While many might think jobs in broadcast radio are dwindling in a world of digital music, jobs are actually on the rise. Because of innovations in alternative forms of radio, like satellite XM, radio programs are actually becoming much more diverse and opening up new broadcast radio employment opportunities all the time.

Remember the following when preparing for your career with broadcast radio jobs education and training:

1. Broadcast radio station jobs training needs to include in-depth voice and speech development.

2. Training for jobs in radio journalism will include news broadcasting, weather broadcasting and sports broadcasting.

3. Complete radio broadcasting jobs education will include disc jockeying, public service announcements and commercial announcements.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Train for radio broadcast jobs at a trade school

Trade schools will prepare a student for broadcast radio jobs with practical hands-on, real-world training exercises with the most up-to-date technology. Trade school programs are short, intensive and less expensive than formal education and may include job placement upon completion.

I recommend: Attend the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts to learn any aspect of radio broadcasting. The Entertainment Career Connection offers a Radio Connection Broadcasting School that is taught in a real radio station by a professional broadcaster.

Secure jobs in radio with a mass communications degree

Studying mass communications with a concentration in radio broadcasting at an accredited university will provide a well-rounded education in all aspects of broadcasting. Most universities have radio stations from which students broadcast themselves.

I recommend: Parkland College offers a mass communications degree for full and part-time students. Chicago State University has an excellent radio broadcast program too.

Create your own radio broadcasting jobs with a podcast

Changes in modern technology have made it possible for anyone to get broadcasting experience for next to nothing. Talented broadcasters can create their own podcast for relatively free and many have become extremely popular with thousands of listeners.

I recommend: Find free online resources and tutorials on how to easily create a podcast at Podcasting Tools or How To Podcast Tutorial.

Learn radio jobs with an internship

Radio broadcast internships are a great way to get real-life experience. Most internships are unpaid and the hours may be non-traditional, but almost all radio stations give interns opportunities which will result in not only experience, but also valuable networking.

I recommend: Search for summer radio broadcast internships listed by the University of Dreams. Rising Star Internships lists summer and ongoing internships.

Learn about broadcast radio jobs from professional associations

Radio professionals share their expertise at events sponsored by their associations.

I recommend: The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation runs career development programs for radio professionals and students, as does the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To make any education worthwhile, it needs to include training for audition tapes and other resources for landing local radio jobs when training is over.

Broadcast radio jobs are in hot demand no matter where you live. Even though CDs and MP3 players allow you to listen to whatever music you like, many people still prefer to listen to the radio, especially while they are commuting. After all, radio provides news, weather and traffic updates in addition to music.

In most cases, getting radio jobs requires diligent work and possibly a willingness to move to a city that has a job. There are a small number of radio broadcasting jobs in any particular city, so the competition can be fierce.

If you are interesting in getting jobs in radio broadcasting:

1. Study broadcasting in school. You don't always need a 4-year degree, but it helps to have some knowledge and experience, especially if you want to find on-air radio broadcast jobs.

2. Be willing to work odd hours. Everybody wants to find radio station jobs during the commuting hours, when the most people are listening. However, it may be easier to break into the business if you are willing to work the graveyard shift.

3. Network to get local radio jobs. It never hurts to know someone that works for a radio station.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take an internship to get better broadcast radio jobs

Many people break into the radio business with an internship. This is a great way to gain experience and make connection. Internships are often unpaid, so make sure to prepare financially for working without pay.

I recommend: Rising Star Internships offers a number of internship programs for radio broadcasting in a number of large cities. An internship with the famous NPR is sure to get you a good job anywhere in the country.

Look for jobs in radio journalism on job boards that focus on the broadcasting industry

When you look for a job, it's best to look where other professionals in your industry tend to congregate. That's why you want to check out the job boards that specialize in posting radio jobs.

I recommend: TVandRadioJobs.com lists many jobs in radio broadcasting. AirTalents.com also posts radio jobs. Both sites allow you to create a profile including your resume and audio clips so that potential employers can easily find you.

Save time by hiring a recruiter to find radio jobs for you

Many people don't have the time to search for jobs online. This is when a professional recruiter comes in handy. A recruiter may have more connections in the industry than you do and can easily get you into the radio station you want to work for.

I recommend: The Birschbach Recruitment Network can help you find media related jobs, including radio, throughout the country. If you are looking for executive positions in radio broadcasting, you may want to use an executive recruiter, such as Thomas Executive Resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many colleges offer their own radio station. This is a great way to gain experience for jobs in radio while you are still in school.

Radio is still a technical field and, as such, has a language you may not be familiar with. This jargon includes the names of many of jobs in this field, which is why you can benefit from knowing broadcast radio jobs key terms. Radio stations have various departments, and the jobs involved range from technical to managerial to content to sales. People with many different skills and training can find a job to suit them in broadcast radio.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Station manager

The station manager, sometimes called the general manager, is the person in charge of the radio station. The radio station manager oversees all departments of the radio station. If a larger company or corporation owns the radio station, the station manager reports to an executive at that organization.

I recommend: Read a description of the station manager's job, as well as the training, career path and expected salary range, at JobMonkey.

Program director

The radio station's program director is often like a second-in-command, overseeing all of the actual programming for the radio station. Whether the station broadcasts music, news, sports or talk shows, the program director is in charge of what goes on the air. This person schedules the various time slots and oversees production of the radio content.

I recommend: Find out more about a career as a radio program director at the Entertainment Career Connection.

Announcer

Radio announcers are the voice of the radio station, and they become the personality of the station as well. They may introduce songs, talk about sporting events, do commercials, read the news and weather or do general commentary.

I recommend: Read an in-depth explanation of a radio announcer's job, including the responsibilities, training, salary and other factors, at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Account executive, sales representative

Account executives bring in the money that makes radio stations possible. Most radio stations profit from advertising revenue, and account executives are the sales people who sell those ads. Sales representatives, or sales reps, show businesses how advertising on the radio station will benefit their business.

I recommend: Find a list of radio careers, including account executives, at Specs Howard. Consult another list of radio jobs with definitions for each at the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations.

Broadcast engineer

Broadcast engineers are the technical people who make the recordings, make sure they play at the right time and make the magic happen that allows the radio signal to go out over the airwaves. They can also be responsible for fixing and maintaining the equipment. Depending on the size of the station, there will be any number of technicians with varying levels of experience and responsibility. With the advent of digital technology, engineers use computers for more and more of this work.

I recommend: Read an extensive explanation of a broadcast engineer's job, including training requirements and income information, at CareerOverview.com.

Broadcast technician

Broadcast technicians are low-level engineers or engineers in training. They work under supervision of the engineers, and as they gain experience they may work their way up in responsibilities.

I recommend: Find a brief description of a broadcast technician's responsibilities at Independent Learning Centre.