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Episode 397 – Crush the Interview – Advice to Nail Your Next Job
When it comes to job interviews, the number one thing to think about is putting yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. The more you can think like them – the pain points they may have, their wants and needs – the more you are in tune with what they’re thinking. It’s all about understanding their needs and alignment. By understanding what they want, you’re able to be the best fit.
Going for an interview is a chance to stand out, beyond your reel. A great interview is when you’re moving into the rates and start dates. It’s a chance for you to excel above everyone else. The interviewer will have a preconceived idea of who you are. They will look at your social media as well. So you can use this as an opportunity to put out more pictures of yourself at work.
One of the things that artists mishandle is asking good questions. If you blend in, you become forgettable. Figure out a way to be yourself but also how to stand out. What is your angle? What do you want to be remembered for? Also, think about speaking to them like their equal. Ask about the project or the client they’re working on. This way, you’re sounding like someone working with them. By asking questions, you can extract information that’s laser focused.
Take the initiative to lead the conversation. That takes knowing exactly what you want. And if you know what you want – you can negotiate that naturally and in your favor. The more you’re clear about what you want, the more you’re able to express that naturally. It’s part of being a successful negotiator. So get clear about what you want:
- Do you want more cool stuff for your reel?
- Do you want a good salary?
- Do you want to work with great people?
The key to getting what you want – is to give them what they want first. Negotiating is about both people making sacrifices. But it all comes back to asking the right questions.
In the interview, try to move the conversation along beyond the interview. When you start discussing the problems on a project, you’re starting to think as part of their team. You’re signaling that you’re working together. Another tactic is treating your interviewer as an equal. If you treat them as a friend rather than your boss, you may feel more relaxed during the interview.
In this Podcast, Allan talks about how to stand out in a job interview, how to ask productive questions, how to be an active listener, how to communicate with the interviewer as an equal – the crucial skill of putting yourself into your interviewer’s shoes – and how to negotiate in your favor.
EPISODE 397 – CRUSH THE INTERVIEW – ADVICE TO NAIL YOUR NEXT JOB
Hi, everyone!
This is Allan McKay. Welcome to Episode 397! This Episode will be about job interviews and how to position yourself best in those interviews, what questions to ask and so much more!
I’ve wanted to talk about this for a while. So many times, an interview is a missed opportunity: instead of blending in, you could use it as a chance to change their minds. I also talk about moving away from interviews.
Of course, I’ve got experience with this: Just last week, I interviewed 4 artists. I’ve interviewed thousands of artists over the course of my career. I’ve also been on the other side of the interview table.
Let’s dive in!
FIRST THINGS FIRST:
[01:05] Have you ever sent in your reel and wondered why you didn’t get the callback or what the reason was you didn’t get the job? Over the past 20 years of working for studios like ILM, Blur Studio, Ubisoft, I’ve built hundreds of teams and hired hundreds of artists — and reviewed thousands of reels! That’s why I decided to write The Ultimate Demo Reel Guide from the perspective of someone who actually does the hiring. You can get this book for free right now at www.allanmckay.com/myreel!
[1:28:30] One of the biggest problems we face as artists is figuring out how much we’re worth. I’ve put together a website. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com! This is a chance for you to put in your level of experience, your discipline, your location — and it will give you an accurate idea what you and everyone else in your discipline should be charging. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com!
Okay, what did you think? I hope you got a lot from this Episode. Feel free to shoot me an email: [email protected].
I’ll be back next week. Have a lot of cool stuff to share with you soon. Until then –
Rock on!
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