It started as a part-time job in between classes. I worked as an admin. assistant for a local radio station owned and operated by my school. I had never listened to the station before, but they had a opening posted to the student job page on our website. I applied, but didn't hold my breath. I knew nothing about radio stations and had never worked a desk job, but I knew I needed anything that came my way.
Most of my classmates found internships or summer jobs in their field, but a select handful of us still work on our own time, doing whatever work we can find. To most college students, a job is a job, and money is money. I wasn't looking for adventure, adventure found me.
It's the same as any other front desk job you can think of; answering phone calls, letting in visitors and assisting in mailings. But it grew into much more than that. I began as an assistant to the underwriting director, scheduling funding and creating template proposals. I then picked up a second position as membership assistant, working closer with our community supporters and members. I do a little of everything for the station. I volunteer when I can, I help where I can, and I even trained as a sub-DJ on one of my favorite shows. I never knew of this hidden side of a radio station.
Nothing is like the experience of working at a radio station, and it's never what you expect. Our station is so involved in community that you never even realize is there. So many volunteers and music lovers come to the station as a landmark for their ideas and community involvement. We are supported by so many people that love what we do. It's amazing to see so many people being brought together by the love of our station. Working at the radio station gave me deeper appreciation for volunteering and helping out where the station needs it, because I truly value its community involvement and wouldn't have realized it without being a student worker.
You will never realize how narrow minded your musical knowledge is until you've worked at a radio station. We all think we're the biggest hipsters, listening to the latest, greatest bands and discovering new musicians. Working at a local radio station opened my eyes to so many new genres. The local talent exposed through independent radio is incredibly overwhelming. There's unbelievably talented artists in your home town you would never know about if not for these radio stations giving them an outlet. Working at a radio station exposed me to genres I didn't think I would even like. Working at WMSE Milwaukee is definitely like nothing I would have imagined for a part-time job in college and I'm thankful to have gotten this opportunity and happy to share my experiences.
