Rob Machado, Executive News Producer, KITV - Honolulu
Congratulations to Rob Machado, who in May moved to Hawaii to become the Executive News Producer for KITV in Honolulu. In his new role, Rob will oversee the station’s daily news coverage and supervise employees in the news department, including producers, reporters, editors and anchors. Previously, he was Executive News Producer of the morning news for KMOV-TV.
Rob’s four-month job search yielded several surprises. For instance, when he began participating in networking groups, he was amazed at the number of people who attended—sometimes hundreds at a single event. “There is an amazing pool of talented people in the St. Louis area who have a lot to offer employers,” Rob said.
He cites structure and sticking to a routine as two of the keys to staying motivated and moving forward. On most weekdays, Rob rose at 6 a.m. and spent part of his day searching for job listings online, following up on leads, networking and taking phone interviews. He volunteered at Stray Rescue because it gave him another reason to leave his home and an opportunity to do something useful. Rob found it gratifying to give back to the community, and potential employers were impressed by his community service.
Of the several local networking groups he attended, Rob found GO! Network the most helpful. “The meetings are always well-organized, with relevant programs and speakers,” Rob noted. “The speakers and topics offer valuable insight, guidance, and tips on how to find the next job, how to network, how to interview, etc.” He added that the speakers have all been top-notch professionals willing to reach out to anyone in the group.
Rob commends everyone involved in putting on GO! Network events for their willingness to help job seekers and their openness to suggestions about programs, topics and future events. He appreciates the volunteers who devote their time and energy to making the GO! Network a success and the resources local companies and groups have contributed to help the professionals who participate in the GO! Network. He also thanks the HR professionals who offer suggestions and tips for interviewing better, navigating the application process, reaching hiring managers, etc.
To everyone still in transition, Rob says, “Don’t give up!” The job search process is time-consuming, and the hiring process can be tedious, but the payoff is worth the time and effort.
Rob’s first phone interview for his job in Hawaii took place on Dec. 31, 2008. After several more interviews and other steps in the screening process, he had an in-person interview on April 14, 2009. The next day, as Rob walked on a beach in Kailua just before heading to the airport, his cell phone rang. It was KITV’s hiring manager calling to tell him that the station wanted to hire him and was preparing a formal offer.
“By the way,” Rob added, “April 15 is my birthday. That is one birthday I will never forget.”