Magazine Interview Tips
Interviewing for a magazine job isn’t what it used to be. While dressing the part is still en vogue, gone are the days of paper writing samples, design portfolios and perhaps even face-to-face meetings. To get a magazine job in the technology age, you not only have to show off yourself when you walk through the door, but your technological know-how as well.
Other People Are Reading
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Dress to Impress
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Although this may sound cliché, your appearance is your first selling point when you walk through the door. Even though you may be sitting in an office away from the public eye when you land the job, as is usually the case for graphic artists or magazine editors, the interview is not the time to dress as if no one’s looking at you. Wear colors that complement your skin, hair and eye color. A dark gray, blue or black suit (either skirts or pants for women) is a conservative and professional choice, though dark reds and earth tones complement redheads well. Even though your interview may be with a production manager, managing editor or a lead graphic artist who might be wearing jeans or look more “artistic” visually, you may also interview with the department’s vice president or company chief executive officer who may not appreciate an interviewee with spiked hair, neon clothing and visible body piercings.
Have an Electronic Portfolio
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Designing your own website and portfolio is imperative to show off your work to your prospective new boss. Choose a web design package for the novice user if you’re not fluent in “web-ese,” check out tools your service provider offers or customize a blog site. Design a logo with a tagline that clearly shows your profession, upload it in the top left corner of your site and link it to your home page, says the Smashing Magazine website. Design your portfolio with large, clearly legible high-quality images. If you’re showing off a client’s website, link your portfolio page to the live version. If you’re worried about theft or copyright infringement, lock your work with a password and give it to your employer at the interview, says the Jeffrey Veen website. Your employer should be able to read see the words and images clearly without straining. Include with each sample a description of the project, skills you used to complete it and any style guide you followed. Also maintain a blog that shows off your expertise and list your qualifications on an “About Me” page.
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Interviewing Over Webcam
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According to "Time" magazine, companies are turning to webcam interviews as a low-hassle and cost-effective way to conduct interviews, particularly if a company has to fly a candidate in from another state. If your next interview happens over a video chat forum, don’t show up in your pajamas or jeans and T-shirt just because you’re sitting at home. Sit at a professional-looking desk and remove any pictures of your favorite bands or centerfolds on the walls behind you. Replace them with your design work or certificates other employers have awarded you. Let your friends and family know when your interview time is so they will not interrupt you, and lock the family pet someplace where your potential employer won’t see or hear it. Before the interview, check your image in your webcam to ensure that interviewers will clearly see your face at all times.
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References
- Photo Credit magazine image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
