Job Interview - General advice please

stargirl69

Lots of great advice ... I'd agree

Make sure you have eaten

Arrive on time

Do research

Have a few copies of your resume

Firm handshake,good eye contact

Clear answers but don't ramble,it is more comfortable to be asked to expand on an answer than be asked to stop talking

If there is water available ... pour a glass out,it stops your throat from getting dry with nerves and if you stumble on a question take a drink,it will stall for time while you think about your answer and keep you alert.

Dress well but layer light clothes,so that if you get too hot with nerves you can discreetly slip of a jacket rather than have to pull a sweater over your head

Most of all

GOOD LUCK!

unlost dogs

Lots of great advice for you here, DC.

I used to have 150 direct reports and here are the things that impressed me when I was interviewing a candidate:

1. Don't smell anything but clean. No cologne, cigarettes or garlic
2. Don't swear
3. Do your research and be prepared to talk not only about the university program, but the genre in general

Oh, and try not to pass gas.

I'm sure you will be juuuuuust fiiiiine.

afroannnie

Definitely some good advice here.
I've interviewed quite a few people in the past.

Bring extra copies of your resume..the people interviewing you may need a copy, but they also may ask you something specific about your resume and it's good to have a copy for yourself in front of you.

Definitely send a thank you e-mail to everyone who interviews you..this leaves a nice impression, helps you stand out, and shows interest.

They will probably ask you why you're interested in the job...make sure you have an answer and make sure you have some background on the position/company. Once we interviewed a girl and asked "So what made you interested in applying for this job?" Her response "What position is this for?" :? It made for an awkward moment and showed she didn't have interest in the particular job being offered.

They will also probably ask you at the end "Do you have any questions for us?" Make sure you have some questions ready...even if they're general questions..Once again this shows that you have interest in the position.


General questions my company asks when interviewing include "Weakness/Strength", "How do you deal with a co-worker not pulling their own weight?", "Why would you be a good fit for our company?" While they may not ask these questions, I think it's always helpful to go over basic interview questions in advance. Just have a general idea of how you would approach the question...you don't have to have an exact answer ( that way it won't seem rehearsed), but if you jot some ideas down and take time to think about how you would answer, it should help your nerves during the interview.

GOOD LUCK!!

F Me In The Brain

unlost dogs wrote:

Lots of great advice for you here, DC.


Oh, and try not to pass gas.

.

+1
I was interviewing someone who did this about a year ago...I paused, she said nothing and I started laughing. Very unprofessional of me but needless to say I did not hire her.

I immediately though, in an order similar to this:

Who the fuck blows ass in an interview?
If they have no idea they are about to blow ass how oblivious are they about other things?
Why wouldn't she say excuse me or acknowledge in some way?
I wonder if she is sick or something.
This stinks, I need to wrap it up quickly.

Sorry, now we have likely just made you petrified you might shart during your interview. I am sure you can control yourself!

JOEJOEJOE

I would brush-up on your PBS knowledge, and maybe look-over the station's schedule so that you are familiar with the shows they air.

Maybe ask questions about the station's relationship with PBS......KCET in Los Angeles recently dropped its PBS affiliation.

unlost dogs

FmeintheBrain... You're killing me! That's frigging hysterical.

DC, make sure you evacuate your bowels that morning.

Word.

DS1119

F Me In The Brain wrote:

unlost dogs wrote:

Lots of great advice for you here, DC.


Oh, and try not to pass gas.

.

+1
I was interviewing someone who did this about a year ago...I paused, she said nothing and I started laughing. Very unprofessional of me but needless to say I did not hire her.

I immediately though, in an order similar to this:

Who the fuck blows ass in an interview?
If they have no idea they are about to blow ass how oblivious are they about other things?
Why wouldn't she say excuse me or acknowledge in some way?
I wonder if she is sick or something.
This stinks, I need to wrap it up quickly.

Sorry, now we have likely just made you petrified you might shart during your interview. I am sure you can control yourself!

mfc2006

unlost dogs wrote:

FmeintheBrain... You're killing me! That's frigging hysterical.

DC, make sure you evacuate your bowels that morning.

Word.

best advice so far.

best of luck, Dave!

dcfaithful

DS1119 wrote:

dcfaithful wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

I've done many interviews the last few years, and they always ask about a problem that you had and what you did in response. Try to think of some of those where you were a real genius (they may not ask you those in broadcasting, though--not my field).

What if I really can't think of a situation like that? I am a Document Coordinator for a pharma company and one comes to mind in my current position where I made a manufacturing SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) effective at like 4:30 on a business day without going through a mandated 7-day training period. To make things right, that night I personally contacted the author, and the next morning I created a CAPA (basically a documented plan to correct the error, and how I executed it), filled out a training form and delivered the SOP for training to all employees with it in their curriculum. I later followed up and collected the training forms and turned them into the training department, included the training form showing all the affected employees had completed the training as supporting documents to my CAPA, and closed it. The SOP was then able to be used.

Certainly nothing to do with broadcasting, but is that a good example?

To tell you when I have asked that question it's just to hear the person talk and see how they formulate thought. I'm in sales so I do it to hear how well the person puts their thoughts together. I really don't care if you tell me how you rearranged the food in the break room fridge. Do you have something you could use from your last broadcasting job?

Because of my shortened stay at the station, I didn't have much of an opportunity to to hit a problem. I was a volunteer, did my show, attended community functions and such, but a challenge to overcome never reached me while I was there. I imagine had I been there longer one would have..

brianlux

Regarding how you dress- I've often heard that you should dress one step above what you would wear to work on a daily basis- maybe a little more but I think you can be over-dressed and of course you don't want to under-dress.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

dcfaithful

mfc2006 wrote:

unlost dogs wrote:

FmeintheBrain... You're killing me! That's frigging hysterical.

DC, make sure you evacuate your bowels that morning.

Word.

best advice so far.

best of luck, Dave!

If I think of this in the interview, I am doomed.

I'm not good at controlling my laughter. I got the bowels covered.

titchinello

whatever you do, don't take this advise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBAXWz-8arw

dcfaithful

Thoughts on when to schedule the interview? It seems he has placed the ball in my court on the time.

I'm thinking pre-lunch is better.

F Me In The Brain

dcfaithful wrote:

Thoughts on when to schedule the interview? It seems he has placed the ball in my court on the time.

I'm thinking pre-lunch is better.

8 AM shows you are a go-getter and not scared to rise early / anxious for the chance, etc....but it also doesnt allow him to get some of his shit done first thing in the AM.

I never schedule anything (if I can help it) prior to 9:30-10:00 so that I have a chance to fight fires when I get in. I would go w/10.

DS1119

dcfaithful wrote:

Thoughts on when to schedule the interview? It seems he has placed the ball in my court on the time.

I'm thinking pre-lunch is better.

I have always liked doing them around ten in the morning. It gives the interviewer time to get their desk cleared of any loose ends from the previous day...have a cup of coffee that type of stuff. Also after lunch is typically not good either because sometimes you get that whole food coma thing happening.

dcfaithful

Would it make a difference if it's a Monday? He might not have loose ends right?

Am I thinking too much?

dcfaithful

DS1119 wrote:

Also after lunch is typically not good either because sometimes you get that whole food coma thing happening.

Exactly my thoughts.

DS1119

dcfaithful wrote:

Would it make a difference if it's a Monday? He might not have loose ends right?

Am I thinking too much?

Avoid Mondays. Most people are not in a good mood Monday mornings. Flip it around on the interviewer. When you call to schedule ask him "I can schedule my interview for ten on Tuesday or Wednesday...what is most convenient for you"?

dcfaithful

titchinello wrote:

whatever you do, don't take this advise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBAXWz-8arw

81

DS1119 wrote:

Avoid Mondays. ?

i second this...leave me the fuck alone on mondays.....and friday afternoon