Working as a professional radio presenter and a lecturer of media, I engage with many students about work experience. Some students require a placement as part of their curriculum, others want to gain vital experience within a radio station. Either way, it is a really competitive market. Much of it is about being lucky with timing, However, there are other elements that could give you an advantage of getting through the door.
In my experience of working in radio stations, I see a ridicolous amount of young people emailing a radio presenter or using social media to ask if they can come on work experience. A total waste of time for various reasons.
Firstly, the presenter (in most instances) have no control of who comes in on work experience. Asking a radio station via twitter or facebook looks really unprofessional. I guess it would be like driving up to a McDonald’s ordering window and asking if they had any vacancies just after you placed an order for happy meal. Totally not the right approach and certainly to the wrong person!
The other area negative approaches is the ‘asking’ part. ‘Would it be possible to come on work experience please?‘ – Why should the radio station take YOU on just on the basis that you have asked them? What is making YOU different from anyone else? What can you offer a radio station that someone else can’t. Be more positive in your approach. TELL the radio station what you will bring to them. How will you be a good addition to the team in the short term.
Radio stations (particulary commercial) are very short staffed in the current climate. They would rather have you DOING something than you being shown something. In your initial correspondence, talk about your broadcasting experience within education. Explain the equipment you have used, the projects you have undertaken. If you have made audio, send it in. (no longer than 2 minutes). You need to stand out. Perhaps check with your tutor /teacher to see what they think of the audio you are to provide
I’ll be honest, some (not all) radio stations will see a work experience student more of a hindrance than a help. If you think you will be sitting in the studio all day with the DJ’s watching them host their radio programme, you are very much mistaken. There are so many area’s that make a radio station tick. The truth of the matter is, you will spend the least amount of time with the on air team. You need to show that you are flexible in your work skills. Despite being radio, you need to consider other skills that would help the business in its day-to-day running. Website updating, social media, good clerical skills, a friendly telephone manner etc…
Here are my top tips of enhancing YOUR chance of getting in a radio station for work experience (some of these tips are useful for general experience)
1) Ring the radio station and get the name/email of the person who is responsible for recruitment of work experience. You would be surprised how many people DON’T and there email is deleted.
2) Explain in your email what you can do and the skills you process.
3) Remember, don’t ask if the station does work experience! Be positive in your delivery ‘I feel these skills would benefit Station FM the next time you recruit for work experience’
4) Explain WHY you would like work experience.
5) Mention something about the radio station. They would rather take on someone who knows what the radio station is about. ie; ‘I really like your latest tv campaign’ ‘I really enjoyed the interview with Coldplay last week’ etc…
6) State your availability. When were you hoping for your work experience, how long for. Can you work into the evening or weekend?
I’m no expert in hiring work experience. However I have seen it from both sides. I have seen the mistakes people make and straight away they rule themselves out. I can’t gaurentee these tips will work, however they will put you a couple of steps ahead of the others!
Good luck, and let me know how you get on!
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Andy
Andy Martindale 
I did work experience for The Bear 102 in Stratford back when I was 16. I had to attend an interview and have detailed knowledge of the station. I did an hours bus ride followed by a 2 mile walk to the station itself. School wanted a weeks worth but they only could offer three days which they agreed as it was an exceptional placement would be good.
I did sales, promotions, news and sat in on air with Steve Hyden when he presented mid mornings. Great insight to the industry…but a difficult one to get. Key as you say is knowledge and willingness…not another “half arsed attempt to ask”.