It’s that time of year here at the Missouri School of Journalism, when lecture topics often turn to job advice. My class of magazine editors is no exception. With a group of 14 students all preparing to graduate in a few weeks, I try to help answer their No. 1 question: “How to I get a job?”

In my pre-university career, I sat on the interviewer side of the table well over 100 times. I’ve hired unpaid interns as well as six-figure-salary magazine editors. I’ve been heartbroken over candidates who don’t measure up to their resumes and elated by those who far surpass expectations. I’ve interviewed people who would become good friends and those who were good friends already.

In other words, I’ve done a lot of job interviews. In class this week, I shared with my students 15 tips for successful interviews, plus advice for answering five common interview questions. This advice is based on my 17 years of hiring magazine and newspaper journalists, as well as the many discussions I’ve had with others in the field. And a bonus to reading the common questions here: Unlike I did with my students, you don’t have to answer them out loud in front of the group.

Preparation – what to do before the interview

1. Really get to know the company/magazine. You already should have done this to write your application, but now is the time to double down. Read the magazine’s website. Scour back issues. Read industry news (Folio, Ad Age, Media Bistro, Mr. Magazine, Bo Sacks and more). Get to know its history and be familiar with lead editors, frequent contributors, content changes. You’re going to want to be able to speak intelligently about it. I once did all of this to go into a coffee meeting with the editor of a magazine where I wanted to work. You certainly should be doing it for a formal job interview.

2. Spend time on self reflection. You know you’re going to be asked to assess yourself. Prepare for it by thinking through some common questions. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you bring to an organization? Talk to others you’ve worked with to get their perspective. Then start a feedback file of emails, notes, award descriptions, etc. so you’ll have it for future reference. (Because you will interview for more than one job in your careers.)

3. Prepare some anecdotes/sound bites. Specific examples and succinct stories will stick in an interviewer’s mind more than general information. (Pro tip: You aren’t the only one who has wanted to be a journalist since they were 10 or had to deal with a deadline issue — go deeper.) What is your unique story? Why are you in magazines? What kind of worker are you? What experiences have you had and what have you learned from them? What are your selling points and how will you emphasize those? Thinking through these items ahead of time will help you make a lasting impression.
4. Keep networking. Follow up with any connections you have at the company for insight about the company or the interviewer. Shore up references so they’re prepared if contacted. (And hey, it’s good to get supporters in your corner to help assuage pre-interview nerves, too.)

5. Prepare questions. Never go into an interview without questions. Never ever. Ask things that are important to you. What are you actually curious about? This is your future, too. You should have questions about it. I once interviewed a woman who came to the interview with nothing. No pen, no paper, no portfolio. I didn’t even know what to do with that. You’re a journalist; act like one. Good things to ask: about work environment, what the manager is looking for in a new hire/what’s most important in role, what are areas of growth or challenges; what are they excited about. Don’t ask: about vacation, benefits or pay (that comes later with HR), about why previous person left.

6. Do a digital checkup. Are your social media accounts safe for viewing by an employer? Look at privacy settings on those you’d like to keep private; look at your Twitter feed. Do you have a personal website? You really should. They’re easy to set up on platforms such as WordPress and Wix. At a minimum, you should have a solid LinkedIn profile (with your experience up to date). You need to exist online. Other job candidates will.

Day of the interview

7. Dress professionally. It’s almost always better to overdress than underdress. Even at a casual-dress company, be on the formal side of that spectrum. There might be some people who won’t hire the person who shows up in a suit if that’s not typical attire, but I’m not one of them. And while being professional, make sure you’re comfortable. This is not the day to try out those new shoes.

8. Be on time. It’s not good to keep the person who could be your boss waiting. Know where you’re going so directions/travel on the day of the interview don’t befuddle you. Do a dry run (hey, you really want this, right?). That said, don’t be too early; 15 to 20 minutes ahead is just about right.

9. What to bring with you. You’ll want something to write with, and a place to keep your questions. Bring work samples of some sort. This can be on an iPad to show a portfolio site or digital examples of published work (though be prepared for a lack of wifi). But also consider bringing physical copies of the magazines or publications where you’ve worked. Nothing makes it seem real like paper.

10. Project the right attitude. You should come across as enthusiastic and excited; confident but not arrogant. You know a lot of things, but you’re not a know-it-all. In addition to assessing if you have the skills for the job, the hiring managers are assessing if they want to work with you.

11. Hit your talking points. You’ve prepared for this; you can do it. Talk about how you can contribute immediately. Show that you’ve overcome challenges and know how to solve problems on the job. Emphasize your internships and experience.

12. Focus on interviewer/the company. This is not about you. I repeat: This is not about you. It’s about how you can help the company. What problems can you solve for them? How can you make this manager’s work life easier?
13. Don’t freak out. The best interviews become conversations. You want to be open and engaged. Try to relax and just be you. (You want to work for a company that wants to work with the real you, right?) Remember that the person interviewing you has something at stake here, too. They’ve probably been doing extra work because of the unfilled position and they really, really want you to rock. You’ve got this.

After the interview

14. Send a follow-up email. Usually, this should be the same day. Think of this as a Thank You Note Lite ™. It’s a good time to add some additional information to a conversation you had during the interview, or send a link to work of yours that you’ve discussed.

15. Send a real thank you note. On paper. Through the mail. Just do it. It makes a difference.

FIVE COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM:

1. What are your strengths? This question helps the interviewer ascertain your skills and how do you work. They also want to know what your thought processes are like. They’re thinking: Can you do the work and do I want to work with you? Keep this in mind during your self-reflection preparation time and find ways to speak about your strengths in aptitude and attitude.

2. What are your weaknesses? Oh, the dreaded question. Pick a moderate weakness. (This is not a good time to blurt out that you’re horrible at deadlines.) The interviewer is looking for self awareness and if you are proactive about self improvement.

3. Where would you like to be in five years? In other words, the interviewer is thinking: Are you a goal-oriented and highly motivated person or am I going to have to keep pushing you all the time? Here the interviewer wants to know that you have career goals; that you’re interested in upward mobility and taking on challenges; that you’re passionate about the work. Focus on the type of work you’d like to be doing not where. (Unless you happen to be interviewing at your dream employer, in which case, say so.) Think about this question before the interview and shape it to fit different situations/interviews.

4. Tell me about a challenge you’ve encountered? This helps show your ability to problem solve and think on your feet. Because the only thing you can plan on in publishing is that something won’t go according to plan. This also is a place to emphasize your hands-on experience working through such challenges in a real-world way.

5. Why should we hire you? This is a great opening for you to sum up all you’ve talked about during the interview. Use the things you’ve learned during the conversation to highlight important areas where you can contribute immediately. Lots of people know how to edit and write; say what can you do that’s different.

Photos: thedailyenglishshow.com