This episode’s vocabulary
Social clout
n — power and influence in a social context. → Celebrities often have a lot of social clout and can affect public opinion.
Curated
adj — carefully chosen, organized, and presented. → The museum's exhibition was carefully curated to tell a specific story.
Stage-managed
adj — planned and controlled in a way that is intended to seem natural. → The politician's 'spontaneous' meeting with the public was completely stage-managed.
Impromptu
adj — done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed. → He gave a brilliant impromptu speech at the wedding.
To a greater or lesser extent
idiom — partly; more or less. → We are all responsible, to a greater or lesser extent, for the state of the environment.
Dress the part
idiom — to wear clothes that are suitable for a particular job or situation. → If you want to be taken seriously as a manager, you have to dress the part.
Attire
n — clothes, especially formal or special ones. → The invitation specified that the dress code was formal attire.
Obstructive
adj — causing a blockage or preventing easy movement. → Tight, obstructive clothing is not practical for physical work.
Get the proper measure of a person
idiom — to understand someone's true character or abilities. → You can't really get the proper measure of a person from their online profile.
Anticipate
v — to imagine or expect that something will happen. → It's a good idea to anticipate potential questions before a job interview.
Get your foot in the door
idiom — to enter a business or organization at a low level, but with a chance of being more successful in the future. → An internship can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a competitive company.
Air your dirty laundry in public
idiom — to discuss private or embarrassing matters in public. → He was criticized for airing his dirty laundry in public during the television interview.
Shenanigans
n — secret or dishonest activity; mischief. → The team was disqualified due to some financial shenanigans.
Emotional intelligence
n — the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. → A good leader must have a high degree of emotional intelligence.
Questions and answers
What kinds of people are frequently interviewed?
I suppose the ones who have something important or relevant to say about a current issue, and then the sufficient social clout. It could be anyone from key politicians to celebrities, to just random people who contributed something significant. You used to get lots of interviews with the man on the street, but that seems less common these days.
Could you give an example?
Yeah, the foreign secretary announced a change in policy the other day, and so he was invited to comment on that and various spokespeople had to comment on that, too. So, those would be the people that get interviewed because they're relevant to the issue.
What kinds of things do famous people often say in an interview?
Well, probably nothing that isn't extensively curated or stage-managed to be honest. If it's an actor, for example, they'll likely have been coached to talk about their latest movie or draw attention to it. Even politicians have some talking points they need to deliver for the interviewer. There's not much in the way of impromptu information that gets shared these days, at least in interviews.
Has this always been true?
To a greater or lesser extent, yes, because the purpose of an interview is not just to inform people, but it's also to inform people about a particular viewpoint. So, there will be some kind of agenda there.
What should people wear to a job interview?
Well, surely that depends on the job, doesn't it? If you're going to work in an office or some other professional setting, then you need to dress the part and wear a suit or some kind of professional attire. And if it's to work in something like a coffee shop, then presumably reasonably smart clothes will be fine. They might even prefer casual clothes since they're less obstructive.
Do you think this can change?
No, I think people will largely be wearing things that are suitable for the kind of work they're in. I can't think of a reason why that would change.
Why do we need to attend interviews when we apply for a job?
Well, a CV only tells half the story, doesn't it? In order to get the proper measure of a person, you need to meet them in person, for lack of a better term. Then you can make a more accurate assessment of their character and their ability. If you just relied on what's on paper, then that could lead you to the wrong conclusions about people.
What should people do to prepare for a job interview?
Well, you need to show that you know the job and the company. So, reading up on the specifics of both is good, and trying to anticipate potential questions and how you might answer based on your experience or understanding of different situations. That can create a good impression and make you more likely to get hired.
And what can people do to get a job interview?
Well, beyond applying for the job itself, I'm not really sure. Sometimes knowing people in the company can be a good way to get your foot in the door, but other than that, I don't really have a clue.