Job question

[DouggieFresh]

Ok, so, I still have a year and a half left on my contract, and I have no intention of breaking it. I like my station and my job, and wouldn't consider ending things early. However, I do plan on moving on when my contract is up.

That's all just background info.

There's a station right now hiring for a photographer. This is a station I would really like to work at in the future. Very good station, in a mid-large market.

I would really like to send this station a tape to see how it compares to the other prospective hires, and to get a little critique from a station I would really like to work at in the future.

Is this a good idea? I mean, if you're looking at tapes and you find one that you liked and then found out this person wasn't actually looking for a job, would you just get po'd? And, also, at a time when you're really busy looking for a prospective hire, would there be time to give some younger photog a critique?

But, I also wonder, if the tape is somewhat good, would it be a good idea to make that station aware I exist at a time when hiring is on the mind?

Ok, soo.. advice, please. thanks

[Tim78]

Are you a photog or a reporter? I don't know many photogs under contract...

You can send them a tape, but I would not always count on finding out how your tape compares to others. They may not share that with you even if they interview you.

A year and a half left on a contract is a long ways to go yet. Unless the new station will pay you to break it, I don't think that is a good idea. Many stations will make you pay to liquidate it. I don't know what your situation is though.

When stations are busy hiring, don't count on a critique. Even when they're not busy hiring, they're dealing with daily stuff.

That's not to say you won't get feedback, but you actively need to seek it out. I did this by getting the chief photog's email at one of the stations I wanted to work for and sending him a tape. I was persistent enough with my emails that he did take a little time and told me how to improve my tape.

News directors get hundreds of applicants per year for jobs.

Depending on the station, the number of applicants for a photog position can be quite numerous as well. They'll usually want to fill the position as soon as possible with the most qualified applicant they get. If you're not available when they need to hire someone, they'll throw out the resume.

[herter857]

Just to put my two cents in...

I haven't even started a job search yet because I still have until may when I graduate from school. I have sent my tapes out to a few stations that were in fact looking for a photog at that time and still got a critique. I guess kind of depends on the person you are sending it too. They offered to put my name into the pool of names for the position but I kindly turned them down and they respected what I had to say and they said to contact them again when I graduate. Not sure if that situation could apply or not.

[DouggieFresh]

Tim

Yeah, I'm a photog. And, yes, we have contracts here.

As for your other points...

I guess what I was trying to say is, I would want to hear from this station when they're looking for on the tapes. I mean, what they want when they hire someone, so I can know in the future. Every station looks over tapes differently. And, it could give me something to strive for in my own work if there's a chance to get a job there when I am available.

So, I'm wondering whether now's a good time, during an actual hiring, because that sort of stuff is fresh on the chief's mind. Or a bad idea because he'll be too damn busy for me? Maybe I should put this question in the "chiefs" area...