VR update part deux

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Hey Gang,

Ok so I'm to the point of filling out applications to various jobs some within the media field education/prior exp is an issue even tho I have textbook knowledge so I was hesitant on filling out apps with such companies so I talked with my "job placement" specialist to see if he could perhaps speak on my behalf to get my foot into the door and he basically said "just fill out the applications and see what happens" which I was like duh I already knew THAT I provide names and phone numbers to a few outlets and I get the feeling that he's not making calls on my behalf but rather blowing them off and telling "I never got any response back" to pretty much every number I sent them which is odd because I know when I called the 1 or 2 stations I know people at I normally am able to talk with them and/or am able to get a response back... I also looked to the dreaded retail sector I've filled out one with BN and Books a million because of the quiet environment to which he keeps pushing remedial jobs (such as dollar store warehouse jobs) instead of office jobs (which I do have exp in)

It seams to me he's more talk then action as he wants me to get any job regardless of where it's at so it make him look good vs what is good for me.

So I'm coming close to firing him and kicking VR to the curb they are doing nothing that I can already do on my own.

So that's where I am at now.

Yup, there you go. If this VR place works anything like the refugee place that I used to be involved in, which would get people jobs like that, that's exactly how it works. One job is as good as another so they target the easy hires, not what really matches up to a person's experience and talent.

If it's at all possible, you should try to do it on your own.

Or you could tell the VR people that you REALLY desire to work in media, and not a Goodwill-type job.

You want to advance in the world, not remain stuck in those retail/fast food type jobs.

Oh they know kraftiekortie believe me I've made that point at the various meetings they (VR) don't know too much about the field. They tried telling me that I needed a college degree to work in a Master Control type of job and I told them according to the people I know (which I really do) college is preferred but not required and that yes I do have plans to go to college to help me secure that kinda job but I still need to get my foot into the door something they don't know how to do or can't I dunno

Also expressed no desire to work in a goodwill/retail job to which they were more then willing to push on me. So in the meantime I've filled out an app for a bookstore at the college where I am studying at for a PT job if I get it I'm kicking VR and my job placement person to the f'ing curb! now also, I also have an internship app with a local TV outlet that I have on the burner and I'm waiting for a LOR from my math teacher (she's very enthusiastic to help me out) once I get that I'll mail out the intern forms and hope for the best....Hell at this point I'm willing to move out of state being that a computer firm has/will be looking to hire folks on the spectrum.

Everybody related with VR always boasts how they have contacts with this job/employer or they know somebody whom works in this field but when put to the test nobody does anything or is very slow to move.

My sister has been a graphic designer for 10 years or so and she's just now finishing her Bachelors. And I once took a journalism production class and the TV News guy who taught it said you do not need a degree to work in any kind of media. A lot of people start their jobs while still in school.

These VR people sound like they need to go back to the drawing board.

Thank you! the only jobs that I can think of that requires a degree is engineering maybe accounts payable things like that. I would agree with your statement that the VR people should go back to the drawing board however I'm sure they wouldn't be able to find it if they walked into it.... it seams to them it's a one size fits all oh you have Autism you are a very bright person you appear to be smart and willing to do what it take to get your foot into the door....ok go to goodwill here's a warehouse job we've found!


Why can't these people realize my true talents?! why can't people see that I have a passion and desire to get into that field?!

I guess THEIR true talents do not lie in VR, or else they would see YOUR talents.

Hey Gang, Alright here's my update brace your selves it's a long one!

Last Friday I went to do a personalized tour of a local TV station that I want to work for in the future now normally they don't do personalized tours so it was a first for them so they asked me what areas do I want to tour and immediately I said Master Control I know of a guy whom works as a supervisor there (which I do) so I gave the tour person his name and she said that I'll ask him but no guarantees. so an hour later she said "guess what?! I ask him and he said was perfectly ok if I could stop in and that in fact you will be able to meet him and he'll be happy to take you around areas that I nor anybody else has been into."

So Friday came and I arrived for the tour and me and the tour guide were making small talk about the broadcast industry as we walked through the hallway and made a turn my contact was standing outside of Master Control so we re-introduced our selves and we talked more in depth about how stations in my DMA are being hubbed out and how that his is pretty much the only one that isn't...as we were talking he gave me a slip of paper with a company name & number on it and told me "to explore that being that he thinks it's a good opportunity to get my foot into the door"(wow).
So we finally entered Master Control! The nerve center of the TV station, the technical hub, the last stop before the signal hits the transmitter, the place most people don't get to see, my heaven (ok I'm getting a lil giddy just recounting this here) so me and my contact talk more in depth about what goes on in master I start talking in tech/industry speak and he replies just as fast then we go over station policies and Fcc policies server/automation I also got to see the server farm must have been about 20 rows of servers just for that dept alone I can only imagine what their IT dept looks like! Meanwhile my tour guide is gong on about how this station is ranked in the top 10 nationwide and one of the top 5 in my DMA (promotional fluff). By then each question I'm asking he's having to reply back in tech/industry speak for while having to translate in simple terms to the tour guide. I'll tell ya guys I could see my self sitting in front of that console some day!

After about a good 15-20 mins of talking tech and seeing what goes on we walk out to see the news room ho-hum then we walk over to another area that's nothing but monitors and he's going on about how the people in that area monitors local news and international news and then I talk more in tech about different video formats and how do they convert something from PAL to ATSC or convert something that's 25f to 29.997 without any interlacing which feed is a part of a pool etc. so then I asked a question that even stumped him I asked him I know the dept is called the "satellite news center"on camera but in house wouldn't this area be ENG to which somebody that over herd us looked at me and said "yes it is, how the did you that?! Do you know what ENG stands for" acting cool I just said yep Electronic News Gathering So after another 15 mins he departed back to his dept and my tour guide looked at me and said are you sure you don't work in this field? to which I said sadly nope I just want to get my foot into the door she said with what you know it shouldn't be that hard (if she only knew) so we walked around and saw another control room which was being used as they were producing/directing a live news broadcast. finally we went to the radio dept...while it was nice seeing that area nothing really remarkable happen there.
<Whew>

So that brings us to today my "job placement specialist" called me wanting to know what types of jobs I've been looking for so I provided him a list from my database I also wanted to inform him about what took place at the TV station I went to on Friday (trying to be proactive here people) he really didn't seam to care.

So about 2 hours later to tell me he's found a GREAT lead so I played along to which he said Dollar General (that was two-three towns over) so I cut to the chase how and bluntly asked how much money to which he "said 7-7.25? 8.00? 9? ya know entry wages" to which I told him find out for sure and I also asked him if he had found any office jobs to which he said "I haven't seen anything" (in other words he hasn't looked) and I told him I would be willing to travel being that office jobs normally pays more then retail to which he said OH your willing to travel but what about dollar general to which again I told him I'll travel if the money's there then he said where do you live again? (frigging duh! it's like I'm talking but he's not interested in what I have to say).

After talking with somebody else about everything that is going on I think I'm going to kick him to the curb and see if VR could staff another person and if not they are out as well! If I want retail I'll apply my self it's the higher up jobs that I need some help with (office/Admin & broadcasting) and this guy doesn't get it "Just fill out the applications what's the worst that can happen they say no". I've asked if he could speak on my behalf to which he tires to deflect and change the subject.

For somebody whom want's to help me in anyway he can he's doing very little and the fact that the person I know at the TV station (that I only met once) actually gave me a lead and my job placement guy hasn't really speaks volumes.

So that's where I am right now, when I was at the TV station/Master Control for once in my life guys I didn't feel that I had Autism all my impairments didn't really matter I knew what was going on.....I felt normal.

As always comments questions are welcomed.

Congrats on the successful tour and placement lead! I can tell your technical knowledge was noted and respected. MC can be a way cool environment. Back in my day the tape room was all film islands (35mm slides and 16mm film reels) and the VCRs were all the wall-sized 2" tape monsters. I well remember the slight nervous tension going into a long commercial break to make sure that everything kicked-off and ran properly.

There have been a few times in my career where I have moved to break into a new field in a way similar to what you are doing now. Something I found most challenging in each of those instances was: patience. Typically, once I finally made contact with the right people and my qualifications were established and I was well-slotted for the next job opening, there was still the matter of waiting for that opening to happen. Businesses run on budgets that are often stated both in terms of dollars and of headcount. So at times I have had to wait for some months before someone leaves the job I want, or until a new budget year rolls around where maybe a new position has been funded.

So again, congratulations, and continued good luck!

Thanks Marky9, I bet those Quad's must have been hell! lol I bet you guys were thrilled when betacam became the mainstream. I think I may have broke ground when I went to my local TV station and met with people 1:1 I followed up on the lead that was giving to me by somebody I know whom works in Master so I had a chance to talk with their HR agent and at first they told me it appeared the position had been closed however she was unsure why they are still taking apps so I'm going to call back in a few days. She also told me that I should stay in contact with her and stay on top of things...so I will! I'm not telling VR about this as I don't want to queer any possibilities of a career in the field I want to get into by having somebody say oh yea we're from VR and He is our consumer...Retail I don't care too much about it's a throwaway job in my book.

So with all that's been said maybe FINALLY a step in the right direction here!

Yep. Drop one of those reels on your foot and you'd be on crutches for weeks. I still chuckle remembering how many times the signal would breakup on a quad while it was on air, and from across the building I would hear the tape guy screaming at the dude on the MC switcher: "Go to slide! Go to slide!"



That is a very encouraging scenario!

Yep I can see it now



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Indeed,

I just wanted to pass along this update (today's been a hectic day lol) I called my case worker at VR explaining to her that I am NOT looking for retail but rather office/admin (a holdover until I can get into the broadcast field) and that how since I've been assigned to this job placement guy been feeling like a dog chasing its tail...getting no where I went on to say I'm not low functioning where I don't know how to fill out an application or look for a retail job it's the office admin type of job that I need a little bit more help on and I also asked if there were any other contractors they could staff for me to which they said there's Goodwill (I think I vomited a little in my mouth) and a career relation specialist (they typically staff for warehouses, retail and food ind) which kinda tells me they are not equipped to deal with somebody whom is high(er) functioning but yet still needs a little guidance. :-/ So that's where things still stands.

Last edited by JoelFan on 21 Jul 2015, 12:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm sure they're aware of your passion. They are likely not qualified to judge your expertise.
But your are just another person to them in a stagnant bureaucracy. Cut them loose. Good luck with the broadcasting lead! You seem to know about technical equipment. I know it's retail, but what about an electronic repair shop or such?

It would help your cause greatly to obtain a years' working experience again at one job.

If you could, keep in touch with the people who gave you the tour.

I know KraftieKortie, it's just kind of job that matters if I say took a job a Dollar General it wont look too convincing same if I were to take a job a Mc Burger restaurant. I've got a few bookstores that I've applied to and I think I may have target in the mix as well. It's all about appearance it's all about selling one's self and if I go the route they want me to go (lower level jobs) I know I wont go far I think we've got about 5 months til the holiday season so I know more high(er) end retail jobs will be looking for help so I may have more luck in doing that on my own.

I've got their cards so I'm OK on that front...in a few months I reach out to a few people at the station and see what's going on.

JoelFan, you are treating work like it's an personal growth experiment. I didn't realize you hadn't worked before. Most people work to survive and get little personal reward. Just about every menial worker has a plan to do something better. And most people have a few crappy jobs in their career.