Let Not Pressure Get The Better Of You

Saloni Tandon is a Radio and TV Journalism 2012-2013 alumna. She worked with The Times of India as a correspondent cum copy editor in the entertainment and lifestyle beat and has over 100 features and celebrity interview bylines under her name. Currently, she is working as a communications manager in an NGO and is a freelance journalist cum fashion and sports blogger.

First things first – many congratulations on cracking the entrance test and making it till this stage of the selection process! Now, be rest assured that if you have made it till here, the ultimate goal of studying at IIMC is definitely within sight!

To surpass the interview and the piece to camera rounds, what you need is 70% mental preparation and 30% factual accuracy. They have already tested the knowledge that they wanted to; now they want to know how clear and stable you are about your views.

Point number one: DO NOT buckle under pressure. The panel will try to create a very stressful situation for you (much like the newsroom), where they might totally dismiss your views or put forward extreme counter-arguments. Be clear with your thoughts and be very vocal about why you are taking a certain stand. It’s not necessary to agree with them. What is absolutely necessary is clarity of thoughts and strength of character to stand by your opinion on a certain matter. At IIMC, it’s absolutely okay to be opinionated, as long as you have valid reasons to add strength to your opinions. Be calm, be confident and be sure of what you’re speaking.

Moving to the theory bit – what personally helped me the most were the primetime debates on news channels. Watching them every day without fail greatly increased my perspective and helped me visualize prospective angles on every story that is developing within the country. Having your own stand is good; knowing the other person’s stand is even better. Watching these debates also provokes thoughts within you, which you wouldn’t have anticipated by just going through news websites or news papers. Since you’re applying for TV, it’s always better to show allegiance and familiarity to that medium!

The piece-to-camera round was something that was relatively new to me, since my graduation was in business studies. I wouldn’t deny that the entire studio and camera setup can be a bit overwhelming, but don’t let it get the better of you. All you need for this round is composure, composure and more composure. Typically, you will be given a topic at the end of your interview to speak on for 30 seconds. Normally, they give you something that is related to your interests and forte, but that’s never a compulsion. Make a mental note of the points that you have to make. Do not try to frame sentences mentally and mug them up – that is something that will never work. But if you’re clear about the points that you will address, you should surpass this round without a glitch.

All in all – relax, have faith in your ability and let that confidence reflect on your face!

All the best :)