Cherubs advance their interviewing techniques

By Elizabeth Rowe

Alexa Fogler, a cherub from Ohio, approached a bookstore employee and asked for an interview.

“I have a 15-minute coffee break," the employee promptly said. "I don’t have time for you.”

Fogler said she thought, “I’m never going to get through this program.”

But Bret Begun of Newsweek and Cynthia Wang of People magazine told cherubs how to tackle interviews in their Advanced Interviewing Techniques class.

Begun said preparation for an interview can be as important as the interview itself. A good interview starts with learning how to pronounce a source’s name, especially if the name is unusual and leaves a lot of room for error.  And Wang told cherubs to expect to work with public relations agents to secure interviews with sources, particularly celebrities.
Begun said to begin the interview with a firm but brief handshake, with the arm at a 90 degree angle to the body.

“No dead fish,” Begun said.

Begun advised cherubs to turn off cell phones during interviews. He said hearing Akon’s “Smack That” coming from someone’s purse in the middle of a question is “incredibly aggravating.”

Aisha Hasan, a cherub from New Jersey, said she learned enough to feel confident conducting an interview with a high-profile individual. If she has an interview over dinner, she knows to avoid messy foods like spaghetti and soup.

Begun also said it was important to carry a pencil and a pen in addition to a tape recorder. When it comes to technology, Begun said, “Think Murphy’s Law.”

Fogler said this has made her prepare for the worst.

“When I interviewed a therapist, I couldn’t get my tape recorder to work,” Fogler said. “It was a good think I had my backup pen and pencil.”

Begun told cherubs not to close their reporter’s notebook until the very end of an interview. Wang said follow-up phone calls with a source after the interview can help check facts and clarify information.

Alexandra Wildenhaus, a cherub from Ohio, said the advice has given her the knowledge to conduct important interviews in years to come.

“I really think it’ll help me in the future,” she said. “Especially with formal interviews.”