You are not likely to face an interviewer/inquisitor like this as you search for a job. All photos courtesy of Mark Simon.

Are you thinking of looking for a new job? Does the idea of facing the job inquisition scare you into staying chained to your current desk? By the order of Sir Mark Simon (and signed by Maria Borbon and Francisco de la Rosa) the job inquisition has hereby been abolished. You never need fear the torture of interviewing again.

Let’s break the interview tribunal into three parts, preparation, interview and follow-up.

Interview Preparation
To make the most of every interview, you need to understand the company who will be interviewing you. Don’t get axed out of consideration because you were too lazy to do a little research.

Here’s a quick checklist of questions to help you prepare for your interview:

• What does the company do and what do they sell?

• What is their market?

• Who do they cater to?

• What style of dress do they expect?

• Are they formal or informal?

• What are the job openings and titles they have available?

• What are the duties and requirements of those jobs?

• How do you/ can you fulfill their needs?

Answering these questions does not have to be difficult. It can be as simple as just asking the person who set up your interview. Or you can ask someone who does or did work there. The company may have a website which will tell you most of what you need to know.

Many people are nervous about the interview process. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you are likely to be. After you do your research, prepare at least three questions to ask during your interview. This will let them know you are passionate about working for them and you’ve invested time and effort into this process.

Practice. If you’re not accustomed to being interviewed, have someone who is used to hiring people do a practice interview with you. To make the most of your practice videotape the session with the camera looking directly at you. When you watch a replay of the tape, pay attention to your body language, fidgeting and eye contact, as well as to your answers.

Know what to bring to the interview. It is always best to bring at least three extra copies of your résumé. Don’t assume they will have a copy with them. From your research, the job title on your résumé should match the position they have available. You also never know if you will have multiple interviews during one trip.

When I interviewed to work on Spielberg’s series, seaQuest DSV, I had three interviews in 15 minutes and walked out with a job. Be prepared with samples and résumés to make your presentations and close the deal.

Creatives should always carry samples with them. Writers should have relevant writing samples, artists, animators and designers should have portfolios, demo reels and tear sheets. All samples should be relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Don’t bring drawings of naked swordswomen to land a job animating on Blue’s Clues. (Don’t laugh. This happens.)

Many creatives don’t think about having leave-behinds, or one-sheets. Put together single sheets with examples of your work and your contact information. Unlike a large portfolio, these can be left with each person you meet to help them remember who you are and what you do. It also shows your ability to prepare.

Sample sheet by Bev Villarreal of her illustration work.

Before you leave for your interview, make sure you eat well. You don’t want to be hungry, hung-over or have low blood sugar during an interview. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed.

Know how to get to their offices. You don’t want to be late for your interview. You may even want to test-drive it once so you don’t get lost and know how long the drive takes.

Dress the part. People at many companies do not wear suits, dresses or chain mail. Creative and entertainment companies are usually casual in their dress. Casual, by the way, does not mean sleeveless, dirty t-shirts with political slogans or cursing on them.

If you show up for a designer job in a suit and tie, it may show your naiveté in the industry. However, if you show up for a bank job wearing a Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned to your navel and flip-flops, you will not be taken seriously as a candidate.

When I was art directing films and television series, I had very long hair and a goatee. After a few years of living in Florida, I got tired of my neck sweating from the long hair. One day I cut my hair short, which made me look more business-like… and less like an artist. Within a month, I noticed my bookings were declining. I let my hair grow back out and the bookings increased again. Clients have preconceived notions of how people should look and those notions can work for you or against you.

Make sure to show up on time. If you show up late, that tells the employer how little you care about them. If you are held up for reasons out of your control, call your contact as soon as possible before your interview time and update them on your expected arrival time. Be respectful of their time.