Appendix A: Competent Interviewing

Following Up After the Interview

You should continue to demonstrate good manners once the interview is over. Thank the interviewer, as well as anyone else you have met within the organization, as you leave. Follow up immediately with a written or e-mailed (or both!) note of appreciation. Thank the interviewer not only for the interview but also for the chance to expand your knowledge of the organization and the industry. Put in writing how excited you are about the chance to work with such a dynamic organization. Send along any support materials that you discussed during the interview (perhaps a writing sample). Since few interviewees remember to send additional materials and a note of thanks, you will certainly stand out.

BACK TO

The Colbert Report

Back at the beginning of this Appendix, we talked about Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, whose satirical “Better Know a District” interviews turn politicians into punchlines. Let’s examine the nature of those interviews in the context of what we’ve learned throughout this Appendix.

Like all interviews, Colbert’s interviews are planned and dyadic, but the process of editing them down to just a few minutes makes them less interactive than a real-time interview. Comments and reaction shots are taken out of context, and during editing, Colbert is able to integrate alternative footage that was not part of the actual interview. This gives him an unusual amount of control at the expense of the interviewee.
The format and structure of the interview are also clear to both parties: Colbert’s guests are told in advance that he will remain in character and they are asked to play straight against his egomaniacal and satirical alter ego. Participants are well aware that their comments can and will be heavily edited and that much of what they say will be taken out of context.
There’s risk in being the butt of a joke, for sure, but in this case, there’s also the potential for reward. Politicians might appear on the show to gain exposure for their districts as well as for themselves with Colbert’s young, politically active audience. In fact, some research suggests that there is actually a “Colbert Bump”—the host’s term for a brief increase in support for politicians following an appearance on Colbert’s show (Thompson, 2008).