Interviews

[Soccer15211]

I'm in the process of setting up an interview for an entry-level job.

I've never interviewed for a newspaper job (i've interviewed for other things like marketing/communications, etc).

Since it's something I think I would like, I'm not looking to **** it up.

Aside from not saying things like '**** it up' in the interview, what kinds of questions should I expect to be ask/should I ask? Also, I wouldn't think it would be different for a newspaper job, but I should dress in a suit/tie for the interview right?

These might seem like stupid questions, but again...don't want to mess it up.

 

[Ace]

What kind of entry level job?

Regardless, I would ask about how you handle deadline situations, what kind of experience you have, what are your strengths, what are weaknesses (better have an answer for that).

Otherwise it depends on the job -- writer, copy desk, clerk, do-everything, person.

 

[Soccer15211]

It's an entry-level sports writing position.

 

[NYJScribe]

Wear a suit.

 

[Ace]

Then I would ask about your experience covering a variety of sports, your background knowledge of sports, your experience writing and writing on deadline, your attitude toward editing.

I would want to know for starters:
* If you think you know everything (bad) or are willing and eager to learn.
* If you seem to want to cover certain sports but I would have to use a shotgun to get you to cover others (bad).
* If you resist editing (bad) or embrace it.
* If you seem too shy or too much in love with your own voice to effectively interview people.
* How much computer experience you have, how good you are on deadline.
* If you know the basics of journalism and libel laws.
* If you are willing to work cheap.

 

[playthrough]

Wear the tie.

Is this paper in an area you know well? If not, read up online or have some back issues mailed to you. Have some pointed, constructive thoughts about the section and how it goes about its business.

 

[Soccer15211]

This is all helpful...thanks a lot. It's in the state I live in, but about two hours away and not in a major city, so I don't know much about it. I will try to read up as much as I can from their sports coverage online.

 

[Pringle]

In my first interview, during my senior year second semester, the managing editor of the paper leans back in his chair and starts firing all these sports questions at me, like, "Do you think that the Portland Trailblazers have a shot at the NBA title?"

Like on top of 20 hours of course work to graduate and everything else I had going on, I was supposed to be following every sports league inside and out in case it came in hand for preps job I was hoping to land.

I did get the job.

 

[STLIrish]

Have some sort of answer for the question: Are you a better writer or reporter. I've been asked that on at least half the interviews I've had.
Be prepared to talk about web stuff, not necessarily that you know the technical side, but have some ideas about where the paper can go on the web.
And, absolutely, wear a tie.

 

[fishwrapper]

if you really want to impress, a BOLO TIE.

 

[awriter]

Expect them to give you some sort of editing test.

 

[John]

Make sure your shoes look nice.

 

[fishwrapper]

I hired 100% of the applicants that wore a pocket protector...

 

[Write-brained]

Hey Soccer, Here's something I noticed about small and mid-sized cities hiring people out of college: they like personality more than anything because they feel they can train you on the other stuff (even though most newspapers absolutely suck at making time to train young writers) so my advice is be an extrovert and ask a lot of questions about the paper and the editors. Be curious. You may be an introvert in real life, as most of us are, but show them in that setting that you can be relaxed, easy going and inquisitive. Sure you're answers to the above questions matter, but they're not going to be a lot different than anyone else's. Just be happy, self-confident and listen. Be a reporter.

 

[Write-brained]

God, can't believe I wrote you're instead of your on that last post... my apologies.

 

[fishwrapper]

This is actually important...
If interviewing in Canada, make sure your CANADIAN PASSPORT is up to date (aka mullet).

 

[fishwrapper]

Two things everyone should know going into an interview:

1. Know yourself.
2. Know the product.

After that, it's like a Mad Lib...filling in the blanks.

 

[Write-brained]

Two things everyone should know going into an interview:

1. Know yourself.
2. Know the product.

After that, it's like a Mad Lib...filling in the blanks.

That's basically what I was blathering about, but it in a nutshell.

Nicely done, fish.