If this is your first time doing a sit down interview, great! You're about to read the most relevant guide on how to pull off a successful one. If you've done one before, I'm sure this will serve as a good reminder. These are our best tips on how to perform and what to wear.
How To Perform
It’s normal to get some ‘butterflies’ on the day, but they are what will drive you to do your best! So, don’t worry too much. After a few seconds, you’ll instantly relax, and it will seem very natural. The good thing is we can always do a retake, we can always stop and take a breath!
You will only be asked about things you already know very well and your personal knowledge/experiences, so be your self and answer questions as if you were telling a friend about it. Thinking about it from this perspective will help you instantly relax.
Please straighten your posture during the interview. It doesn't have to be forced, but just naturally upright. Our camera operator will remind you if you forget.
When the interviewee asks you a question, try to repeat some of the question back as this gives a little context to what you're saying. So if you’re asked: “How was your experience with Apple computers?” You’d answer “My experience with Apple computers has been excellent. I have already increased my..."
Generally speaking, try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and not look at the camera lens. But it’s OK to take your eyes off the interviewer naturally when you're talking, so don’t feel like you have to stare at them intensely.
What To Wear
Try your best not to wear white, black or red during an on-camera interview.
Pastel shirts work well on TV because they aren't too bright or too dull. An alternative: cool colours generally look good on camera like cool blues, taupe, tan and cream.
Try to avoid dangly earrings; they can be visually distracting.
Jewellery can be noisy around the microphone, so avoid anything clunky.
Females can use a bit more makeup than usual as the camera tends to ’steal’ half of it. Make sure to use a matte powder to cover the dewy foundation as that can tend to look oily and shiny.
Please make sure you spend time doing your hair nicely. Like you were preparing to attend a special event. For men, get a fresh cut about one week before. For women, get a blow dry on the day or one day before. This will make your hair look more professional.
Try to avoid prints, patterns, checks, stripes and small intricate details, they dance around on-screen and are hard for the camera to pick up on.
Dress in a simple, basic manner, unless you are a fashion designer, artist or similar.
Avoid hair and makeup products that add shine, think matte.
If you know you will be interviewed in front of a green screen, don't wear the colour green, it interferes with the technical aspect of applying a digital backdrop. Your producer will know.
So there you have it, all the basics, you should be set to go! See you on set. If you have any questions beforehand, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 1300 855 218. Thank you for choosing Shakespeare Media.