Checking out Job Leads

Unless you have a REALLY good relationship with your employer, I would advise against informing them that you're checking into/talking with someone else about a new job. Employers can be highly sensitive about the prospect of losing you, especially to a competitor. And unless you have an offer on the table-- what's the purpose of telling them? What do you expect them to do with that information? In this unstable economy, with layoffs both at the network and local level, it doesn't make sense to arm your employer with information that might help them usher you out the door.

This is doubly true if you're under contract. The terms of your contact may preclude you from contacting a prospective employer or them from contacting you. Many contracts have a "right of first refusal," meaning, your current employer has the right to negotiate with you first before you open it up to other offers. Talking with a competitor may be a violation of your contract. TV companies are very serious about this stuff. They can and will take you to court over infringements, although, this seems to be a lot more common with talent as opposed to producers.

One possible exception to the rule is if the new job possiblity is within your own company. Some companies are very gung ho about promoting from within. Still, tread lightly, because your immediate supervisor may not be so gung ho at the prospect of losing you, having to hire your spot and then training someone new.

Should You Stay Or Should You Go Now?

I got an email from someone with a contract coming up. The million dollar question-- stay or go? Tough question. It always makes sense to check out other options. It never hurts to cast your net. Check with friends/professional organizations. Check tvjobs.com. Cold call markets where you're interested in moving. See what's out there. You can always use a new offer to help your negotiating position. Sadly, TV stations don't give employees raises just because they're good workers. They give you a good raise when you have another offer.

However. There's something to be said for staying put, especially now. It might make some sense to do some digging both on what your company is doing and also what any company you're interested in is doing. For example, is your company laying off people in other markets? Does the new company have a history of laying people off when it gets tight or does it cut overtime instead? How fat is the old or new company? Reading the WSJ might not be your cup of tea, but it pays to be informed about the overall health of your and other media companies as well as the industry as whole.

Again, always have a resume and demo ready, just in case. Stay in touch with people and send info their way so they'll do the same. It's a scary world out there with a lot of good people in local and network being laid off-- so there's a lot of talent out there for the open jobs that are being filled.

Contracts: Good for producers?

Are contracts a good deal for producers? I say no way. I have never signed a contract, nor will I. A contract for anchors and reporters is one thing-- they can actually negotiate pay, clothing allowance, etc. For producers, it's just a way to keep us in one place-- and you're generally not getting more money in the bargain. Contracts for producers I think got popular because there's such big turnover. And with good reason. Producers, even bad ones, are hard to find. Hire a good producer and they're likely to get offers to produce in bigger markets or they get promoted into management either at their own or another station.

My take? Don't sign a producer contract. Or at least, never sign anything more than one or two years! You're worth is based on your ability to pick up and leave. It is the only negotiating power you have.