Interview Ready? 5 Fast Tips to Get You Ready for Primetime

While it may seem that the hardest part of securing an interview is garnering the media’s attention, it is easy for an interview to go awry if you, or your client, are not prepared.

Here are 5 tips to ensure you ace your next interview:

1. Think before you speak.

It’s perfectly fine – good even – to pause and collect your thoughts before answering a question. If you do not understand a question, ask the interviewer to rephrase it.

If you’re on the spot and it’s a broadcast interview, a simple, “I can’t speak to that…” or “I’m not the expert on that, but here’s what I can tell you…” does the trick.

2. Be mindful of your body language.

According to psychologist Albert Mehrabian, body language accounts for 55% of how others see us, while spoken words account for 7% and tone of voice accounts for 38%.

If you nod while explaining that something is inaccurate, your words are saying no, but your body is saying yes. This is not a good look!

Also, you should always maintain eye contact during your interview and avoid fidgeting, shaking your leg, or tapping your fingers, as this may make you seem disinterested.

3. Do your research.

Before you do an interview, get to know the outlet or person that you will be speaking with.

Not only will this give you a feel for questions that may be asked, but it will also help you understand the audience you will be reaching. Unless an industry-specific publication is interviewing you, you should avoid using professional or technical jargon.

4. Be a bridger.

Before your interview, think about your goals and identify key messages.

What do you want readers/listeners/viewers to know?

During your interview, be ready to bridge back to these messages to keep the interview on track. Statements like “That’s a great question, but what’s really important here is…”, “I am not sure about X, but I do know…”, or “Now that we’ve covered X, let’s discuss…” make this possible.

This technique will help to position you as an industry expert and avoid rambling, off-topic responses.

5. Consider your surroundings.

While you may be eager to “wow” audiences with your cutting-edge style, it is critical that you wear something that you are comfortable and confident in.

You should opt for plain, solid colors as opposed to patterns, which are easily distorted on-screen. If you’re headed to a TV studio, don’t wear green; there may be a green screen onsite, in which case you’d be floating on-air!

For remote interviews, lighting is critical, but a quiet space (remember to silence any notifications!), a professional background, and a clean camera lens are just as important. Ensure your device is at eye level, even if you need to put items underneath it to get it to the correct height.

Finally, whether it is a broadcast interview, podcast recording, or simply a chat over the phone, avoid wearing excessive jewelry, especially pieces that may jangle noisily and disrupt the audio!

If you aren't sure how to secure an interview or want more #media advice, reach out to our team at Impact PR & Communications .

This article was co-authored by Filomena Fanelli , founder and CEO of Impact PR & Communications , and Kayla Hannemann , an associate account executive at Impact. It was originally published on Impact PR & Communications' website, here.