Let me preface this by saying nothing irritates me more than people who don't return calls. In fact, when I get someone's answering machine, I generally hang up rather than leave a message. I'd rather just call later.
However...
The rules are different when you're a News Director.
The most common complaint from job hunters I hear is that News Directors simply don't return calls. When I was a reporter I felt the same way. Then when I went into management the reason hit might square in the face.
It simply isn't possible. Not enough time, and emotionally draining.
Let me illustrate what happens when a job is posted. (And those NDs who fail to put "no phone calls please" at the end of the ad are just asking for trouble.) Despite the fact that the ad specifically tells candidates not to call, you'll get a call that always starts like this...
"I know the ad said no phone calls, but..."
And then you just shake your head because the person couldn't follow a simple direction.
But back to the unreturned calls topic. I would guess that the average response for any on-camera job opening is somewhere between 100-300 tapes. Along with the deluge of mail, you'll receive dozens of emails which you probably won't open because the station has a policy regarding internet viruses. And then there are the people who call. Even if the job ad says nothing about phone calls, there is absolutely no reason for a News Director to talk with anyone before seeing the tape. You might have the best phone manner in the world and a great voice, but unless that translates into on-camera work, there's no point.
Then there are the people who call after sending a tape, looking for a critique, thinking you will actually remember every tape you've looked at. "I sent you a tape and wanted to know what you thought of it." Remember, 90 percent of the tapes don't make it past 20 seconds. And if you've watched 200 tapes, the only ones you'll remember are those on the short list.
OK, now let's move on to the part of the search where the ND is narrowing things down. Let's say you've got six tapes that you like. Before you show them to the GM or send them to corporate, you need to know if the people are still available and what sort of money they are looking for. And you want to get a sense of the candidate's personality. So you call. This of course gets the applicant very exited, and also seems to give that person license to start calling the ND. And then the ND doesn't call you back. Some possible reasons:
-The ND hired someone else.
-Your tape didn't impress the GM or corporate and the ND was overruled. (This happens a lot.)
-Someone else of equal talent will work cheaper, or lives closer and doesn't need moving expenses.
-Someone already at the station was promoted from within.
-A hiring freeze or some budgetary change eliminated the opening.
-You drove the ND nuts with phone calls.
(Something else to consider: some stations send an application to everyone who applies. This does NOT mean they are interested, nor should it encourage you to pick up the phone.)
So before you think a ND is being rude, consider that point of view. Would you want to make dozens of calls to people who really have no shot at a job? And would you want to receive a call like this?
So once again, send it and fuhgeddaboudit. Don't sit around waiting by the phone, even if you've gotten a "short list" call. Assume nothing. Keep sending tapes.
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