With round after round of radio layoffs at the bigger groups I’ve been thinking a lot about radio people transitioning into other industries. The big argument I always make to both radio people looking to work outside of the industry, or the people looking to hire them, is how well radio people’s skill at creating their own content translates to any company. Especially now that every company needs tons of content. But, that’s really only part of the reason I recommend hiring radio people. The big one is our work ethic. Yes, we might complain or crack jokes about it, but radio employees are some of the hardest working people in the world. Here’s why.

Multi-tasking isn’t optional

When you work in radio keeping several plates spinning at once is part of the gig. On the air you have to be able to listen to the off-air feed, have a TV going in the background in case news breaks, edit a phone call in the cue speaker, listen to the program feed in one ear of your headphones and monitor the chat and text line to interact with the audience, all while you’re counting down the seconds until you talk again. That’s why to outsiders looking in our control rooms often look like something that would be required to command a large ship instead of just broadcast a live audio program to a bunch of people driving to work.

Flexibility is key

Radio job descriptions should all include subject to change without notice, which is admittedly maddening at times. But, it’s also one of the things that makes the job fun because you never know exactly what your day will entail. As someone whose been described as a bit of a control freak before, something I’m working on, I go into every day with a game plan for what I’m going to do that day. But, years ago radio taught me to be willing to pivot and put those daily plans on hold when an emergency arose. Which, depending on where you work and your position, tends to happen on average at least one day a week. Not to mention the hours our jobs require that often put stress on marriages because it’s hard for people outside of radio to understand.

We’re all full-service self-starters

Anyone whose still around in radio at this point is more than just a specialist who can do one thing. Most radio employees today are well rounded and can do a little programming, production, promotions, sales, digital and at least a little engineering if someone is walking them through it. Although, I’d encourage those who haven’t been trained to stay out of a transmitter room because that can get a little dicey. Plus, the days of managers who have the time and energy to stay on somebody and tell them everything they’ve got to do are long over. To work in radio today people have to be self-starters who are willing to identify things that need to get done and take the initiative to do them on their own when necessary.

Since I’ve been in a position to hire or recommend the hiring of radio people for thirty years now, I’m listed as a reference for a lot of people who I’ve worked with over the years. So, I’ve recommended quite a few people for jobs inside and outside of the industry. Because of format changes and downsizing not all of those radio recommendations have stuck. But, every single time I’ve been contacted by someone outside the industry to give a reference for a radio person it has stuck. I believe that’s because it’s very hard for others to compete with the work ethic radio people all develop out of necessity.

What do you think? How does radio work ethic compare to other industries? Comment below or email me at Andy@RadioStationConsultant.com.