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Mar 4, 2014

The glitz, the glamour, the upsets and the tear-jerking acceptance speeches

Yes, the Academy Awards this year graced us again with Hollywood’s elite and we sure did enjoy it (even if it ran a little long).

It wasn’t just a night of beautiful people though, we actually learned a few great interview tips along the way.

The host steers the show

If you’re constantly complaining about bad interviews, remember, it’s your show. Host Ellen DeGeneres took her irreverent comedy and proved that even institutional events can become current with the right attitude.

Are your interviews feeling stagnant, detached and irrelevant? It’s up to you to turn them around. Crack a joke, change your clothes or try using our Interviewing eBook.

Get social

Ellen claimed to have crashed Twitter with just a few selfies and just the right amount of celebrity playfulness. Maybe you should be on some social networks checking out these applicants before they come in. You’re not being creepy!

We think it’s pretty well know by now that social profiles are publicly “traded” goods. If you’re applying for a job, you pretty much know you’re going to get checked out. So if you’re not researching in that space, why not?

We think doing a little social audit before an interview can help in more ways than just looking for red flags. Learn about this person before he or she comes in. After all, you’re both people, right? Find something in common and turn the interview into a conversation, not just a series of questions.

Watch the clock

Did you notice how long the acceptance speeches went on this year? Apparently, the house orchestra was housed in a separate location than the auditorium, so the “get off the stage” music never really kicked in.

It was nice to hear sincere gratitude and all, but really, how long do you want to sit there and listen to someone referencing everyone they’ve ever met?

Treat your interviews the same way. Yes, you want the candidates to describe themselves and open up. However, you’ve got a job to do (and most likely, many jobs to do). If you sense that the interviewee is rambling about irrelevant information, it’s your job to politely cut them off and keep the interview pointed and on schedule.

Also, the Oscars didn’t finish until midnight if you were on the East Coast. That’s a long telecast!

We realized that when things stay interesting though, nobody notices. You need to use some keen judgement. There’s nothing wrong with holding long interviews if you’re both benefitting.

What do you think? Did you learn anything from the 2014 Academy Awards?

This article originally appeared on The Resumator Blog.

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