The New York Times Mock Interview
Practice 30 The New York Times interview questions covering editorial judgment, digital storytelling, and journalistic integrity.
Question 28 of 30
If you land this job, what’s in it for you? What would you like to get out of it beyond a paycheck? How will this help you grow?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
This question is a favorite of a NY Times recruiter and may be presented in one form or another by whomever you are interviewing with. The interviewer specifies that they are not interested in hearing how great you think the NY Times is. They are asking about you. They want to know how curious, ambitious, and driven you are. They want to know if you are pursuing this opportunity to expand your knowledge and professional experience. They want to know where, and how far, you hope this opportunity may take you in your professional development.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Here is some more from the NY Times recruiter who crafted this question. "Ultimately, I want to hear that you're driven to learn and grow, in a way that's specific and meaningful to you. Ambition for personal growth indicates both an openness to new challenges and a willingness to learn. Most of all, it shows that the job will be rewarding for reasons beyond the paycheck. None of us should be under any illusions that you will be doing this job forever. The role will challenge you to not only deliver great work, but develop the skills that will help you move on to bigger and better things in your career."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"At the small newspapers I've worked for, I've relentlessly asked questions, aiming to learn and grow. But, I feel I've now reached a point where they don't seem to have many more coaching opportunities for me which would help foster my professional development. I really feel like I've hit a threshold with my formal education and online learning as well, and feel like the next stage of my journey is a broader set of real-world experiences. I feel like the growth opportunities offered by The NY Times have that to offer. I'm ready to move onto bigger and better life lessons that this paper, and this big wide wild world, has to offer."
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