INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Contact your sources as far in advance as possible, as this will make arranging interviews with them easier. Try to have at least 2-3 primary sources for the article. Go for sources that are on opposite sides of a topic or subject so your article is well-rounded.  Your sources should be experts in the field your article is focusing on, such as a certified professional, a professor, or an academic. You can use sources that have extensive experience or background in a field that relates to your article. Sources like a witness to an event can also be useful, especially if they have first-hand experience of the topic you are covering. If possible, try to arrange in-person interviews with your sources in a comfortable, quiet setting, such as the person’s office, a coffee shop, or the person’s home. If you cannot arrange an in-person interview, you can talk to the person by phone or over web cam. Prepare interview questions beforehand and ask your sources if you can record the interview so you have their quotes on the record.  You may need to conduct more than 1 interview with your sources, especially if they are a major source for the article. You can also send follow-up questions to your sources as needed. You will need to transcribe your interviews by typing them up to ensure you quote your sources correctly. Having transcriptions will also make fact checking your article and backing up your sources much easier. You will likely need to find out information on the topic or subject that is factual and accurate. Do a search for academic reports and articles on your topic at your local library. Look for online sources that are peer reviewed on an academic database or an official government website. Make sure you cite the information properly in your article by noting the name or organization that provided the information. You should have credible sources to back up any claims or arguments made in the article. If you are leaning on statistics, data, or numerical information in the article, trace them back to a credible source to ensure they are correct. Make sure you refer to the source in your article so the reader knows you have fact checked the information. If you are writing the newspaper article for an editor, they may require you to provide a list of your sources for the article to show you have fact checked your work.

SUMMARY: Contact sources for the article. Conduct interviews with your sources. Look up public information on the topic at your local library and online. Fact check any statistics or numbers before you use them in the article.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you enter into the interview take some time to research the company.  Having some in depth information about the company will allow you to present yourself in a way that fills their needs, demonstrates your compatibility with the culture, and will let you think of questions to ask during the interview.  Interviews are two-way processes.  Don't forget that you can evaluate the company as well. You might want to ask what the company's goals are for the future. Present yourself in a way that shows you being a good match for the organizational nature of the company. Pay careful attention to the language used by the organization or the job offer and try to mirror it.  Use words like "motivated", "focused" or "reliable" to describe yourself. Although your interview may vary slightly due to the nature of the the position you are applying for, most interviews have some common elements to them.  By following the general interview techniques you can help make sure that your interview is a successful one.  Leave yourself enough time to show up early. Dress appropriately for the position and work culture you are applying for. Be courteous and polite to everyone you meet even if they aren't directly interviewing you. Practice your interview before hand. During the interview you will want to focus on what it is exactly you are offering to bring to your new employer.  Although you may have outlined this on your resume you now have a chance to fully express why your skills are needed and how you will benefit the employer.  Discuss your skills in a way that shows how they will be a perfect and unique fit. For example, you might say something like  "When I ran my own firm, I successfully landed X client despite their initial hesitance to go with a small business. I know that I can use the same persuasive ability to help your firm." Showcase your marketing skills by demonstrating a successful campaign you ran. If you did have employees or contractors, talking about how you managed your team can demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Even if you have included in your resume a brief description of why you are seeking employment now is a great time to explain this in more detail.  Your employer may be worried that you will not be a good fit or team-member because of your work history.  Use this time to demonstrate how excited you are about aspects of working with others again.  Make it clear that working for or under someone else is not a problem. Expressing enthusiasm about working on a team again can also be a good idea. You might try saying something like "As my own boss, I found that I missed the creative energy I get from bouncing ideas off other people. I am looking forward to once again being part of an energetic and dynamic team."

SUMMARY:
Research the company. Follow some of the standard practices. Represent your strengths. Expand on your reasons for leaving self-employment.