This is a record of the ups and the downs; the struggles and the achievements; the laughter and the frustration and what it takes to break into The Industry...the radio industry that is.
The Importance of a Mentor
Teacher, Guide, Go-To Guru and Counsellor are all names for that person in your life that shares a similar passion as you and which you can turn to in times of uncertainty to help steer you on your career path. Of course, you can add parents, siblings and friends to the list as well, but they are not entrenched in the same field and so, although they are just as important (if not more so in most areas of life), they can only provide advice based on their unrelated experiences. I’m talking about that person you can go to that lives, eats and breathes your same interests… a Mentor.
I can’t even begin to explain how incredibly important a mentor can be. I have to admit this radio business, although it is still incredibly new to me, it is beyond difficult to break into (see the hundreds of posts before this for a number of examples). I poured my heart and soul into my time at school and tried everything I could to get the most out of my program, but that’s hard to show on a resume. So with that said, I didn’t have a true mentor out of post-secondary, and I’ll be honest (like always), it sucked royally.
After I graduated I sent off fifty plus resumes across the country but I only heard back from two stations. One was to say they weren’t interested (to which I screamed “C’mon, why not?”) and the second was for the station I’m working for now offering me an interview. No one seemed to want to hire someone without prior experience but I couldn’t get “prior experience” without “prior experience” so what did I do? I did what any passionate and hard working graduate would do, I offered to volunteer and complete additional unpaid internships just to get my foot in the door… stations weren’t even interested in that (I know, apparently free labour is too expensive or something) and it was at that point that I wished I had someone to turn to besides Ben and Jerry to give me advice. I knew I was qualified but I couldn’t even get someone to give me a call. I was running blind, unfortunately without the added benefit of heightened senses.
Luckily for me I was able to get my foot in the door at a station in town and I can now say I officially have someone that I would call a mentor. Someone who has a deep and vested interest in my career and I can’t even begin to tell you what a sense of relief that brings. I don’t know any other employer that would say “If you have a job posting that you are interested in, bring it in and I will do whatever I can to help you get that job”.
My piece of advice? Find your mentor, but choose wisely. Although a parent or friend fits the criteria, ask yourself if you want to cross the career and friend worlds? Find that person who, when they get a call for a reference check can sell you better then you think you can sell yourself. Someone who shares the same flame and burning desire for your industry. You won’t regret it, because the importance of a mentor is not to be a parent but to be a guide to your dream job.
-Mitch
