Many court reporters have interviewed with my court reporting agency. Many recent graduates, court reporters, have never had to interview for a position. Interviewing for a court reporter’s position involve the same principles as with any other type of position.
If I were looking to distinguish myself from the crowd, and I was fortunate enough to land an interview, there are certain basic rules for any type of interview, including a court reporter. Bring a resume. Even if you do not have any court reporting experience, you do have life experiences. Put down all the things you do and all your interests. You never know which one will relate to your interviewer.
Show genuine interest in the interviewer. In an interview, it is important to strike some sort of rapport, common ground, to make you more interesting. Sharing mutual interests is one thing. Look around the office. Most people have pictures, trophies, plants, that relate to a particular interest. Something that will give you a little more insight into the person who you are sitting across the table from. Ask what the trophy or certificate is for. Showing interest in another person really works wonders.
Show interest in the company. Check out their website and mentally or physically come with questions based on research you have done about the company. I know I would be very impressed if somebody sitting across the table knew something about our court reporting firm. It rarely, if ever, happens. But when it does, it sure does make a difference and gives me an incentive to want to look closer at the person sitting across the table from me.