It's time to mail the resume tapes

Well, the dog days of August are almost over, which means the fall hiring season is about to begin. Next week you're likely to see more job postings, and, as people move, the domino effect ensues.

So, if News Directors have known all summer that they'll be needing people, why wait till September?

Well, as always, it is a matter of money. Why pay an extra salary or two during July and August when viewership is way down? News Directors see this as an opportunity to save a few bucks which they can use to lure the best people for the November book.

So as soon as the calendar reads September, that means it's time to get the newsroom roster filled and up to speed by November. Post a job right after Labor Day, hire someone two to three weeks later, give that person two weeks to give notice, and you've got a new team member in place a few weeks before the book starts. Two of my first three reporting jobs started in October.

If you've sent a tape during the summer and haven't heard anything, don't worry. There is simply no hurry to hire anyone during June, July or August. So don't be surprised if you get a call about a tape you've sent three months ago.

But if you're about to start a job search, now is a really good time to do it. September and October are great months to get hired. Sure, check the listings on tvjobs.com every single day, but also check the "moving on" sections of various television news websites. And you should send tapes to every station that interests you, whether or not the station has an opening.

Why? Because the station that doesn't have an opening next week might have one in a few weeks when the dominoes start to fall. That's when the ND has to scramble for a replacement, and do it quickly. If your tape is already in the building, that gives you a head start.

And remember, some stations don't post jobs in the conventional manner. Some use local newspapers and don't even bother with the Internet. Some just use their own websites. Others use the employment sections of their corporate websites.

Job hunting is a full time job if you don't have an agent. If you're looking, now is the time to go the extra mile.