About to be interviewed on TV in a work capacity

[googlenut]

Anyone work in media and give me any tips.

[headlesslambrini]

Dont fidget

[iwasyoungonce]

No swearing.

[Fideliney]

Yes. Keep your head much stiller than feels natural. Hands down.

[17leftfeet]

Don't wear patterns

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Don't wear strips and hold your hands in a really odd way like I did.

[Fideliney]

Arf @ Iwas

[WipsGlitter]

Ask where they want you to look - at them or the camera.
Wait until you are told you are off air - assume you are on until told otherwise.
Ask before it starts what they are going to ask you and what the first question will be.

Is it live?

[unobtanium]

Don't look at the cameras!

Answer questions as if you were about to volunteer the information -- they may cut the qns out and shove the clips together.

Eg: "what would you pay for this service?"

Instead of replying: "Fifty pounds", say something like "I would pay fifty pounds for this service"

[googlenut]

No not live. What to wear - can I wear dress with small pattern on? How to stop looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights!!

[unobtanium]

sorry, x-posted w wips -- they will probably ask you to look at your interviewer and not the cameras but obviously, if they ask you to look elsewhere then do so!

[googlenut]

Lots of good tips here.

[beijaflor]

Relax. LISTEN. Then respond.

Try to forget the camera and the weirdness and listen to this person asking you questions, as though they had come into your office to ask you about a topic you know lots about. Then provide a considered response.

Also no stripes or patterns - a solid colour top in a shade that suits you and makes you feel confident and happy. If you're a woman, then use a bit more make-up than you might normally use, but don't go overboard. Far better to look ever-so-slightly unmade-up than to have viewers staring in horror at your lipstick. :)

[googlenut]

Am being interviewed as a boffin so ok to look serious,no? Don't think I'll be relaxed enough to be smiley (shows my wrinkles as well!)

[beijaflor]

Oh, and don't ask for too many tips! You'll fill your head with trivia and be thinking about your hands or your lipstick or you whether you have answered in a full sentence.

When all you really need to do is answer intelligently.

[beijaflor]

Serious is fine. Be yourself. If you're a smiley person, then smile away. Unless you're being an expert on torture or whatever. Then don't. Wrinkles make you look smart - flaunt them.

[iK8]

Ask where to focus your gaze before you begin. Don't look down or up, don't flap your hands about and don't shut your eyes when making a point

[iK8]

Face powder and eye make up are essential. Lipstick too in a neutral shade is worth it even if you don't normally wear it.

[twattock]

I've done this a few times, speak slower than you normally would and try to use sentences. very easy to babble (I now know)

[culturemulcher]

Don't go too heavy with your eyeliner and give yourself a pat over with some powder immediately before you start. Unless you're being interviewed in studio, no-one will do this for you.

Other advice above is exactly what I'd have said. Look at the interviewer - make the best eye contact you can with them and you'll look more natural on camera. Think of them as someone who's interested, not as someone out to trip you up.

Keep your hands down -try loosely clasping them in your lap. If it's a wider shot than head and shoulders, put your knees together and cross your legs to the side at the ankles.

If it's pre-recorded and you think you've fluffed an answer, or that you could give a better answer, don't be afraid to say 'do you mind if I just answer that again'.

Do repeat the basis of the question in your answer (as somone's already mentioned) as they'll cut out most of the interviewer's questions.

Don't accept the premise of the question if it's one you disagree with - so 'Why are this years sales figures so dreadful'... don't answer with 'they're dreadful because' if you genuinely don't think they are. Say 'While area X did well, the figures for area Y are lower than we'd hoped, and we're working hard to x and y'.

Good luck OP

[spamm]

If you are sitting for the interview, make sure your chair does not roll or swivel - because you will likely roll or swivel during the interview and that looks fidgety.

Before you start take a few deep breaths, quietly (not dramatically), and just consciously relax your body.

Remember you are the expert - so feel confident that you have the right answers!

[culturemulcher]

Oh and just remember that your bit may well come down to just 10 seconds in a cut package, so try to make your answers more pithy than explanatory...

and if it all goes wrong - tomorrow's chip wrapper 'n' all that

[ICanSeeTheSun]

Advoid ummmms, be clear in what you are going to say.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Remember that the "impact" of your expressions and actions comes across as roughly equivalent to sitting in a room with someone - if that makes sense?

Many think it's like acting, where you have to exaggerate facial expressions, etc ... trust me that it isn't. This is actually a good thing, as it takes some of the pressure off and lets you just be yourself

[twentyten]

Think about what you want to say- editing will happen but get some of the things that matter to you in

[googlenut]

Don't normally wear much make up - definitely not on eyes except some light mascara.