Asked and answered: Advice for the interview

One of my favorite parts of The New York Times on Sundays is in the business section. "Corner Office" features an interview of an exec. Back in April it was Jilly Stephens, the director of City Harvest, a New York City nonprofit that distributes food through community programs. When she hires, she asks a direct question about what appeals to the applicant about the job, She expects an equally direct answer and is always surprised when someone is still answering after 15 minutes. Her advice to new managers: Let subordinates know who you are, what they should know about you and how you like to operate. She notes she tells her reports that, at times, she has been told she looks angry, but she is usually not — it is just her face. Finally, she believes the best career advice to somebody getting out of college is to "take a gap year. It's invaluable to get out there and experience the world. because you've got a lifetime of work ahead of you." I agree and did just that (although I took the gap time by dropping out of college and then going back). I like these short interviews. They tell us, I think, a lot more than shows like "Undercover Boss." Like the method U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stephens uses in interviews: direct questions + direct answers = revelations.