James Cardarelli will soon be the face and voice of Thief River Falls, MN, where he is joining R&J Broadcasting.
Since October of 2019, Cardarelli has been the on-air host at KOJM & KPQX in Havre, MT. He produces and performs news and weather reports, does voice-tracking, hosts country music radio, and more. He admits, “I don’t necessarily get to do exactly what I want to do in broadcasting.”
Investing in himself
In an effort to further his career, Cardarelli invested in expensive podcasting equipment to create a studio where he produces things like sports stories from home. He also edits videos for his podcast.
His podcast studio may have been what set Cardarelli apart in his pursuit of the R&J job. He explains, “I believe showing them that I am a self-motivator and self-starter really helped. I believe they liked that about me, and it showed I take my craft seriously.”
In addition to broadcasting, Cardarelli’s new opportunity also gives him the chance to learn sales, an area that has always interested him. He says, “As we all know, the two factors go hand in hand in our industry.”
Quick process
Cardarelli heard about the R&J job through an STAA job leads email. Once he applied, things moved rather quickly. He heard back from the president of R&J within minutes. After a 20-minute phone interview, they set up a Zoom interview for the following week. He shares, “I gave him a reference of mine, and then later that day we set up a third interview, this time with him as well as the vice president of the company. It was during that interview they offered me the position and sent over the contract.”
An STAA member since last year, Cardarelli says, “My STAA membership provides me with daily job leads and the opportunities they provide speak for themselves.”