Heading into that all-important job interview is daunting – How do you prepare? What questions will you be asked? What makes you stand out? Issy Todd spoke to BBC NI TV Producer, Peter Somersett, who asked the tough questions, and Chloe Gibson, the successful candidate who answered them. Together, they share insider tips from both sides of the interview table to help you land your dream role.
“I applied for jobs at the BBC twice before and didn’t even make it to interview stage”
“When I applied for the third time and was invited to interview, it was daunting.” Rewind to April 2024 and that is exactly what Chloe was facing. Just like many of you, she was preparing for a big job interview, filled with nerves and excitement.
Chloe’s path into TV production wasn’t a straightforward route. After studying Journalism with English at university, followed by a postgraduate in Communications and Public Relations, Chloe was eager to build a career in TV production. Her first step? A job as a multimedia reporter at Cool FM, Northern Ireland’s biggest commercial radio station, and also as a writer for National World. Whilst they weren’t TV production roles exactly, they helped her to understand tone, pacing and audiences for different platforms and get that all important foot in the door.
Fast forward to now, the 26-year-old works full time at BBC NI as a Journalist, with a particular love for TV production. “My daily roles are crafting and presenting news bulletins, writing scripts for presenters and working in the TV gallery,” she explains. “I also cut clips and OOVs, which are a series of video clips to set the scene that the presenters or reporters talk over. For example, if you were reporting a road traffic collision, then you would have a video of the police car, of the ambulance, the police cordon and so forth that would play as a sequence.”
So, how did Chloe go from facing rejection to securing an interview and landing her dream job? “I took the two rejections from the BBC as motivation to push myself further, get more experience, and show I really deserved that chance,” she says. “Interviewers are always going to ask about your experience, which can feel daunting when you’re new to the industry, but get creative. I downloaded free apps like Canva, CapCut, iMovie and Splice. They’re great because they are user friendly, and I could go and film interviews and clips at local events and then edit them together in my free time.” Every bulletin, script, video and story that Chloe was proud of, she saved in a folder and built a strong portfolio over time. “It’s one thing to say you’ve done X, Y and Z, but being able to show it to employers makes a big difference.”
When Chloe finally got the call inviting her to the interview stage, she was determined to spend time absorbing everything about the company, their output and their values. “It may seem obvious, but it does set you apart. I started my interview prep by looking closely at the BBC’s core values, such as impartiality and accuracy, so that I could work them into my answers during my interview.” She adds, “I also watched their shows and learnt the different styles of output, as well as the names of the presenters and the kinds of things they discussed. It showed I had really engaged with their output as I could refer back to particular stories in detail and discuss what I thought they did well and even suggest what I might have done differently.”
With TV production being an industry all about who you know, she also reached out to BBC employees on LinkedIn and X about their experiences in the workplace and daily responsibilities. “Hearing people explain their roles helped me figure out how my previous job experience overlapped. I then used the crossover of skills to show how my transition into the BBC would be smooth.”
The big day soon arrived, and it was interview time. Chloe admits, “It was daunting in the waiting area, particularly when I saw some of the other candidates, one of which I knew. However, I kept reminding myself that my only competition was myself and I had 30 minutes to prove why I would be the best candidate.
“I walked in and shook the panels’ hands, which is very important to do, and then, I almost felt a sense of calm because I was confident that I had what the specification of the job was asking for and I had examples to back it up. It was just about the presentation, which I think is where people can often trip up in interviews. It’s easy to get so conscious about how you’re coming across, but the key is to be yourself, as cringe as that may sound. Companies don’t want carbon copies or robots, so show your personality and character,” she explains.
The preparation she’d done eased her into the first question, which she says is almost always the same. “‘Tell us about yourself,’ is the first thing I’ve been asked in any interview I’ve ever done,” she chuckles. “This is your chance to share your career aspirations, your experience, but also a bit about who you are outside of work,” the 26-year-old says. “Having someone who is creative, who enjoys sports, who is bubbly and upbeat and has other interests to them is exciting.”
From there, it was all about backing up her personality with examples of her strongest work. “I would always say to have at least five examples in your head of your work that you want to tell them about. Don’t try and shoehorn them in on any old question but be ready to draw on them when they fit.” She adds, “If they’re looking for a team player, and you haven’t had loads of work experience yet, talk about something else that demonstrates it. For example, I play rugby, which shows I can work in a team under pressure. It is daunting but if you have those examples and show your eagerness to learn and develop, it will be okay.”
Whilst Chloe was on one side of the table in the hot seat, Peter Somersett was on the other asking the questions. Having begun his career at BBC NI as a reporter before progressing to TV Producer and Senior Broadcast Journalist, Peter has years of experience under his belt. He’s seen firsthand what works in interviews and what doesn’t. So, what are his top five tips for nailing your first TV production job interview?
Peter’s first tip is simple but crucial: do your research.
“It sounds obvious, but we’ve had people come into interviews before who don’t know the differences between our shows or what they’re about,” he says. “It can be very awkward when you realise the interviewee really doesn’t have a clue about us, what we stand for, or even what is happening in the wider news landscape on the island of Ireland, in the UK, or across the world.” His advice? Familiarise yourself with the organisation’s recent output so you can discuss them with confidence and also how you could contribute.
“Similarly, if you’ve got a creative idea for how a programme or project could be improved, show initiative and suggest it in your interview. As long as it’s sensible and you’re respectful about your presentation of it, it shows you’ve really engaged,” he says. “Chloe came in with a few examples of stories we’d run that she thought could have been elevated by drone footage and it really stood out,” he recalls.
Another major thing Peter looks out for is audience awareness. “Being aware of different TV audiences is also crucial as they are so different. For us, that means recognising that younger people are increasingly getting their news about the world from social media, so when we see candidates who are thinking creatively about ways to attract a younger audience to our television coverage, that catches our attention.”
As for the kinds of questions you might face in the room, Peter says situational questions are common to test your instincts. “Questions like, ‘What would you do if a prominent figure in local politics died, and you are the only person left in the newsroom?’ help us to see how you analytically think and handle pressure.” More generally, Peter advises having examples of experiences that could sell you as the best candidate, ready to tailor to these situational questions.
“I was producing the lunchtime news the day that Paisley Senior, a significant politician from Northern Ireland, died. Normally the lunch time programme is ten minutes long but that day it was extended to half an hour. It was such a seminal moment in Northern Irish history and everybody muscled in, but it was so on the hoof. Guests were being brought into the studio whilst we were on air, but it showed everyone’s brilliant teamwork skills. We want to know about times where you’ve shown teamwork or taken initiative or had to problem solve, so think of examples from your experience that demonstrate them.”
His final tip and one he really emphasises, “Once the door closes and you walk out, that’s it all over, so take your time and think carefully before you answer each question. We want to see you succeed and at the end of the interview, we’ll always ask, ‘Is there anything that you want to add or ask?’ If you think you messed up a question or you forgot to say something important, be honest about it. That can honestly leave a really positive impression.
“It’s easier said than done because interviews are nerve-wracking, but remember to take deep breaths, take your time and keep your mind on the goal, which is, ‘I really want this job, I’m qualified for it, and they’ll be lucky to get me.’ If you believe and channel that, we will too.”
For more advice on how to break into the industry, see our ‘Foot in the door’ page.
