27 Field Producer Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Field Producer interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
How to Answer
The hiring manager is looking for someone who plans on sticking around within the company for a while so they become a very knowledgeable and trustworthy person. The candidate should discuss what skills they hope to develop while in the job and where they may take them in the future. They should discuss how if they remain in the job in five years from now, what kind of a worker they will be compared to when they first start. This shows the interviewer that they are motivated to grow and improve over time.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"In five years from now, I see myself becoming the lead producer at the station. Although I hope to do a great job as a field producer here, I believe it will give me great experience from the field as a producer. I can take that knowledge of what field producers and reporters go through and implement it in studio."
Written by Christina Erne
2. How do you work in stressful situations?
How to Answer
Working as a field producer often comes with a job that is very high stress. The producer must have to change plans quickly, face breaking news and emergencies, and face scary, tricky situations with often difficult decisions to make. The candidate should discuss how they work under pressure and how their work is effected when stress is introduced. Even if the candidate is not confident they work well under stress, they should be positive that they could work on this to improve their abilities.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find that I do some of my best work under stress. I like being given a deadline or a time crunch so I can work fast and not have time to second guess my decisions."
Written by Christina Erne
3. Have you progressed in your career as you had planned?
How to Answer
Candidates can be in various stages of their career, from moving quickly up the ladder, to moving slower than they had hoped. The candidate should be open and honest about where they are at and where they plan to go from here. If the candidate has moved quickly, they may talk about how they are proud of where they have gone so far and where they hope to be in their career after this job. If the candidate has moved slower than they would have liked, they may talk about what has slowed their path and how they will make up for lost time.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"While it took me a few years to figure out exactly what career path I wanted to take in life, I am glad I found it out when I did. I hope this job will help me develop my skills quicker than taking a role as a regular producer so I can continue to grow fast."
Written by Christina Erne
4. How well do you work remotely?
How to Answer
A good field producer is able to work remotely and does not need much supervision to do their job. The candidate should discuss their ability and confidence in doing their job without being in the presence of any other workers. They must talk about their experience helping a reporter put together a story without needing to be directed by someone else. They must talk about their willingness to work on their own and independently.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I believe that I do my best work out of the office because I am free to work without people constantly talking to me. I love contacting supervisors for help or suggestions occasionally, but I mainly feel that my best work is done remotely when I can work independently."
Written by Christina Erne
5. Why did you choose to become a producer rather than a reporter or photographer?
How to Answer
The candidate should describe what sets them apart as a producer and makes them the perfect candidate for the job. While producers are able to do many of the jobs in news because they are so versatile, the candidate should talk about exactly why field producing is the way for them to go and how they can help people in other types of jobs grow as a result of their producing.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I wanted to become a field producer instead of any other job because I feel that my presence on camera is not necessary to make a good story. I believe that I am great at gathering information and doing so quickly to help out the greater good of a team, and I would rather produce hard and great work behind the scenes rather than compromise my time getting ready to be on television."
Written by Christina Erne
6. What are your least favorite types of stories and shows to produce?
How to Answer
It is alright for candidates to have a least favorite type of story, and this is a time for them to explain why they do not like producing certain types of news. They can discuss where they could improve or overcome this dislike.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I do not like producing shows that are slow. I prefer when there is breaking news because it is easier to fill up time with excitement, sound and video. However, I feel that this job will help me improve and learn how to add more to slow news days."
Written by Christina Erne
7. What are your favorite types of stories/productions to produce?
How to Answer
The candidate should talk about their favorite stories and talk about why they love reporting these types of stories so much. Perhaps they like stories that are happy, and perhaps they like emotional or breaking stories that people need to know immediately. They should talk about their strengths in producing as it relates to their favorite types of stories.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"My favorite type of news to produce is breaking news. I love how fast everything changes and I want to see if my team and I can be the first to confirm information and get it out to the public."
Written by Christina Erne
8. How do you stay up to date with news across the country?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss their passion for all types of news and how they keep up to date with the latest news from across the globe. They must demonstrate that they will be the leading source for new information and will be on top of news when stories change or events happen. The candidate should describe ways they stay on top of everything that is going on.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I subscribe to many trustworthy news sources, and I get alert notifications on my phone whenever there is breaking news. I want to make sure I stay up to date with everything going on, especially since my team and I are constantly on the road, and we need to know if something will affect our job or our lives."
Written by Christina Erne
9. What is your experience developing contacts and sources?
How to Answer
Although reporters are mainly responsible for developing contacts for stories, producers often have to do much of the leg work of finding them in the first place. The producers must show they are a trustworthy source and must find contacts who are trustworthy, as well. The candidate should discuss their past experience finding people to interview and gather information from, and how they will work in the future in this new job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find trustworthy contacts through lots of digging into their backstory. If I find someone who has proven to be trustworthy in their job or their community, I know they will not let me down. I want to make sure my contacts are steady ones so I don't let down my station."
Written by Christina Erne
10. How do you find story ideas?
How to Answer
Finding stories may be tough, especially because the entire world is the field producer's playground. The candidate should discuss how they plan on finding stories that are worth covering and how they choose what to cover after sifting through thousands of potential ones. They may talk about what they consider a good or bad story and which ones they would choose over others.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find story ideas through sources on social media, through friends, and through digging through blogs myself. I like to find stories that are fun, interesting, and will get the public interested or push them into movement."
Written by Christina Erne
11. Do you consider yourself an organized person?
How to Answer
Being a field producer requires great organization. They must manage stories, contacts, and all of the equipment and supplies needed when they are away from the office. The candidate must describe their organizational experience and how they would work given all of the various tasks they have to manager throughout the day.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I consider myself an extremely organized person. I have managed my own life so well throughout my professional career that I have never missed an assignment or appointment, and I believe my skills are strong enough to manage an entire team next."
Written by Christina Erne
12. What is your favorite part about being a field producer?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what motivates them to get out of bed each day and do the job. The candidate should talk about what they love most about the job, whether it is being a part of a team, traveling, telling stories, and more. This should reveal their deep passion for the job and show that they are a great person to choose because they will work hard.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"My favorite part about being a field producer is the ability to tell stories from around the country. Not many stations have the capacity to send crews throughout the country, and I hope to find stories that impact all people."
Written by Christina Erne
13. What are your benefits expectations?
How to Answer
Field producers travel for their job, so it is reasonable for a candidate to ask about compensation for travel, flights, hotels, clothing, and food while on the road for the job. The candidate should discuss all of the finances required to do the job and what they will be given financially to get it all done.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"Since I will be traveling on the job and not for pleasure, I would like to be compensated for all of my purchases relating to the job, such as airfare, gas money, hotels, and even some meals, as I typically would not eat out at restaurants if I were at home for work."
Written by Christina Erne
14. What are your salary expectations?
How to Answer
Field producers make a wide range of salaries based on prior experience and the station that they are working at. However, typically field producers make the same salary as a producer, between $40,000-$80,000. The candidate should present a reasonable range of salaries they expect to make given their qualifications for the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"Since I have worked as a producer in the past, I believe as a field producer I would like to be paid $50,000-$55,000 because I will need to be prepared to travel often."
Written by Christina Erne
15. What is your experience producing?
How to Answer
A field producer should have some kind of background experience producing shows in house, meaning they have previously worked, trained, or interned at a television station or company where they produced shows directly at the studio. The hiring manager wants to know if the candidate has performed this type of job before, and is ready to take the jump and produce segments away from the studio. The candidate should discuss their experience producing and show why they are a good fit to be someone who produces under less supervision away from the station.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have worked as a producer at other stations for a number of years, and am looking for a new challenge. Although I love producing in house, I believe I have specific qualities in me that make me a good fit to be out with reporters helping to put a story together."
Written by Christina Erne
16. Why is this job right for you at this time?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss why they believe this type of job is a good fit for them at this stage of life and in their career. They may talk about their ability to move around often for jobs and travel, or their ability and experience to help reporters improve the quality of work in the field.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I think being a field producer is great for me right now because I have the freedom to travel for stories. I am young and have the drive in this field to find new stories and do deep digging during my travels."
Written by Christina Erne
17. What unique skills do you have to do the job?
How to Answer
The candidate should describe what skills and unique characteristics they have that makes them a great fit for the job and will set them apart from others applying for the job. Perhaps the candidate has particular experience traveling while working, or is an experienced producer who works well in the field. The candidate should describe what makes them special.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I am a very approachable person, which makes me a great producer in the field because I have to deal with people from all across the country. This will make me one of the top producers in the field."
Written by Christina Erne
18. What time of day do you work best?
How to Answer
Producers are asked to work around the clock, and some shifts require employees to work at strange times of the day, including nights, evenings, or on weekends. The candidate should discuss what time of day they work best, but ultimately should be positive and happy to work any shift they are given. This will give the interviewer an idea of what shift is best to give the person based on the jobs that are open.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I find that I work best during the early morning hours because I am most alert and ready for the day. However, I can do my job at any time of the day, and hope to try out various shifts to see where I fit best within your company."
Written by Christina Erne
19. What is your experience with social media?
How to Answer
A field producer is expected to help the reporter send all of their pictures and video updates to social media throughout the course of their story. The candidate should describe their experience working with social media and how they plan on managing the accounts so the public gets the information they want to know about the story before it airs.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have been using social media for many years, and feel that I am a professional using it. I love putting videos online for viewers to get interested and excited for our stories, and I am able to help the reporters do this and take some of the burden off their hands while we are on a story."
Written by Christina Erne
20. How would you describe your writing and editing skills?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss their experience writing scripts for television broadcasts and editing scripts to be aired and spoken on TV. One of the field producer's main responsibilities is producing great content for a show, so this is a critical part of their job. The candidate should talk about their writing style, and their ability to write fast, clear, concise, and well. They should also talk about how they help the reporters write well and produce great stories out of what they have.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"My writing is extraordinary for television, and I believe my ability to write concisely for short television segments will make me a valuable addition to a team. I can help reporters put their ideas down into great writing that viewers will enjoy."
Written by Christina Erne
21. What experience do you have managing a team?
How to Answer
A field producer runs the entire production from the field, and is expected to coordinate between all teams in the field, as well as the station back home. They manage the reporter, their story, the photographers, any of the local interviews and regulations that may be in place for filming there, as well as communicating with home base about the status of the production. They are also responsible for keeping information from the story flowing on social media. The candidate must be someone who is a good manager and can juggle many responsibilities at once, and should talk to the hiring manager about their ability to take on many tasks at once.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I believe I am a great manager because I work my best when I am busy. I am a great communicator who is always on my phone taking calls and making calls back to the station. I feel that I would help your team greatly stay organized and on track with the plan for the day."
Written by Christina Erne
22. Why do you want to work in the field rather than in the office?
How to Answer
A field producer spends much time away from home and working while on the road. The candidate should talk about their availability to travel throughout their work week and work hours away from the station. The candidate should also discuss what motivates them to want to take this kind of job rather than one that is more static and unchanging in nature.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I want to work in the field rather than in the office because I like to be on the move. I feel that I work my best when I am on the go and have to make decisions quickly. I also love a change of scenery that makes my creative juices flow."
Written by Christina Erne
23. What does this career mean to you?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what being a field producer really means in their opinion, especially certain responsibilities they will have that may be lesser known. The candidate should use this time to talk about how they will make the job special and unique in their own way, and not just do the job, but go above and beyond to make it even greater.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"To me, being a field producer is more than producing a show. It is someone who is in charge of managing and running the entire story smoothly, and helping out everyone included in creating the story. The field producing does so much of the footwork, the phone calls, and planning, and I hope to do it one day."
Written by Christina Erne
24. Why do you want to become a field producer?
How to Answer
The candidate should discuss what drives them to want to become a field producer and what keeps them motivated to work each day. The candidate should mention any qualities they possess that make them an extraordinary candidate and why they love doing the job so much. They should discuss any experience in their past that makes them want to do the job, and know that they will do a good job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I want to become a field producer because I love working in the television industry, but I also have a passion for telling stories throughout the entire country. I want to be able to help reporters put together the best story possible, and I am an independent worker who would benefit from working in the field."
Written by Christina Erne
25. Do you consider yourself a creative person?
How to Answer
Being a producer requires fresh story ideas and live shot techniques to make the show or production really stand out. The field producer should discuss their experience coming up with new ideas, being creative, and how their skills will stand out in the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I consider myself a very uniquely creative person because I am good at coming up with new ideas on the spot. I believe I am a good fit for the job because I can think of ways to make our segment new and different while away from the studio."
Written by Christina Erne
26. How familiar are you with traveling?
How to Answer
A field producer is expected to travel far and wide for stories or productions with a team of reporters and photographers. The candidate must discuss their experience traveling, preferably for work, and how they plan on working while on the road. The candidate may discuss communication skills they have and determination to keep things running smoothly while away.
Written by Christina Erne
27. What is your experience working in the television/entertainment industry?
How to Answer
The candidate should have some prior experience working in the television or broadcasting industry, as the job requires them to work quickly and efficiently to put together stories. They must be able to work well and communicate with the home station to discuss plans for a story, coordinate live shots, and send back the final product. The candidate should discuss their experience and why they believe they have enough training to take on the job.
Written by Christina Erne
Answer Example
"I have been working in this field since college when I first began my journey into producing. I have helped create so many great stories, and even breaking news, and I am a good fit to continue on my passion for producing news, now working for a station out in the field."
Written by Christina Erne