Getting Prepared

I’m doing my best to be as prepared as possible for this phone interview. I’ve read articles sent to me by a friend about how best to handle a phone interview, and I will definitely be putting them into practice. Furthermore, this job uses a skill (oral history) that while practiced in a different capacity is one that I was well trained for in graduate school. I did my graduate studies at a university that was one of the pioneers in oral history. Not everyone is good at conducting interviews, but I found I had a special talent for it. Largely because people love to talk to me. I know how to ask the right questions, and I know how to get the information I need, sometimes without even conveying that. In a way, it’s very similar to leading a class discussion. You have to ask open ended questions and let the students talk. Let that discussion lead to another question, all the while keeping the person answering the questions focussed on what I need/want to know.

I haven’t had many opportunities to conduct oral histories in recent years and some of the technology has changed, so I looked into the modern equipment used in the digital age. I found out what some of the equipment that they use is and emailed a former professor and asked his advice, since the oral history center that he is now in charge of uses the same equipment. I’ve read over techniques and manuals to refresh my memory about the best strategies and practices of conducting oral histories.

I’ve also researched the institution where the job is, the people who work in this particular museum (LinkedIn is a wonderful tool), and I have researched the surrounding area. I want to know as much as I possibly can about this job, and he environment there. Of course there is still more reading and research to do today, and rest assured, I will have cheat sheets and notes in front of me when they call. I am determined to make sure that the four people interviewing me know exactly why I am the perfect candidate for this job.

By the way, I know I have been more personal in my posts lately than I ever have in this blog. I hope that this is ok with my readers. I’ve just been so focussed lately that I’ve felt the need to share what I am going through, so I would love your feedback on the direction that I have taken the blog in the last few weeks. When I find interesting books or history or news items, I will definitely be posting about them, but I hope it’s ok that I’ve just been more focussed on me lately.