An aspiring sportscaster living in Los Angeles saw an opening for a sports talk radio producer in South Carolina. He badly wanted the job in order to get his foot in the industry. Instead of mailing or emailing his resumé to the employer, he hopped on a plane and hand-delivered it. They were so impressed with his gumption that he got the job.
That aspiring sportscaster was Jonas Knox, who ended up being a sports talk host with Fox Sports Radio Network.
To get your next sports broadcasting job, brainstorm ways to stand out. On a piece of paper, make two columns labeled “Normal” and “Different,” and start writing down different approaches.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Cover Letter
Instead of the typical cover letter, try something different, like formatting your cover letter as a press release.
Resumé
Rather than making your potential employer read another resumé, format your resumé like a baseball card.
Follow-Up
In lieu of a follow-up phone call, make a one-minute video explaining to that employer why you’re the right person for the job.
Another alternative to the follow-up call is a token of appreciation: a football, a baseball bat, a hockey puck, a sleeve of golf balls, or even banana bread. Whatever it might be, choose something that’s either personal to you or personal to that employer.
Different defeats the competition in the sports broadcasting job market. Be different to land your next job.
