I used to do interviews when I was a manager in retail a long (LONG) time ago. I was in charge of unloading trucks and stocking the sales floor, so when I did interviews, I made sure that they were a good fit and I could rely on. There was one thing that I never wanted to hear though, and that was a certain tone in their voice.
You're probably thinking to yourself, "Tone? What does that have to do with anything?". For me, I could tell if someone was serious about wanting the job by the way they talked. If I sensed that people are just looking for a job to just show up and get a pay check, I wouldn't call them back. I needed people I can depend on and you can't depend on someone that doesn't want to be there in the first place. There's always a dead give away when someone isn't reliable, and that is the inability to answer interview questions.
If you are asked, "What kind of work have you done in the past and how is it beneficial to my business?", they don't want to hear, "My portfolio is in front of you, it's all right there..." They want to hear, "In the past, I've done work for X business and Y client and as a result of my work it increased Z customer/sales for their business." They want to hear straight from the horses mouth that you mean business and that when you do work for them, they will see great results.
It's the same now, if you go up to a business looking for work as a filmmaker or graphic designer, you need to be able to show that you're ready for work. Don't assume that just because you have a couple of good videos or that you are in college for a video production degree that you are guaranteed work anywhere. No on is going to give anyone a job if you aren't confident in yourself and your work. Businesses like mine or even Hollywood videos look at the work and then look at the person. The work is what draws attention, but your attitude is what get's you the job.
- Adam