So you got the interview ‘ Part III [Getting the job]

You’re on, excited? You should be, you just landed the interview for your dream job in the industry and your nerves are shot, you have no idea what you’ll say or do to make the interviewers ‘like’ you enough to hire you’ STOP! That’s the wrong attitude. Take heed to a few suggestions on some things I’ve learnt over the years that make this important step go as smoothly as possible.

It’s never good to be late

Arriving late is not an option, keeping the interviewer waiting will only put them in a flawed mood, so avoid it at ALL cost. Arriving earlier and having to wait for them is always the better way to go, plus it gives you the opportunity to assess the studio surroundings and the people within. It actually can be advantageous to do so at times.

Strut your stuff

And no I don’t mean a fine piece tailored suit the likes 007 would wear, leave that to the higher ups in the company, try to wear some descent causal attire, something preferably not ripped to shreds or hanging around your thighs, carry yourself well, it’s important. In this industry we’re quite fortunate to dress in everything but our pjs (well you might be surprised these days) so after your interview feel free to loosen up a bit, but keep in mind you’re not in the comforts of home anymore.

Know the product and how to sell it

What’s the product? Well it’s you. Company X has decided to give you the go ahead to come in for an interview, you’ve aced their art test and they liked what they’ve seen in your portfolio, otherwise you won’t be in that seat. When confronted with the interviewer/s be sure you know the ins and outs of your demo reel and how you accomplished it, the timeframe etc, chances are quite high that they will test your knowledge on what you’ve accomplished in your reel. You have to be confident in yourself and in your work to be prepared for the questions that will follow.

Give the interview personality

More often than not, when you’re called in for an interview, it’s basically just to see how well the person communicates when not sitting in front of MSN or email. Keep in mind the people in front of you are just that, people. And they have personalities of their own. The best way to conduct yourself in an interview is to break the initial wall between yourself and the interviewer. Don’t tell jokes or try to be funny, just be yourself, conduct yourself as a person and keep the conversation flowing to the point it opens up and grows beyond the technical standpoint. Because technical mumbo jumbo can quickly become tiresome and dull; try to find appropriate times in the interview to bring up the fact that you’re more than a technical genius pushing pixels. Keep the conversation meaningful and try not to stray too far from the original topic. It’s only then you can start breaking down the barriers and show the real you. And when this happens, both parties on either side of the table will begin to feel more comfortable, which often leads to a lengthy interview and quite possibly a tour throughout the office.


Have your house in order

This sometimes isn’t obvious at first, but I fell into this trap myself on a few occasions, luckily enough I had my portfolio online or on my PSP available to show the interviewers at the time. But it’s important that you always carry a copy of your resume, breakdowns and reel with you at every interview. Yes they’ve seen your reel and may have a copy, but chances are the interviewers are too busy to remember to bring yours into the boardroom after they’ve been seeing candidates all day. It makes for an awkward situation for both interviewer and interviewee when no relevant material is present and they can’t quite remember what you’ve done, yes it happens so always be prepared.

Questions help you to understand

Most times if not in all situations, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them. It’s always good to have some questions in the back of your mind about the company, but be certain that the question hasn’t been answered in the duration of the interview. It would make you appear to not have been paying attention and frankly look quite foolish. Another thing is try to refrain from asking questions about the company as if you were already hired; you know things like salary! If they haven’t spoken of salary this is more than likely it’s due to the fact they usually have a follow-up interview for that process, they know they have to pay you, it is the law. Let them be the first to ask. You do want to appear confident not cocky.

The waiting game

Always the most fun and enlightening part after any interview isn’t it? But this is an exercise in patience, keep in mind they are very busy individuals that have to weigh a lot in terms of decision making on hiring a candidate. Chances are very high that you weren’t the only one interviewed! So they have a lot to think about and process before you receive a call back, and yes more often than not they will call you back even if it’s a no, it’s just common courtesy.

Now if you haven’t heard back from Company X within two weeks, it’s perfectly fine to send an email (please don’t call unless instructed to do so) to your interviewer asking for the status of your application. If you still haven’t received an answer, chances are pretty good they’ve moved on, BUT hold tight they might just be too busy to get back to you at the moment. Just be careful not to dwell on the fact and sacrifice producing new materials over the waiting period. You always have to keep moving forward, dwelling on not hearing back from potential studios is a very bad practice, don’t fall into that trap, you need to keep moving.

You’re hired!

Congratulations, you are now a proud member of the exclusive society. So what’s next? Get cracking that’s what!

Thanks for reading, stay tuned to the final entry in the series ‘Getting the job’

Related Links

Part I – {The Reel test}
Part II – {Acing your art test}
Part IV – {Your first day on the job}