Telephone interviews
Intern candidates usually congregate in much larger pools than job candidates. A large newspaper may get as many as six hundred applications for internships but only a couple dozen for a job. The intern pool is often broad, with applications from across the country and around the world.
Because internships are ten- to twelve-week positions, few newspapers go to the expense of bringing in candidates for interviews. The Boston Globe does, but that is an exception. If the newspaper is interested in a distant candidate, it may ask for a telephone interview. You can certainly offer to do a phone interview with a distant paper.
Here's how to prepare for a telephone interview:
- If you get a surprise call from an editor who wants to interview you right now, graciously ask to set up a time—soon. Editors requesting phone interviews are probably at the finalist stage and itching to make offers, so don't put them off for more than a day.
- Set the interview up so it can occur over a land line from a place where you can close the door and shut out distractions. By very clear on the time of the interview, especially if you are in different time zones. You don't want to be an hour late for your interview because someone was confused.
- Prepare for the phone interview as you would for a face-to-face interview. Read up on the latest issues of the newspaper, its ownership, management team, and reasons it has recently been in the news.
- For the interview, have:
- A copy of your résumé
- Printouts of relevant Web pages from the newspaper's site (that day's top stories, the staff list, a company history)
- A few good questions
- The correct pronunciation of the editor's name written on a piece of paper if it is tricky.
- A glass of water
- Be at your phone fifteen minutes early, just as you would be for a face-to-face interview.
- As odd as it might seem, dress professionally for the interview. That will help you interview more professionally.
- Sit up straight or even stand during the interview. You'll feel more confident and that will come across in your voice.
- Turn off distractions, such as your cell phone or the call-waiting feature on the phone you're using.
- Without body language or facial expressions to read the editor's mood or to communicate your own, place more emphasis in communicating with words: "Did I answer your question?" "Would you like an example of that?" "Let me make sure I understand the question ..." "That's a good question." "This is an exciting opportunity. I really hope this works out."
Article by Joe Grimm, Recruiting and Development Editor for the Detroit Free Press. This excerpt is from his new book, "Breaking In: The www.JobsPage.com Guide to Newspaper Internships." For details, visit www.newsrecruiter.com.
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