The Art of Interviewing
Last week, I interviewed at a school for their MFA Directing graduate program. I met the department head for two interviews, took a tour of the campus, and met several of the graduate students. The whole drive down there, I kept racking my brain to come up with some good questions to ask. I know that interviewers like to be asked questions as much as they like to ask questions. It gives an insight into the interviewee’s personality and life that they won’t otherwise get.
I racked my brain the entire way down. I couldn’t really come up with much.
The interview began, and every time I had a question pop into my head about whatever it was the guy was talking about, I asked it. I felt like I did a good job coming up with questions, and I honestly learned a lot more than I would have had I not asked those questions. At the end of the interview, though, he said “Well, we’ll set up another interview tomorrow. Think of some questions that you might have so we can talk about it tomorrow.” I was sorta disappointed. I didn’t have any more questions.
I got in my car on the way out, and I called one of my college professors, the one I always turn to when I have questions about theatre stuff. He’s pretty good with that kind of stuff. So I call him, and I ask him for some advice, for some kinds of questions I can ask that would, I dunno, make me look smart.
His response? “Ask about things you want out of a program, not just what’s required. Don’t ask about how many classes you can cut, or how much it costs, or anything like that. Ask about what you want out of the program.”
I said, “But everything I want to do is everything I’m required to do! He’s already answered every question I’ve had so far! And on top of that, he answered everyone question I didn’t ask!”
He laughed. “I guess I can’t help you then.”
Boy, did I feel stupid walking back into that interview the next day with no questions up my sleeve.
Tags: Directing, graduate school, interview, questions