STAA's Jonas Knox lands AM Drive sportscasting job in Charleston

Oct. 7, 2009 - PRLog -- Jonas Knox wanted his first full-time sports radio job so badly that he hand delivered his application. He lives in Los Angeles. The job was in Charleston, SC.

An STAA client, Knox has been hired as morning drive sports update anchor and producer at WSPO Charleston’s Sports Leader. Knox will also be doing some sports talk show hosting.

It is a text book example of how to earn a job in a market that has never been more competitive.

WSPO Program Director Seth Harp, also an STAA client says, “The guy that wanted the job the most, that put in the most effort, got it. He flat out earned it.”

“The point isn’t that Jonas flew himself to South Carolina to deliver his resume,” says STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. “The point is that he did things to set himself apart.”

Something else unique about the story is that, instead of conducting a nation-wide search, Harp decided to open the position only to clients of STAA.

“STAA has demonstrated to me that their clients are people who take their careers seriously,” Harp says. “They are committed to this industry. If they’re going to make that initial investment of time and money in STAA, then I’m going to align myself with that company. If people are coming to STAA to sharpen their tools, then that is one less step I have to worry about on my end. STAA gives them the understanding of what it takes to get the job.”

Knox certainly demonstrated that understanding. After spending the past several years in the real estate market, he decided it was time to pursue his childhood dream of a sportscasting career. Once he learned of the Charleston opportunity, he applied a full court press to get it. The first step was purchasing an airline ticket for the cross-country flight to deliver his resume in person. He hoped for five minutes with Harp. Instead, he got eight hours with Harp and other station management. He impressed them all.

In the ensuing weeks, Knox was asked to provide his programming philosophy and several production samples. Knox repeatedly hit home runs by tailoring each piece to WSPO and the Charleston market, and by demonstrating unique writing skills and creativity. Even in the days after he formally interviewed and was awaiting a decision, Knox continued to listen online to the morning show and email Harp with ideas.

“Jonas set himself apart from other candidates with his presentation and focus and his overall willingness to do what was asked of him,” Harp says. “Every time we asked for something new as we got deeper into the process, he did it. He followed instructions and he always did what he said he was going to do. He emailed when he said he would email, he called when he said he would call and he showed punctuality with everything that he did.

“The fact that he flew here carried a lot of weight in terms of desire. We knew he was serious about getting this. Not many people fly around the country to hand deliver their resumes.”

Knox is the fifth STAA client in just the past two months (one of them, a Learfield Sports college football studio hosting job, was unpublicized) to land a sportscasting position after an employer decided against a public search, and instead chose to work exclusively with STAA. More are on the way.

“Stations and minor league teams are asking with increasing frequency to look only at STAA clients,” says STAA CEO Jon Chelesnik. “It makes the hiring process infinitely easier for them and it maximizes their chances of getting someone who will excel in the job. We are currently working with employers to fill a minor league hockey job, two college play-by-play jobs and a sports talk gig. We are always looking at ways to provide STAA clients as many advantages in the job market as possible. Arranging exclusive job opportunities and dramatically reducing the competition field is one way we do it.”

Knox has had his STAA Talent Page since 2008 and has consistently utilized the career planning and consulting services that come with it. However, he knows that is only part of the equation for success.

“With STAA you have your Talent Page, you receive exposure, you have an opportunity, and you have a door to other chances that most people don’t get, but it doesn’t mean that opportunity is just going to fall into your lap,” Knox says. “You still have to open the door and do your own work and get out there and separate yourself. It’s like a gym membership. Everybody has one but unless you actually get up and go, you are never going to see the results.”

Harp agrees. “Jonas didn’t wait for the job to come to him. He went out and got the job.”

“I would not have this job without STAA because it was a stealth position,” Knox says. “If you go onto the Apex Broadcasting (owners of WSPO) site, the job isn’t even posted there. They went straight to STAA because they knew STAA would streamline the process. That right there says a lot to me. The fact that they passed up on the opportunity to promote the job on their parent company web site and go straight to STAA shows me that Seth believes in the process.”

“STAA has done a lot for me. Jon gave me a lot of good ideas and pointed me in the right direction. For that I am truly grateful.”

During the interview process, Harp asked Knox if he would bring the same enthusiasm and creativity to the job that he brought to the application process. Knox assured them it will not be an issue.

“I’m naturally just a loyal person,” Knox says. “I don’t forget people who give me an opportunity. I think they see something in me and I don’t want to let them down. I want to help out and be part of something great.

“It honestly is a dream come true. When I got the call I was floored and honestly, I haven’t come down off my high yet.”

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Sportscasters Talent Agency is devoted to helping radio and TV sports broadcasters advance their careers and land their next sports broadcasting job. Owned and operated by former ESPN Radio Network sports talk show host Jon Chelesnik.