The Question Game
Since the class has their field trip to ABC7 this coming Friday, I thought it would be appropriate to think of some questions I would ask them during the visit. Although I cannot attend the field trip, these questions can be applied to numerous interviews and situations.
1. How did you get your start in the industry? - I'm always intrigued to find out how people got to where they are and how the paths can be vastly different for everyone. Sometimes it is better to choose some paths rather than others and getting numerous points of view on this helps to make that decision.
2. What do you do on an average day?- Although news is always changing and some days can be very unpredictable, there has to be some sort of routine that they tend to follow.
3. What do you look for in entry level employees? - Since I'm going to be entering the job force soon, I would love to know the qualities that stick out to them and how to be the best candidate you can be. If I'm missing any of these qualities, I can take their advice to better grow as an individual.
4. What specific skills stick out to you in the newsroom that are vital in being successful? - For this question, I want to know is it better to know editing more or writing? Interviewing or shooting video? How common is it to be a one-man band?
5. What advice would you give to graduating seniors wanting to pursue your field? - I love this question, because I've always gotten really great advice! Sometimes the advice is just to relax and let life happen. Others it is to set up informational interviews.
6. Since this business is big on networking, do you have two or three other people I can talk to in the industry that would be great for an informational interview? Someone gave me this piece of advice awhile back and it's made my web of contacts even bigger! It may be a little tedious, but it's fun meeting new people.
7. What's the biggest mistake you've ever made in the work setting? - Learning from other people's mistakes can help you to not make the same ones! Sometimes you can learn from just observing!
