Tyler Krenzin
Lantern Staff
Job practices that can become careers are few and far between, and finding something that is not just a boring office job can be hard to even get an application for. However, there is one career that is made for the interesting people of this world, Radio.
Now just because you are working at a radio station does not mean you are going to be on air, the confidence that takes may be way outside your comfort zone. Many jobs can be possible with several different degrees. A degree in marketing and sales with a minor in mass communications can get you a job selling and curating ads for the stations.
When trying to find a job after college, a professor here at Butler has students covered. Keith West, professor of Mass Communications, has more experience in the radio business than the average person. Having experience as a DJ, news announcer, storm chaser, a salesperson and many more positions, West has done it all.
“If you count my work for this station (88.1 The Grizz), I’ve done everything in this business,” West said.
Getting into the radio business may be the hardest part of the job. Per West, getting a job at station, especially a commercial station, can be difficult. West’s best suggestion is to try to establish yourself through internships.
“Start off as a non-payed volunteer and work your way into a job,” West said.
An education or a certain degree is not necessarily required as experience is more fortuitous in the search for a future employment. Most commercial stations would like applicants to have at least an associate’s, but a bachelor’s degree would be preferred. According to West, an associate’s might get you through the door, but to seal the deal you should reach for that bachelor’s.
When it comes to preparation for the different jobs, that does not directly deal with being on air people might have to extend out of the normal mass communications class. According to sophomore Garrett Hartman, management experience is hard to come by.
“I will say that the radio experience is nice,” Hartman said, “But we don’t have experience with management and sales.”
With several degree opportunity areas in the mass communications program, including the R-TV program and sports media, Butler is in the business to get students ready for a job after graduating. While reaching for a bachelor’s will be a likely future, Butler will gives students the ability to put their foot firmly in the door.
