Journalist Mock Interview
Practice 30 Journalist interview questions covering breaking news, source ethics, and deadline pressure.
Question 25 of 30
When a significant problem arises, what is your first reaction?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In the event of a significant problem or setback, my first reaction is to freeze in disbelief for a moment or two while I gather myself, then I jump into action. I know that I need to work harder and faster to recover the time and effort lost. My journalist mind goes into overdrive until the issue comes to a resolution."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Journalists will run into roadblocks on a regular basis, and the interviewer wants to see that you can handle these unexpected and unwelcome situations. Let the interviewer see that your reactions to problems reflect maturity and professionalism. How you react will significantly determine how you fit with their existing team.
Perhaps your computer crashes, and you realize you may have just lost all of your hard work. Or maybe you are limited on time and have a deadline rapidly approaching. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you take a very systematic approach to problem-solving, rather than reacting impulsively when a problem occurs.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"When a significant problem arises, my first instinct is to take a step back and absorb what just happened. I then go into 'brainstorm' mode, jotting down potential ways to resolve the issue. From there, I can use a pros and cons list to determine the best course of action for a fast and amicable resolution."
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