The New York Times Mock Interview
Practice 30 The New York Times interview questions covering editorial judgment, digital storytelling, and journalistic integrity.
Question 7 of 30
Talk to me about your communication skills.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Experienced
What You Need to Know
Community Answers
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.
Possessing strong communication skills, both written and verbal, is an absolute necessity in every position within the NY Times. This extends beyond how effectively you communicate professionally at work, but also in your personal conduct outside of work as well. So, your interviewer needs to know whether you would be effective in representing the NY Times to your peers, stakeholders, and readers, both on and off the job. To answer this question, touch on all of your communication skills, both written and verbal. Touch on your tendency to be curious and ask questions, to actively listen, while touching on your sense of empathy, emotional intelligence, responding to situations non-defensively, your ability to assess the facts, to mirror, and respond thoughtfully, to name a few.
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.
"I would say that I am primarily courteous, empathetic, and diplomatic in my communication. I believe that you cannot be a strong communicator unless you are consistent with your messaging, in public and in private. I am a strong listener and validate those I engage with ease. I never speak with authority on any topic to which I don't have full possession of the facts. I rarely offer my opinion unless it is asked of me, and even then I filter my opinion in accordance with my audience. Primarily, I try to live according to the old proverb, the silent person is often worth listening to."
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 are a few statements on communication from the NY Times careers site and their code of conduct. "We treat our readers no less fairly in private than in public. Civility applies whether an exchange takes place in person, by telephone, by letter or online. Simple courtesy suggests that we not alienate our readers by ignoring their letters and emails that warrant reply. Anyone who deals with readers is expected to honor that principle, knowing that ultimately the readers are our employers."
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