As a follow up to my recent blog, Public Disclaimer to Ventura County Star article, I realized that I may have been just as at fault for any misunderstandings which may have risen from the verbal interview itself. I was so excited, so caught-up in the fact that it would be a HUGE media push for my company, that I completely threw one of the cardinal rules of business out the window.
Interview your Interviewer
When applying for a job back in high school or college, even today: we routinely make a point of taking a few minutes to ask THEM questions: What duties will I be required to perform? What are the hours? Does this position provide health benefits? And so forth. We also typically do this in business today: We interview the home owner or Realtor to make sure that there is a good "fit".
Instead, I just yapped-yapped-yapped boasting my fabulous statistics on homes selling so quickly once Staged, that Home Owners should do their homework before hiring "just any" Stager, etc...
Only for the article to come out focusing on "Stagers giving back to the community" (which I DO and HAVE on several occasions, but the interviewer never asked me about THAT) as well as affiliating me and my company with another highly well know training program which I have absolutely NO affiliation with. I failed myself by not interviewing THEM, and asking all important questions, such as:
•· How did you hear about me/my company?
•· What is the focus of this story?
•· Who else will be featured in the article and what other information I can provide?
•· Where will I/my Company be featured within the article? (beginning, middle, end)
•· If I provide pictures, are you going to print credits with EACH photo?
•· Do you want statistics and testimonials?
•· Will my contact information such as phone number or website be included in the article?
•· And most importantly ask YOURSELF: How will this press move myself, my company, my industry forward?
There is always the old adage, "Any press is good press", but don't get so hungry for ANY press that you allow your good judgement to go the wayside.
Just preaching to the masses from my own experience - Lesson Learned
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Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Design & Decorating, Model Home Interiors. Serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. Call us today at (805) 553-9952
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Connie- Thanks so much for this. I will help a lot in the future.I have bookmarked it :) These are great questions and I will be sure to follow your advice and tips. Thanks again!
Very good info Girlfriend! I hope I will have the opportunity to interview the interviewer one day! I will remember these great questions to ask.
Great point!! Thank you for reminding us all!!
Your list of questions is great. So often contact information is not included in articles where someone is interviewed, which is frustrating if the reader wants to follow up (quickly)! Good question to ask, if web site will be included in copy.
Connie ~ You are absolutely right, we should ask a few questions of our own before answering any.
Wendy ~ You're time will come soon enough, my friend.
Penny ~ Neither am I, but I seemed to have forgotten that this time around :-(
Janice ~ What are you talking about?! They'll be knocking on your door for that new show any day now ;-D !
Kristie ~ Since we're all starting to get "interviewed", just thought I'd pass along food-for-thought.
Leah ~ For the not-so-internet-savy reader, it would be a great benefit to have contact information included somewhere within the article. Luckily my REOs are pretty good, so if they Google my name or my company, they should be able to find me easily.
Kathy ~ ABSOLUTELY! Thanks for stopping by!
Aloha Connie,
Thanks for sharing your experience. What an excellent list of questions and despite the frustration of the misunderstandings what an excellent learning opportunity.
Peace,
Connie, Wonderful lesson for all of us. What a great list of questions to cover with the interviewer. I have bookmarked your post for future use. Thanks for sharing.
Wise woman Connie, we learn from each experience we have. They won't do it to you twice.
Mahalo, Kimo ~ Without failure, we can not learn, and thus move forward
Michelle H ~ Bookmarking this would be a great way for a quick reference reminder when that phone rings for the next interview.... (I think I hear your phone rining, I think you better go answer that ;-)
Terrylynn ~ Thank you. Yes, I finally heard back from them, they are printing a correction in this Sunday's paper. 2nd page of Real Estate section
Connie, you have been book marked! I wish I would have had this information last year when my company was being interviewed. Great Tips!!!
Connie,
This is so true! Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way too! With my first interview, somehow the excitement took over my body and I just gave out more information than I needed to! Now I know better. Great advise...always interview the interviewer!
Marci ~ You know there is also a "re-blog" option as well ;-D Glad to know people will use this as a reference for future use.
Michelle ~ Although I'm sorry to hear that it happened to you, I'm also glad to know that I'm not the only one! LOL =)
Thank you for sharing your experience, Connie. These are great questions for us to remember when asked to be used as a "source".
Good advice! Thank you for sharing what you've learned so the rest of us will be prepared if the opportunity for an interview comes along.
Kathy & Nancy ~ I appreciate your kind comments. I try to share bad learning experiences as well as the good. "Without failure we cannot learn and thus move forward."