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TV & TELEPHONES

    During my entire career in broadcasting and public relations I had a “five year” plan.  Simply put - if I didn’t get promoted or advanced in my skills and assignments I would start looking for another position.  I left broadcasting and accepted the job at New Jersey Bell’s Corporate Television department for several reasons - the studio had the newest and best production facilities that were far better than most broadcasting stations; the studio produced 200 programs a year for training, product roll-out and public information distributed via a live network and through VHS cassettes.  But most important I once again was “my own boss” and would manage many of the best TV freelancers and work with top  NYC productions companies.

     


The first day on the job I experienced how much different working for one of NJ’s biggest, richest companies was from what I was used to in public supported broadcasting.  After my direct boss showed me around and introduced me to some of the media and public relations 96 managers and staff  on the 17th floor of the Newark headquarters.  There were 8 levels of management at the company from state president down to manager level 1.  Most of my associates on my floor were first level manager and a few others had worked their way up to the higher levels after several years of service but because of my special skills I was hired as a level 2 staff manager which was not the usual practice in this highly regimented business which was not much different from the army hierarchy I just left.    

    And I learned how important levels were almost immediately after I sat at my new desk.  A secretary knock and came in my cube and reported, “I am very sorry Mr. Iszard I didn’t order you a leather briefcase so here’s a first level plastic one until we receive one from another building.”  I was totally shocked at this news and later at lunch my boss filled me in on all the perks I would receive which included the use of an “unbranded” company car from our car pool and a $10,000 cash limit on my corporate credit card.  And for the next few weeks I continued to be surprised at my status and the authority it gave me to do my job (without constant worries about spending or saving money that I had in public broadcasting)  

To be continued.


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