Advice Getting Into Radio Full Time

Like most industries radio is a tough place at the moment but the rewards are still good if you’re prepared to make some effort and the odd sacrifice. 

Here’s my top ten tips on how to get into radio:

10. Be flexible: That initial break will come when you least expect it

9. Be in the right place at the right time: Not every opening is advertised so start sending emails and calling PC's to find out what's going on

8. Get a foot in the door: I started making tea at Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton

7. Accept unpaid work: It is all about getting into the station, be it doing promo work or even cleaning out a store cupboard

6. Be prepared to travel: If you can travel outside of your home town, your options are not quite so limited

5. Check out Hospital Radio: Learn the ropes and make mistakes. I started out doing a Friday night show at Sandwell Hospital Radio which proved to be a great training ground

4. Be a Tech Op: I did this at Beacon whilst presenting on Hospital Radio; it gave me a chance to use professional gear and get a real insight into the workings of a proper radio station

3. Ask Questions: Once you get into a station, ask plenty of questions and listen to the answers; you'll be surprised what you can learn

2. Listen to lots of Radio: I was a sales rep before landing a full time gig which gave me the chance to travel the country and listen to many different stations. It is much easier to do this today with the most stations available on the internet

1. Keep at it: It took me about two years from starting out at Beacon to actually getting my first on-air shift. If you get knocked back, try again and again

Email any other questions you may have about getting into radio. Good Luck!

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