Page 1 of An Actual Radio Job Application
A Radio Show Host Writes:
“I’m applying for a job, and one of the questions on the application form is ‘Expected Salary.’
“What should I put here in order to avoid throwing a jinx on future salary negotiations?”
My Reply:
Assuming there is no one standing over you, making sure that you fill in every line, I recommend simply leaving it blank.
If for some reason that is not an option— if someone returns the application to you and insists that you fill in that line — I recommend writing something like:
“To be determined.”
Your other option is to enter the highest possible salary you think the job might pay. If you’re hoping for $90,000 but you’d settle for $75,000, write “$90,000.”
The two potential problems with this are:
1) If the radio station could pay more for that job, you’ve limited yourself.
2) If the station’s budget for that job is far less than that amount, you might be removing yourself from consideration. (Actually, this is the lesser of the risks. If you need $75,000…or $60,000…and the station won’t go higher than $30,000, you won’t come to terms regardless of what you declare as your expected salary.)
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“Expected? You get what you negotiate!”
a free donut?
How adept are you at collecting returnables? (Offer does not apply to all 50 states)
Salary?????”
Expect occasional free food, a few t-shirts, barely enough cash to survive and a know-it-all-never-been-in-the-trenches consultant who makes $200,000.
True, true, Mr. Etheridge!
You went into radio to make money? Axes swing first on the Fat Cat jocks.
Hit ’em with a computer technician’s salary. It’s what you do in addition to being a personality, right? Even your personal mp3 player requires human guidence, so give ’em a reality check!
I’ll never forget my last week at a small station where I was News Director. I won best newscast, best news dept. and best anchor for N Cal. Boss calls me in says, \So….you got all these awards, guess you want a raise?\ Erm….uh, crossed my mind yes. \Well I’ve found a ‘girl’ who will work 4 hours a day (instead of full time) and for about 9 bucks/hr. So we don’t need you anymore\