Rock Your Media Job Interview

Competition for media jobs can be fierce. To give yourself the best chance of outshining the competition and landing the job, rock your media job interview by learning more about the interviewer and the company, preparing your responses, getting your materials ready, and being calm, confident, and professional during the interview.

Steps

Learning More About the Interviewer and the Company

1. Learn more about your interviewer before the interview. Google your interviewer to discover more information about them, and search on the website of the company that you'll be interviewing for to see if you can find any information about your interviewer.
   • Also search for your interviewer on social media sites, such as LinkedIn, and learn if you have any common interests or if your interviewer has won any media awards that you can discuss.
   • Small talk can help break the ice, make you feel more comfortable with each other, and avoid awkward silences.
   • If you haven't been told who you'll be interviewing with, nicely ask the recruiter or hiring manager who scheduled your interview if they can tell you who will be conducting your interview.
2. Discover the company's culture. Find out what you can about the company's culture and style, and during your interview, be prepared to share why you think you would be a good fit within the company.
   • Review the company's website to find out more information about the company, and peruse the company's social media sites to see the company's latest news and updates.
3. View the company's most recent work. You need to be familiar with the company's publications so that you can intelligently discuss the company's work and better articulate why you would fit in well with the company during your interview.
   • If you're interviewing for a media company that publishes newspapers or magazines, read the last few issues to familiarize yourself with the type of content they publish.
   • If you're interviewing for a media company that creates films or videos, view their latest works.
4. Read up on the latest information in your industry. In addition to knowing about the company, interviewers will also want to know that you're up to date on the important trends and news within your industry, and how the company you're interviewing for is positioned within the industry, so be knowledgeable about these areas.
   • Stay current on trends by reading key blogs and publications in your industry, attending professional conferences and industry events, participating in online forums and LinkedIn groups in your industry, and following key industry thought leaders on social media.

Preparing Your Responses and Getting Your Materials Ready

1. Gather your resume, references, and work samples. Place your resume, list of references, and work samples in a folder or briefcase, along with a notepad and pen to take notes during the interview, so that all your supplies are in one place and ready to go when you're off to your interview.
   • For many media jobs, your portfolio and work samples will be more important than your resume and references, so make sure you spend sufficient time gathering quality work samples to show your interviewer.
   • As portfolio examples, if you're a writer, make sure to bring your best writing samples. Or if you're a video producer, bring a copy of your most recent video demo reel.
   • For tips on fine tuning your resume, visit How to Make a Resume.
2. Anticipate questions that you may be asked during the interview. In addition to the standard interview questions asking about your education and work experience, interviewers will often ask you more unique questions to better understand who you are as a person and how well you analyze problems.
   • You may be asked questions such as, "What was the last book you read?" or "What was the biggest mistake you ever made?" Rehearse the answers in your head so that you can be well prepared for these types of questions. It should help you feel confident that you can reason through any question.
   • Media job interviewers might also ask you questions such as, "What's your favorite type of content that our company produces?" or "What about our publication would you change, given the opportunity?" So be certain that you're well-versed on the type of content the media company creates.
3. Think of questions to ask your interviewer. Thoughtful questions help convey your interest in the company and your enthusiasm for the position. You can write your questions down in your notepad that you're bringing to the interview.
   • Some possible questions that you might want to ask the interviewer include, "What does a typical day for someone in this position look like?", "What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?", and "What gets you most excited about the company's future?"
   • Don't ask "How much does this position pay?" Only discuss pay if the interviewer brings up the topic first.
4. Write down the directions and your interviewer's phone number. You can print out the directions to the interview and your interviewer's contact information, or you can write this down in your notepad.
   • Before you leave for your interview, it's helpful to review the route you plan to take to get there. Also familiarize yourself with some alternate paths you can take to get there, just in case the main route doesn't pan out for some reason, such as heavy traffic or an accident.

Acing Your Interview

1. Show up on time, and dress professionally. Plan to arrive to your interview early to ensure that you won't be late should there be unexpected delays. Wear a suit if the company's culture is more conservative and formal, and wear business casual if the company's style is more laid back.
   • Immediately call your interviewer if you run into any emergencies along the way that delay your prompt arrival.
2. Be friendly and smile frequently. A job interview is a time to let your friendliness, positivity, and people skills shine. No one wants to hire someone who is negative or who comes across as standoffish and unfriendly.
   • Be professional, while also demonstrating your charm and humanism.
   • Use compelling stories and examples that convey both your friendliness and that you're the right person for the job. Impersonal lists of credentials are unlikely to make a strong impression on your interviewer, whereas stories allow you to create an emotional connection with your interviewer.
3. Keep your nerves in check. While interviewing can sometimes be nerve-racking, keep your perspective, and remember that an interview is just an interview.
   • Working under tight media deadlines can be stressful, and your interviewer will be impressed by someone who can stay calm under pressure.
   • To stay calm, before your interview, visualize yourself doing a great job during the interview. Then, throughout the interview, take deep, calming breaths as needed to alleviate any anxiety.
   • Enjoy the process of getting to know more about the interviewer and the company, as they get to know more about you, too.
4. Get ready to have your skills tested. It's common to have your skills tested during a media job interview, so don't panic when skill testing is expected of you. Be confident in your abilities.
   • If you're applying for a writing position, your interviewer may give you some copy and ask you to re-write or edit it.
   • If you're applying to be an on-air personality, you may be asked to perform on the spot.
5. Be prepared to talk about your current job. You'll likely be asked some questions about your current position and why you want to leave it. Be honest, but also stay positive.
   • Don't say anything negative about your current boss or co-workers since you don't want to come across as a problem employee.
   • Emphasize that you want to leave your current position because you crave new challenges and want to learn new skills, rather than because you hate the pay or the hours at your current job.
6. End the interview on a high note. As the interview is wrapping up, succinctly reaffirm your passion for the position and why you feel you are the best fit. Say how much you'd love to work with the company and how you can be a valuable asset to them.
   • Leave your interviewer with the impression that if you were to be hired you would want to stay with the company for at least a few years. Employers prefer to hire people who are willing to make a long-term commitment to the company.
   • The day after your interview, remember to send your interviewer a thank you note. Thank them for the time they spent telling you about the position, and briefly reiterate why you believe you are the right person for the job.

References

See also

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• Prepare for an Internship Phone Interview
• How Do You Build Relationships Interview Question
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• Take Control in Your Interview
• Answer What Is Your Biggest Failure
• Prepare for an Informational Interview
• Succeed in Your Final Interview
• Keep a Job Interview on Track
• Dress for a Zoom Interview

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