Whether you want to report, deejay, produce or do technical work, mentors in these various broadcasting sects are available and eager to teach you the tricks of the trade. Many broadcasting schools provide a salary or stipend to mentors in order to ensure a quality experience for their students.

By obtaining a mentor at a local station, you can ask every question you've ever wanted answered about broadcasting (one at a time please), witness the day-to-day stuff of broadcasting that can't be taught in a college classroom, and enjoy one-on-one interaction with someone who is specifically there to help you achieve your dream of becoming a broadcaster. Pretty cool, huh?

Many of these mentor-based internships and apprenticeships do turn into jobs, but even if your broadcasting apprenticeship doesn't directly result in a job, there is a good chance the advice and coaching provided to you through your mentor will prove invaluable as you begin your broadcasting job search. Take the first step today! Contact a broadcasting school near you, and rest assured that your mentorship is on its way!