You’ve passed your classes with top marks and you’ve started your broadcasting careers. Now, you must conduct your very first broadcast interview. The idea of your first interview brings excitement and nervousness. Your first broadcast interview can start you off on the career you have dreamed about your entire life. As you begin to prepare for your very first interview, you may want to consider these tips.

1. Be prepared for the interview. The concept sounds simple, but you must do your research prior to the interview.

• Research the individual, the organization or subject matter.
• Write complete, open-ended questions to be asked. You do not want to use any questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” You want the conversation to have flow as you conduct your interview.
• Always have extra questions. You can use these questions as way to fill in the time if the interview goes too quickly.
• Keep the questions simple. You do not want to bore your audience with lengthy speeches for each answer.
• Try to stay on target. You want the interview to be about a specific subject or company. You may have to steer the conversation back to the topic in order to keep the content flowing.

2. Practice the interview.

• Stand in front of a mirror and practice the questions. You may feel silly, but hearing the questions out loud can help in the planning process.
• Ask a friend or colleague to listen to the questions prior to the interview.
• Ask for input on the questions as you read them.

3. Check your body language.

• Smile as you begin the interview. You want the person to feel comfortable with the interview process. When a person is more relaxed, the conversation will not feel forced.
• Remember to make eye contact. You want the person to feel engaged throughout the entire conversation.
• Keep the fidgeting and other nervous habits to a minimum. You may not even be aware of nervous habits. Try to refrain from crossing your arms, tapping your foot, drumming your fingers on the desk or slightly rocking back and forth in your chair. You want to convey an overall calmness and comfort level as you conduct the interview.

4. Visualize the interview. You may be surprised how this practice can prepare and calm you for the interview.

5. Dress for the job. Even if you are conducting the interview for broadcast radio, you want to dress appropriately for the job. Dressing up in business attire shows you are a professional. You want to be taken seriously as you conduct the interview.

Conducting your first time interview is an exciting prospect at the beginning of your broadcast career.

Keep these tips in mind as you prepare. Remember to be ready for anything as an interview can quickly go in an entirely different direction than originally planned.