Going to an interview ...

[Rhody31]

My first one in quite some time actually - a weekly in my area finally opened up a spot which means I have a chance to be full-time in the biz.
SEs, what are some tips to ace an interview? What should be avoided?

 

[Moderator1]

Prepare. Prepare some more. And then really prepare.
Know the paper, the people, the area.
Don't go in with bull**** and a smile. Prepare. It will be noticed. You can't hide it either way.
If you are asked to critique, be honest. Point out the bad, and the good. Don't just go in and rip. Don't blow smoke up their asses either.
Oh yeah.
Prepare.
And then prepare some more.

 

[Clever username]

Don't go in with bull**** and a smile.

All those wasted years ...

 

[Kaylee]

Wear a suit.

Maintain eye contact.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Wear good shoes.

 

[PhilaYank36]

YOU'RE HIRED!

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Prepare. Prepare some more. And then really prepare.
Know the paper, the people, the area.
Don't go in with bull**** and a smile. Prepare. It will be noticed. You can't hide it either way.
If you are asked to critique, be honest. Point out the bad, and the good. Don't just go in and rip. Don't blow smoke up their asses either.
Oh yeah.
Prepare.
And then prepare some more.

I've actually gone to the trouble of buying and reading travel guides, looking at census data, reading projects on the paper's Web site, searching CJR for stories about the paper and asking questions of people who used to work there (sometimes even people I don't know). It helps me ask very specific questions. Talking to people also gives me an idea of the personalities of the people who will be interviewing me -- I'm not going to pretend to be someone I'm not, but I like to know what I'll be dealing with.

 

[chazp]

Are you interviewing for the SE's position? If so, tell them how you would improve the section. If you have stringer's experience. tell them how you have been able to establish and maintain relationships with coaches. Explain how much passion you have for the job. Let them know that you are the ideal person for the job. Sell yourself, be confident, but not cocky. If you don't believe in yourself, they won't believe in you and you won't get the gig.

 

[auggie_ben_doggie]

Are you interviewing for the SE's position? If so, tell them how you would improve the section.

A good call, and it might even help to have a few sections with you that you clearly "studied up" on before the interview. Hey, if props work for Carrot Top...

Make sure, however, that there's a 2:1 ass-kissing to "improve the section" ratio.

 

[John]

If it's a weekly, you don't need a suit. But look nice, and make sure your shoes look good.

 

[SoSueMe]

If it's a weekly, you don't need a suit. But look nice, and make sure your shoes look good.

Hell, I got my best job and my biggest paper and I didn't wear a tie.

 

[miroba71]

I vote for wearing a suit. And bring at least one extra resume. And be on time, maybe even a few minutes early.

 

[Tom Petty]

tell the person conducting the interview that they have a purdy mouth.

 

[Angola!]

I vote for wearing a suit. And bring at least one extra resume. And be on time, maybe even a few minutes early.

I don't know about a suit, but I think you have to wear a tie with nice slacks and a nice dress shirt.

 

[wickedwritah]

I'm too poor for a suit. Always have gone with a nice shirt and tie and khakis, and it's done the trick for me.

Rhody, you make it sound as if you've done some part-time work for this publication. If so, you should have a little easier go of it. Familiarity always is a plus.

 

[sartrean]

Tell then that you don't mind working for $30K or less a year. Other than that, everyone had good advice.

So many times, people interviewed at my shops and they weren't wearing a suit. So many times, non-suit-wearing-applicants were hired.

 

[User 4755]

Wear a tie at the very least and look decent. Buy a suit at Goodwill if you can't afford better. Seriously...you get one shot to make a good impression.

If they've given you some papers beforehand to look at, tell them what you could do to make it better. And if they haven't given you papers beforehand, at least get the latest copy and study it stem to stern and critique it. Learn the area beforehand as well.

Act confident. Look me in the eye and show me you can get the job done. Sell yourself and your work and don't be embarrassed about it.

Never ever go negative on a previous boss or employer -- it will make me think you will do the same to me.

Don't ask how much the job pays unless it's offered up first in conversation, which, if they're up-front, they will (I always said how much it paid so I could weed out the uninterested from then on).

Don't make demands in the interview -- if they want you, you can ask that later.

Whatever you do, don't do what one candidate did to me once -- he interviewed for a prep job, and this guy was so overconfident that he'd get the job (because he worked in the same chain) he said he'd have to fit his work hours around his golf schedule. And believe it or not, he was shocked that he didn't get the job.

Never, ever call the guy who interviewed you for the job late at night at home and wake him and ask him how the job search is going. I had a guy call me once at 11 p.m. at home -- when I was at work -- and he woke up my wife. He was promptly eliminated.

Lastly, follow up with a thank-you note, separate ones to every person you interview with. Even if it's an e-mail one, it's better than nothing. Managers almost never get them and they remember the candidates who do them.

Good luck with the job interview. Hope these helped.

 

[Rhody31]

I know I'm getting a little nervous because I had a dream last night that I missed the interview ... kinda freaky.
Dressing, I'm not worried - when you have bad hair, a large dome and a non-scuplted body, you have to make up for it with a fabulous wardrobe. I'm not going suit, but I have a nice pant-shirt-tie combo.
It's not an SE job, it's a writer's job. I can handle the workload, but I'm more excited that the paper is an ex JRC that got bought out. In addition, there's an editor's job in state with the company at another paper, and if I can get some experience, it's a chance to move up.
Anyway, it might be time to start getting dressed ... hopefully when I log back on, I'll be a working journalist again.

 

[Bob Cook]

Wear a tie at the very least and look decent. Buy a suit at Goodwill if you can't afford better. Seriously...you get one shot to make a good impression.

If they've given you some papers beforehand to look at, tell them what you could do to make it better. And if they haven't given you papers beforehand, at least get the latest copy and study it stem to stern and critique it. Learn the area beforehand as well.

Act confident. Look me in the eye and show me you can get the job done. Sell yourself and your work and don't be embarrassed about it.

Never ever go negative on a previous boss or employer -- it will make me think you will do the same to me.

Don't ask how much the job pays unless it's offered up first in conversation, which, if they're up-front, they will (I always said how much it paid so I could weed out the uninterested from then on).

Don't make demands in the interview -- if they want you, you can ask that later.

Whatever you do, don't do what one candidate did to me once -- he interviewed for a prep job, and this guy was so overconfident that he'd get the job (because he worked in the same chain) he said he'd have to fit his work hours around his golf schedule. And believe it or not, he was shocked that he didn't get the job.

Never, ever call the guy who interviewed you for the job late at night at home and wake him and ask him how the job search is going. I had a guy call me once at 11 p.m. at home -- when I was at work -- and he woke up my wife. He was promptly eliminated.

Lastly, follow up with a thank-you note, separate ones to every person you interview with. Even if it's an e-mail one, it's better than nothing. Managers almost never get them and they remember the candidates who do them.

Good luck with the job interview. Hope these helped.

All good advice, but I especially wanted to point out the advice on going negative on a former employer. In my hiring experience, that's the one that people violate most often. I always ask, "So why do you want to work here," and "Why are you thinking of leaving your current job?" I'm surprised how many people start slagging on their current place of employment, current co-workers, their editors etc. It's not that I don't want a reporter who is confident that he or she can do more, but someone who is spending time ripping people is likely to be an attitude problem. And I feel that way even when I know for a fact the place they're working is a hellhole.

Also, I would make sure to have questions ready for your interviewer. That's the chance to show how much you've prepared, and how well you know the place. Plus, in my experience being interviewed, I've had editors who asked few questions, so it was a chance for me to try to sell myself some more and extend the get-to-know-me time.

 

[MileHigh]

Always read that day's paper (or in the case of the weekly, the latest version) front to back.