Suggestions for Students Interested in

Weathercasting as a Career

By Jon Ahlquist

• Along with your meteorology major, try to earn at least a minor in communications; take announcing, writing for the electronic media, production, etc.
• Present weather on FSU television as many days of the week as you can.
• Intern at a commercial TV station.
• Critique yourself carefully. What would be the first reason why a news director would hit the eject button for your audition videotape?
• Work on reporting. Include a reporting example at the end of your audition tape.
• Look at your wardrobe; have at least a couple nice outfits. Particularly initially, buy well-made, conservative styles that will not go out of style quickly. Your clothes should have a relaxed fit that is not too tight and not baggy. Your clothes should suggest a professional, business attitude. Exercise, eat in moderation, and take care of yourself.
• Make a meteorology presentation at one or more public schools.
• Through an internship and volunteer activities, get to know at least one TV weathercaster, at least one professor, and a third person who can serve as references (thus, who really know you) when you go job-hunting.
• See what the FSU Career Center offers. Also, check the job hunting information available from the "Excellence in Education" choice at www.met.fsu.edu.
• Before a job interview at a TV station, learn to pronounce the names of cities and counties in the station's area! Before your visit, look up the names of all the key personnel at the station and know how to pronounce those names. A station's Web site often lists the names of the general manager, news director, etc. Alternatively, the telephone receptionist at a station should be able to name the general manager, etc., and can help with pronunciation of those names.