It is excitement to witness a new publication is on the market through your efforts. It creates stress when wanting everything to go as per planning at every stage.
However, there are some general questions as follows:
- Tell me something about yourself. This question is generally asked to make the candidate comfortable, and open up. If the job involves selling and marketing the publication, this question seeks to identify the kind of personality being interviewed; the level of confidence involved and the ability to get a particular product across even to unwilling readers. It is also to find out if the applicant primarily matches with the company expectations. Whether the person is trained and self motivated or they have to be trained and directed. A person motivated by generating output, communicating well, or persuading others are preferred.
- Do you possess any publishing experience? Required to know how useful you could be to the organization and what are your key strengths. It also shows your desire to get the job, whether you are looking for a promotion in the career or are here with the desire to learn. Mention the skills that you have developed recently. Quote the trends in readership, the impact of the Internet on publishing, and the changing expectations around that. By noting the latest trends, it will enhance your probability of getting recruited as it shows your understanding of the changing publishing industry and how flexible you are to adapt to it to ensure the continued success of the organization.
- What are the qualities needed for the publishing career? It will show your understanding of the industry, your competence in producing those qualities and your judgment of what the job requires. The top qualities are creativity, vision and communication to bring the final product in the market. You should be a good motivator and possess superior people skills.
- Are you fond of reading? Which is your favorite book? What we are could be judged by what we listen, read, and speak. Our favorite books speak about our interest in reading and thinking. This may also reveal your potential match to the job than the direct questions, especially your passions in life. For example, if you are not reading anything it is perceived as you do not have strong inclination to self educate. Your reading of books is a sign of life; project your intelligence and curiosity. An absence of books would say more about you than whatever you actually say. Books are also part of publishing industry and give a more rounded picture of what you value within the field. This question could also relate to your liking of specific authors.
- In what way do you think you will be helpful to our publishing company? This shows how much do you know about the company, how much have you researched, understand its achievements and future goals and how you see yourself adding value to its development. Smart people with fearless imagination and huge ambition could be given a priority. They should be able to see your worth to the company how you can contribute in generating profit margins up before they are convinced you should be taken on board. It is up to you to show the self confidence and skill that will be needed for the position.
- Are you a team player? Publishing is absolute teamwork so unless you can work with others for a common goal, this would be the wrong profession for you. It is about how you are perceived by others as a team, and your ability to work with them. A healthy balance in your personality and aptitude would be giving better results. Descriptions that include mainly positive observations will make you appear more realistic. This shows your ability to deal with others, your persuasive skills and your ability to get results.
- Why do you think the company should hire you for the publishing position? Here you will show your uniqueness for the position. You will show some distinct quality in you which is difficult to find elsewhere at the same pay.
- What salary would you expect? Prior to the interview decide your worth and stick to it. Be prepared to explain why you want a particular salary in the publishing job. It is safer to quote a high figure and then have them negotiate downwards than to set a very low pay that leaves you at a disadvantage from the very beginning.
