How Could I Work for a radio Jazz station?

i want to work for a radio jazz station after high school, but i don't know what are the education requirements for me to become a jazz radio dj. do i go straight there and apply?|||Becoming a jazz DJ requires a strong vocal presence, a willingness to work unusual hours for low pay, and the flexibility to move from station to station or even from state to state. An entry-level radio DJ may also be responsible for a station's clerical work or commercial production, so a background in office management or electronics may also prove useful. A radio DJ's workday can range from a four hour shift on the air to a day-long remote broadcast from a distant location.





A number of colleges and universities offer broadcasting as a major, so a radio DJ candidate should enroll in a suitable program with a radio broadcasting component. Working as a campus radio DJ can provide real world experience, along with a more professional air check tape. Although a degree is not strictly required in order to break into the radio business, program directors often give hiring preference to degreed candidates. College programs can also provide technical training for a radio DJ assigned to work a board, radiospeak for operating a studio control panel.





Once a radio DJ candidate has a professional air check tape and a degree in hand, it's time to seek employment. The main person responsible for hiring new on-air talent is the station director. In smaller operations, this task may fall to the station's general manager or owner. In general, the station director usually has a generous supply of air check tapes and resumes from would-be disk jockeys, but smaller stations may advertise openings from time to time. The trick is to get the station director to listen to your air check tape personally and call you in for an interview.





A new radio DJ is often assigned to overnight or weekend shifts at first. While this may seem like a career setback, demonstrating a willingness to take on unpopular assignments can help you secure better shifts in the future. If you're fortunate enough to be hired by a popular radio station, expect to spend many hours in the studio cutting commercials, broadcasting sporting events and anchoring remotes. There is a significant amount of turnover in the radio business, as computers have taken over many routine aspects of the job and experienced radio personalities constantly move on to better paying markets.





Finding work as a radio DJ in smaller markets can be hit-or-miss. It is not unusual for freelance disk jockeys to move several times a year for work. As radio formats or station ownerships change, a radio DJ must learn to change as well or prepare to move on to another gig.





The average salary for a local radio DJ is rarely more than 1,500 dollars (USD) a month, usually paid out as an hourly wage. Only a small percentage of nationally recognized radio talents earn the top wages associated with the entertainment industry.