What’s your interview style? An O’Reilly? An Arnold?
Everybody’s got a media tips sheet, but Backbone Communications found a great way to stand out from the crowd: offer up some fun but pointed categories of ill-prepared executives:
Name: The 5:15
Description: The executive who does a passing imitation of a runaway train, rattling off interminable answers at breakneck speed.Name: The O’Reilly
Description: When an overly aggressive subject lambastes the competition or takes the editor’s publication to task for “slanted” coverage (to name just two possible irritants).Name: The Merv
Description: Named for the fabled, now largely forgotten talk show host renowned for his fawning, this applies to the relentlessly ingratiating interviewee…it can also take the form of mindless, digressive shmoozing.Name: The Warhol
Description: The executive who repeats several stock phrases over, and over, and over again.Name: The Martha
Description: The endlessly controlling interviewee who always restates the question and, essentially, conducts her own interview.Name: The Arnold
Description: Named for the body builder turned movie star turned governor, this describes the executive intent on dominating the interview by force of will and a brutal, unstoppable charm offensive.
Any you’d add to this list?
Posted: July 21st, 2006 under Fun Stuff, Your Presentation.