Interviews: closing the deal

The young man looked me right in the eye with a straight face. “So, dude, is my hair gonna take me outta consideration for this job, or what?”

I looked back, trying not to laugh as he sat there with his royal blue locks which were accessorized by his numerous facial piercings. He looked as though the phone rang and he had answered the staple gun. “Your hair? Uh, no. (long pause) Dude.”

As an Assistant News Director at the time, it was my job to “screen” prospective job applicants, sending only the best upstairs to meet the News Director and General Manager. I like a practical joke as much as anyone, but bringing someone with Smurf colored hair to see the ND would not have been well received.

That young man may have been a genius, a great writer, a terrific news person. We’ll never know, because he broke the number one rule of interviews.

Dress for success.

Over the years, I’ve seen it all. A prospective anchor who showed up dressed as if he were ready to mow the lawn. A woman with a low cut dress and her name tattooed on her chest. Short skirts from Paris Hilton’s fall collection.

OK, I’ve made my point. And yes, there’s a lot more to an interview than your wardrobe. But that’s a good place as any to start, because your appearance is, after all, the first impression you make. And by the way, this applies even if you are applying for an off-air position. Or any job. You need to get off to a good start, then you must close the deal. Here’s what to expect.

WARDROBE

Men should stick to the classics. Dark suit, white shirt, red tie. Light colored suits make you look too young. Shine your shoes. Get a haircut a week or two before the interview. A french-cuffed shirt and cuff links are a nice “old school” touch. And we old people love old school.

Women have a little more leeway. A tailored suit is always a good choice. Skirts shouldn’t be too short. Slacks are fine. No crop tops. Wear whatever color looks best on you, though if you need to look older, stick with dark colors. Keep jewelry to a minimum. Hair can hit the shoulders but really shouldn’t be much longer. I know a lot of women in sports (Samantha Ryan comes to mind) have really long hair these days, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

When you’ve chosen your interview outfit, dress up and show your parents. Chances are the people interviewing you will be the same age and have similar tastes. Think classic and conservative.

THE INTERVIEW

OK, you’ve made it past the receptionist into the News Director’s office. Chances are the first question will be either “tell me about yourself” or “why do you want this job?”

The absolute worst answer to either of these is “I’ve always wanted to be on TV.”

Remember, even if the above is true, you’re a future broadcast journalist, not a TV star. It is natural to dream about seven figure salaries, network exposure and book deals. Everyone does. But at this point in your career, you just want your foot in the door. You can think about climbing the ladder later.

You are there to learn. You are a sponge. You don’t know anything about the business or the real world. The biggest turn off for a manager is listening to a 22-year-old who knows everything. You can make an older person feel better about you simply by admitting you need help.

Back to the interview. Most News Directors have a process. He or she will chat awhile, give you a tour of the station, let you say hello to the General Manager, and then return you to the newsroom where you will be “turned loose.” I worked in four stations as a reporter, and this happened to me on my interview each time. The ND wants to see how you mingle with the staff. Are you outgoing, friendly, curious? Or do you sit in the corner out of the way? And how do you relate to the veterans on the staff? Believe me, the ND will ask them after you’ve left. Try your best to “fit in.”

At some point you may be asked to take a current events test, a writing test, or both. (I once handed a young lady 20 current events questions and she asked, “why do I need to know current events to anchor?” Her chances instantly went down in flames, especially in light of the fact she thought Hillary Clinton was the Mayor of Buffalo.) If you don’t read a newspaper everyday, start. Today. If you know more about Jennifer Aniston than Dick Cheney, you’re in trouble. Read, read, read. A good knowledge of history and politics are very helpful. And don’t forget to do your homework about the city and state you’re visiting. Know the US Senators, Governor, a few facts about the region.

As for the writing test, you’ll probably be given some wire copy and asked to rewrite it. Wire copy is notoriously dry, so do your best to turn a phrase where it is warranted. Quietly read what you’ve written out loud to yourself. Do you run out of breath? Then the sentences are too long. Writing conversational copy is an art. ND’s don’t expect you to be the next Charles Kuralt right out of school, but you must show some potential. Get some wire copy off the Internet and practice.

Finally, you might be asked to stay through a newscast, perhaps watching from the studio, the control room, the newsroom or the ND’s office.

If you’ve been at the station for several hours, that’s a good sign. Managers don’t spend that much time on someone unless they are interested. At this point you might be asked if you have any other questions. An offer might be made, or you might be told that you’ll be contacted shortly.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

This is a simple thing, but it shows a lot of class. Send a thank you note to the News Director. And not an e-mail or something you dash off on your computer. Make sure it is hand written. Put it in the mail the day after your interview.

Now start thinking about your experience. Is the job a good fit? Did you like the News Director and the people in the newsroom? Is there someone who would be a good mentor, or will you simply be thrown into the deep end of the pool? Remember, you want your foot in the door but you want to make sure the job will help your career. Always think long term.

Now comes the hard part. If you weren’t given a decision, you have to wait. I’m often asked “should I call? Will the ND get mad if I do?” It sounds a lot like dating in high school, but there is really no way to know. Every News Director is different. Some love to talk on the phone, some hate interruptions.

What you as a job applicant have to understand is that an ND has a lot on his plate at any given time, and filling this position might not be a top priority. There are day-to-day duties, breaking news, newsroom crises, all sorts of stuff that can delay things.

But you know what? If the News Director wants you, you’ll get the call.
Posted by TV News Grapevine at 8:57 AM