COM 120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

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COM 120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Job Interview Planning Sheet Instructions: Below is a list of common interview questions. Once you have selected a job posting, fill in your response for each question, based on the particular job posting you selected. You will save and upload this document as an assignment. Your responses must include complete thoughts and sentences. Please do not include personal notes to yourself. Instead, write out exactly what you plan to say. Proofread your work. 1. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is [Student Example]. I am entering into my third year as an undergraduate student at Stony Brook University. I am majoring in journalism with a concentration in public policy and foreign affairs. As a journalism major, I have had the opportunity to work in our on- campus studio and produce news broadcasts for our campus community. I have spent the last five summers working as a lifeguard, and took on an office position with the same lifeguard company last summer. I am now looking for a position where I can apply the skills I’m learning as a journalism major and start shifting my summer work to the career field I hope to pursue one day, which is what led me to apply for this internship position.

2. What do you find most interesting and attractive about this position?

I am interested in gaining more knowledge and understanding of what goes into producing a daily late-night comedy show. I have always had an interest in pursuing my career through a media platform. The internship program at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon offers a lot of the knowledge I would need to know to become a successful journalist such as working on a fast paced set, learning about the different roles and how they work together, and experiencing non-traditional forms of journalism firsthand. I am also a lover of comedy, so that is an added bonus.

3. What do you know about our organization and how do you think your work could help

us advance our mission? I know that The Tonight Show is all about striking the right balance between comedy and reporting the news. It offers the audience a more enjoyable way of consuming the news, whether it be by discussing celebrity gossip or reporting on current political issues. I believe that I would be a great asset to the show because of my experience as a journalism major and my interest in news reporting. I enjoy keeping up with trends in pop culture and my journalistic background empowers me to practice ethical reporting to get the inside scoop and disseminate that information to an audience in a way that they will understand and enjoy.

4. We work with a number of individuals from underrepresented minority groups. Could

COM 120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

you tell us why diversity and inclusion is important to you? What can you tell us about your experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds? As a woman, diversity and inclusion is very important to me. Over the years I have attended many Women’s Rights rallies to fight for equal rights in the workplace. One of the main issues at many of the rallies that I have attended were to fight for equal pay amongst men and women. The first company that I worked for had an extreme underrepresentation of women in the workplace, and it negatively affected my experience while working there. It was not until after I transferred work places that I realized that that was not an acceptable work environment. I recognize that I am a white woman living on Long Island, so there is a level of privilege that I am afforded. But at the same time, I have learned the importance of empathy, asking questions, and being open to new and different perspectives. I have found that is has helped me to become a more well-rounded person and also a more approachable colleague in the workplace.

5. How do you define collaboration? How would you create a climate of collaboration with our team? I believe that collaboration is when people working together in a positive way to create something or to achieve a common goal. It is very important for all employees to feel as though they can work with their peers in a safe and positive space. If I interned with The Tonight Show, I would make sure that when I was working collaboratively with the team that everyone’s voices are heard. I would want everyone to feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts and ideas. I would try to accomplish this by putting myself out there first, so that others would feel like they could join in as well.

6. Can you tell us about a time when you’ve dealt with a conflict at work? What did you

do? What was the outcome? Last summer I ran into a conflict with my boss. I felt as though she was pushing me into a specific area of work that I did not have enough experience to do. I quickly resolved the issue by calling her and asking if we could have a face-to-face meeting regarding the situation. After explaining to her the reasons why I thought that I was unfit to work the job she wanted me to do, together we found a different employee who we believed would better fit the job description.

7. Tell us about your experience in your last position (or as a student – if you do not have

prior work experience). What has been most interesting? What has been most frustrating? My last position taught me many life lessons that I need to succeed in this current position. I was taught how to work in a fast-paced environment, how to take initiative, and how to act both independently and in a group. What I found most interesting was learning how to quickly adapt to the situations that would unfold all around me. Whether it was talking on the phone to a client, or fixing a negative situation, I learned how to roll with the punches. The part that I found most frustrating was the lack of collaboration.

COM 120: Fundamentals of Public Speaking

8. What do you see as your key strengths?

I am very quick on my feet. If I see a problem unfolding, I will immediately want to fix it. I would also have to say that creative thinking is one of my greatest strengths. I tend to think outside of the box and give a new perspective to a challenge that my team could be facing. One last strength that I will list is my communication skills. I have a lot of experience in speaking with customers and team members.

9. How would you describe your leadership style?

My leadership style is to inspire and empower others. I tend to push my team with positivity so that they can accomplish their best work. I think that it is important to make sure that everyone on my team feels comfortable enough so that their voices can all be heard.

10. How would this experience advance your career?

The Tonight Show would be the perfect opportunity for me to learn what it means to be a journalist on a media platform. It would teach me the ins and outs of the field that I want to spend the rest of my life working in.