BeBee Interviews - Gert Scholtz - South Africa

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago · 1 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging

Gert blog

BeBee Interviews

Few experiences on BeBee are as satisfying as interviewing others or reviewing their work.

I am privileged in that some great minds have agreed to honor my questions with insightful replies. I highly recommend it: choose others you are interested in, you learn from or of whom you would like a deeper understanding, and take the initiative to get to know more of their work and of their person.

Some have complimented me on the interviews – for which I thank them sincerely. I thought about it and here is what I think is important in an interview or profile post.

DO THE RESEARCH

I take a close look at someone’s posts and online profiles - on BeBee and LinkedIn. It takes time but there is a good deal of information in their previous posts and profile description. Also, I try to read between the lines; is there something sensed that I want to know more about?

PICK THE PERSONAL IDEAS

When I read a few posts of another, there often ideas and themes unique to the person. Ideas or expressions that give someone their voice and presence. I try to find this and in an interview ask for elaboration on why certain ideas are important to him or her.

PICTURES PLEASE

It’s comes as a surprise to me how much visual material one can find in google searches. Also, I have specifically requested pictures, or the person sent to me of his own accord. Photographs add color and personality to an interview.

FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

Most of us publish only parts of what we think and who we are, and our experiences in life may have led up to our choosing certain content. I find it interesting to ask about someone’s formative experiences - often a rich and illuminating part of who he or she is.

RESPECT THE PERSON

I try always to be polite. Some questions that might be too personal for social media. Or the interviewee might not want to divulge certain details about themselves. I fully respect that. I only publish what he provides, and with due care, what is in the public domain.

BE REALLY INTERESTED

This sounds like a cliché but I really do take an interest in the other. I read their comments carefully and often re-read their posts. Most of all, I try my best to learn something, look for their unique talents and ideas, and find more of the person behind the post.

Here are some interviews, profiles and book reviews of mine on BeBee:

Pascal Derrien, Ken Boddie, Phil Friedman, Paul Walters, Jim Murray,

Juan Imaz, Javier BeBee, Don Kerr, Ian Weinberg

I look forward to doing more.

Gert Scholtz

#PERSONAL #BeBee #LinkedIn #BeBee Interviews #RESEARCH

Comments

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #50

#50
Don \ud83d\udc1d Kerr into that classic big smile :)

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #49

#51
Aaron \ud83d\udc1d Skogen Thanks to you Aaron for reading and for your kind comments. I hope you get some time to read one or two. Good to hear from you.

Phil Friedman

5 years ago #48

#52
All you comedians should keep in mind that he who laughs last laughs best. I probably would have been dead by now except the Gods have no inclination to suffer the Wrath of Friedman for eternity. Buck-up, boyos -- I've grown alligator thick skin.

Phil Friedman

5 years ago #47

#50
Don \ud83d\udc1d Kerr, your cutting-edge sarcasm is devastating, as always. It's okay, I love and forgive you. :-)

Jim Murray

5 years ago #46

#50
Don \ud83d\udc1d Kerr That is the only pic of Phil in existence. The rest are classified

don kerr

5 years ago #45

Gert Scholtz with that big smile? He's usually kinda grumpy!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #44

#48
Thank you for sharing the post and for your very friendly words! I sure will continue and keep them coming.

🐝 Fatima G. Williams

5 years ago #43

Gert Scholtz Fantastic interview tips Thank you and this is a great set of interviews here. You know how much we love reading your work. Please keep them coming and thank you :)

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #42

#44
Jan \ud83d\udc1d Barbosa Thank you Jan, for reading and sharing to Linkedin.- most appreciated.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #41

#43
Savvy Raj Many thanks Savvy - especially for the kind words. I hope you get the chance to read one, two or thre in time.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #40

#42
Thank you, Lupita.

Jan 🐝 Barbosa

5 years ago #39

Sharing !!!! :)

Lupita 🐝 Reyes

5 years ago #38

Great buzz Gert Scholtz!

Phil Friedman

5 years ago #37

#40
The meaning of placement is manifest, Gert Scholtz. Thank you again, Gert, for your insight. :-)

Jim Murray

5 years ago #36

Of course you know I will never heard the end of Phil's getting centre billing on your post. He will go on for days about that.

Louise Smith

5 years ago #35

Gert Scholtz I realised my first comment is somewhat scrambled obviously my computer was out in sympathy with my female Dachshund Lila She got the snip last Friday & has been very sleepy & unsteady on her pins. But I know she's ok 'cause she's EATING ! A true Dachshund ! Nothing gets between them & food.

Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

5 years ago #34

#33
I love them ALL !!

Bill Stankiewicz

5 years ago #33

Great job here Gert!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #32

#34
Many thanks for the suggestions Louise.

Louise Smith

5 years ago #31

That's the short list !

Louise Smith

5 years ago #30

SUGGESTIONS Claire L Cardwell Barbara Henslee Deb🐝 Lange, Brand Ambassador @beBee Dominique \ud83d\udc1d Petersen Dorothy Cooper 🐝 Fatima G. Williams Franci🐝Eugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador Gloria Ochoa Joyce 🐝 Bowen Brand Ambassador @ beBee Katyan Roach Liesbeth Leysen, MSc. beBee Brand Ambassador Lisa Gallagher Lisa Vanderburg Mamen 🐝 Delgado Maite Barroso Del Cerro Pamela 🐝 Williams @Reena Saxby Renée 🐝 Cormier Sara Jacobovici Savvy Raj Susan Botello

Louise Smith

5 years ago #29

Claire L CardwellI love your interviews Gert Scholtz Even though I know I shouldn't have one, my fav is Pascal Derrien's intervi your posts on your profile page https://@gert-scholtz So en I realisof affairs But graconey ..... After all without a Queen Bee who would we see ?

Lada 🏡 Prkic

5 years ago #28

#30
Gert, I am honoured by your invitation, but I've already been interviewed by Sara Jacobovici. I have not much more to say. :-) https://www.bebee.com/producer/@sara-jacobovici/q-a-bebee-with-lada-prkic

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #27

#23
Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic Very true Lada - thanks for pointing it out. Perhaps there is a certain Lady-Bee from Croatia who will kindly agree to an interview?

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #26

#23
Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic Very true Lada - thanks for pointing it out. Perhaps there is a certain Lady-Bee from Croatia which will agree to an interview?

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #25

#20
Ian Weinberg Dankie Ian. Natuurlik as ek iemand so interessant soos jy het om n onderhoud mee te doen, kom belangstelling en nuuskierigheid baie maklik!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #24

#21
Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador Thank you Franci for the friendly words and for sharing the post. Have a great weekend!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #23

#19
Phil Friedman Thank you Phil, a very big compliment coming from you which I really do appreciate.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #22

#4
Debasish Majumder Thank you for your kind words Debasish, and also for so regularly sharing my posts.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

5 years ago #21

Gert, what I noticed right now is that you interviewed only male Bees. :) Maybe it's time for a post with some of the great beBee women in the interviewee roles.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

5 years ago #20

#11
Gert, what I noticed right now is that you interviewed only male Bees. :) Maybe it's time for a post with some of the great beBee women in the interviewee role.

Ian Weinberg

5 years ago #19

#4
Thanks again for the mention Gert Scholtz I agree with what was said in previous comments - you bring out the best in others due to your genuine interest. Genuine interest, curiosity and generosity of spirit are just some of your many qualities which I personally experience as being uplifting.

Phil Friedman

5 years ago #18

Gert Scholtz, thank you for the mention here and for the interview and kind words then and now. I find that you do the best of any I've read in eliciting interesting information about the interviewee. Cheers!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #17

#8
Jim Murray That is spot on Jim - thank you. I titled the piece as BeBee Interviews to keep a simple title but prefaced the list of people mentioned with: "Here are some interviews, profiles and book reviews of mine on BeBee." Thanks for reading - your experienced eye is one I always welcome and appreciate.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #16

#9
Preston \ud83d\udc1d Vander Ven As long as individuals such as yourself grace the posts and comments, BeBee will always keep its integrity. Thank you Preston!

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #15

#8
Jim Murray That is spot on Jim - thank you. I titled the piece as BeBee interviews to keep a imple title but prefaced the list of people with: "Here are some interviews, profiles and book reviews of mine on BeBee." Thanks for reading - your experienced eye is one I always appreciate.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #14

#7
Jerry Fletcher Thank you Jerry. It's good of you to stop by as you always so generously do.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #13

#6
Ken Boddie Ken, you have summarised in one perfect sentence: "The whole essence of a successful interview is for the interviewer to do their homework effectively and comprehensively so that, as a consequence, the carefully selected questions stir the interviewee's passion for their particular interests, or entice them to open up with previously unrelated tales of past interesting adventures, dramas or anecdotes, hence resulting in a more compelling read for the 'audience'." Many thanks my co - "southerner" for your insightful and kind comments.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #12

#5
Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee Thanks for commenting and sharing Javier. There is indeed a lot more to the person behind the resume. One just needs to take the time to find out! BeBee makes it possible like no other platform.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #11

#3
Pascal Derrien I think you mention the essence of why I like to do profiles and interviews, there is always something to learn from and discover about another. Many thanks for your kind words Pascal.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #10

#2
Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic And I take that "responsibility" quite seriously - I think it is important to have the person you are interviewing or profiling shine through, and not your own views and opinions. Thank you for the comment Lada.

Gert Scholtz

5 years ago #9

#1
Randall Burns Thanks Randall - I appreciate your to comment.

Jim Murray

5 years ago #8

Thanks Gert, I was looking at the one you did on me and not to put too fine a point on it, I would consider it more a profile than an interview. Just sayin'. But I was flattered nonetheless.

Jerry Fletcher

5 years ago #7

Gert, I always enjoy your interviews. You call out the depth of the person.

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #6

I agree wholeheartedly with your advice, Gert, as one who has been interviewed a few times on beBee (and elsewhere), with the result that a couple of interviews (including yours) were very good, and were most enjoyable from my perspective, others pretty mediocre, and one even verging on the ridiculous, with the interviewer showing that he had absolutely no idea of my character, background, interests, blogs or their content. In this almost pointless and unequivocally worst particular interview I was tempted to ask (but refrained) "why the f*** didn't your read my profile and blogs before you started on this futile exercise?". The whole essence of a successful interview is for the interviewer to do their homework effectively and comprehensively so that, as a consequence, the carefully selected questions stir the interviewee's passion for their particular interests, or entice them to open up with previously unrelated tales of past interesting adventures, dramas or anecdotes, hence resulting in a more compelling read for the 'audience'. Look at the work of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Graham Norton and, the best of the best, Michael Parkinson. These successful celebrity interviewers often surprise their interviewees with the depth of knowledge they have acquired about them through research, albeit not all necessarily cried out solely by the interviewers. But the point is that preparation and planning is essential or the whole interview degrades into a boring chat. But there again, my good friend, you have demonstrated that you know all this.

Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

5 years ago #5

Gert Scholtz this is wonderful. It is a great way to get to know each other. Professionals are humans, not resumes. People Do Business With People They Like

Debasish Majumder

5 years ago #4

your endeavor is not just commendable, but requires skill along with empathy, a rare quality Gert Scholtz! exactly you are awesome! enjoyed read and shared. thank you for such informative and enriching buzz.

Pascal Derrien

5 years ago #3

Your interview technique shows a lot of generosity, interest, empathy and authenticity. I have done 180+ of interviews on another platform when groups were still a viable vehicle on LI and I agree with you humility goes a long way when it comes to learn something from the interviewee :-)

Lada 🏡 Prkic

5 years ago #2

I was hoping to be the first who will comment on this post. Pascal is almost always the first. But now is Randall. :-) What I like about your interviews are the questions that show your genuine interest in others. Besides these amazing Bees and their insightful replies, an interviewer is a person who is "responsible" for a successful interview.

Randall Burns

5 years ago #1

What a great idea! Gert Scholtz Nice post!

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5 years ago · 1 min. reading time

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