And the Career Path Moves Onward

Once again I find myself at another fork in the road. I have come a long way since first realizing I couldn't get into Journalism because the course was fully-booked, to entering into the 1-year Media Foundations course, to now, almost at the end of 1st-year Radio Broadcasting. Indeed, without the Media Foundation program I may never in this lifetime have pursued Radio Broadcasting. But alas, I have found it quite the enjoyable program, and now look into the future to see what path in radio I can take.

The obvious first choice is announcing. This would be your jock deal, where you host a program, or are an on-air personality somewhere at some station. The other choices then dive into news, where you can probably find yourself on one of the AM stations reading off the news. The Writing path goes into deeper writing and you can find yourself as a writer for commercials, spots, etc. The Sales path will see you get into the business of selling radio air-time to would-be clients advertising their respective business. Right out of the gate, this is probably the most financially secure of all the paths.

And therein lies the predicament.

Do I risk everything and go work for $10/hr and try my hardest in a small town somewhere as an announcer and work my way back up? Or do I pack all of that away, dress up in suit and tie and make secure money en route to becoming some kind of success?

The choices are really one of two for me right now. Announcing or Sales.... And then News is in the close 3rd place. I'm not going to choose the writing path because I know I'm a damned good writer, good enough to write radio commercials and honestly feel I can do more damage as either an announcer or as a salesperson at a station.

Unfortunately for me I have to make my decision by next week, hahahaa.. And of course when I graduate the diploma will say "Radio Broadcasting Diploma" and won't specify where I "majored" in so I really can change my mind when I finally do go out there looking for a job. Nothing is set in stone. The difference though IS that "majoring" period next year where I will be engulfed in whatever area I happen to choose. Right now I'm leaning towards sales, and everyone I've talked to has said that I can pretty much sell bubble gum to a lockjaw ward... Whatever that means. Sales is paid on commission and having said that everyone I've talked to has said that the absolute WORST salesperson makes 40,000 a year... That's the absolute WORST. And I sure as hell don't plan on being the worst. My advantage is 4 years of post-high school education and a lifetime of street smarts. I think I'm ready. We'll see. The decision lies ahead of me, but the more I think about it, the more I begin to sell myself on sales. Besides 40,000 a year is about four times what I'm making now making espresso-based beverages and putting up with b.s. from customers in business suits. Maybe I'll be one of them one day? Hassling people in coffee shops to get free milk, or foam, or espresso? Well, the suit, yes, but I don't think I'll spend part of my day making the life of a coffee company employee miserable, but we shall see....