[BC] Matching jobs and engineers

[Mike McCarthy]

On these points, I agree fully except for one.  Of all the people at 
a station or group, it's usually the engineering and business people 
who transcend management and ownership changes.  It's the most stable 
of positions in a facility.  It's that one trait which keeps some 
many engineers tied to a location/community.  The rest of the staff 
comes and goes like the wind and rain.  When engineering changes, 
there is usually a more deeply rooted reason behind the change.  Such 
as a buyer with existing staff and no room for the acquired station 
people...such as in your case.

Don't get me wrong, Dave's decision to stay put is understood and 
well rooted in personal logic.  It's the timing which didn't offer a 
better opportunity at home.  Then again, if he's having grand time 
building rockets, more "power" to him and the radio business's loss.

MM

At 11:36 AM 9/4/2008 -0400, Jeff Johnson wrote
>I am posting this to the list as it applies more broadly than 
>applicability to only one person. True, moving to another city is 
>always an option, but it should not be a necessity to find a decent 
>position in one's profession. In the instances of all three of us 
>formerly of X-Star, neither Jay nor I could move due to deep family 
>and property ownership ties. In an industry found in every community 
>of almost any size as broadcast is, there are amazingly few 
>opportunities. Ours is a limited, undercompensated profession. This 
>is due in large part, I feel, to the reliable nature of the 
>equipment we manage. Top managers, and those are rarely us, see 
>engineering as largely a black box niche. They are largely correct. 
>To have to move every time there is a management or ownership 
>shakeup does not make a profession desirable. That - a lack of job 
>security - coupled with commonly bad compensation and working 
>conditions is driving a good number of us to other technical 
>professions. It is attracting few, even those who want to work in broadcast.
>
>I cited Dave's experience as an example I am familiar with. There 
>were no invitations to a good broadcast position in two large 
>markets. He ended up working with rocket borne space exploration 
>equipment. What a better environment that is for us true geeks!
>
>Jeff.Johnson at rfproof.com
>
>At 08:02 AM 9/4/2008, Mike McCarthy wrote:
>
>>HOWEVER with all due respect Jeff, when I spoke with Dave, he 
>>declined to relocate to a MUCH larger market and likely a much 
>>higher compensation package. I think Dave could have and could 
>>still find a successful position in the business most anywhere if 
>>he was willing to relocate to that market, including ours.