What do you do if your film industry interview focuses on highlighting the wrong skills?

1 Assess Quickly

When you find yourself in an interview where the focus is on skills that don't align with your expertise, the first step is to quickly assess why this is happening. It could be due to a misunderstanding of your resume, a change in the job requirements, or simply a different expectation from the interviewer. Listen carefully to their questions to understand their perspective. This will help you to tailor your responses to address their concerns while steering the conversation back to your strengths.

2 Clarify Tactfully

If the interviewer is emphasizing skills that aren't your strong suit, it's important to clarify your experience without appearing defensive. Acknowledge the mentioned skills and explain how your actual strengths can contribute to these areas. For example, if they're looking for a script supervisor but you excel in screenwriting, discuss how your understanding of storytelling can benefit the overall production process. This shows your ability to see the bigger picture and adapt your skills to various aspects of filmmaking.

3 Pivot Strategically

Mastering the art of the pivot is crucial in interviews. When an unrelated skill is highlighted, agree on its importance and then pivot to a related skill you excel at. If they focus on special effects but your expertise is in cinematography, you might acknowledge how both are crucial for visual storytelling and then share specific examples of your cinematography work that enhanced the narrative. This strategic redirection keeps the conversation relevant and allows you to shine.

5 Express Eagerness

Even if your primary skills don't match exactly with the job description, expressing a genuine eagerness to learn and adapt can be very persuasive. Share your willingness to expand your skill set and take on new challenges within the film industry. This demonstrates not only flexibility but also a proactive attitude towards professional growth. Employers often value a candidate's potential and adaptability as much as their current skill set.

6 Suggest Solutions

Lastly, if the conversation continues to drift towards less relevant skills, suggest solutions or alternatives that could benefit the production while still leveraging your strengths. For example, if they need a sound engineer but you specialize in music composition, propose how your expertise could enhance the film's score and overall sound design. By offering solutions, you position yourself as a problem-solver who can add value in multiple ways.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?