User:Asilvering/RFA Q&As

Some people find answering RFA questions very hard. Here are some asilvering-approved suggestions. I hope they work for you. Good luck.

1. Write your answers in a txt file separately so you can edit and save at will.
2. Never ever write an answer and then post. Write an answer and go do literally anything else (naps suggested). Then reread. Then post. If you reread and find you want to edit your answer, do that, then go do something else before posting, then reread, etc.
3. There is both more and less time pressure than there appears. You don't need to rush, but if you're happily editing away somewhere else on the project and not answering your RFA questions, that's a bad look. If an emergency comes up, say so immediately.
4. Your nominators will save you from putting your foot in your mouth if you let them. Ask them for 2Os about the answer or the question if you're uncertain. If you're all uncertain, it's no big deal to ask the question-asker for clarification.
5. Some questions simply should not be answered. Rare, but it happens. Let your nominators, or uninvolved bystanders, go on the warpath about these. As for you: ignore.
6. If you're like me, the best way to start answering is to just dash off a bunch of bullet points, or even a list of nouns and adjectives you might want to pick up in your final answer. Idea-vomit first, clean up later.
7. This is a job interview, not an exam. The purpose is not to answer the questions. The purpose is to tell the interviewees something about yourself. Don't get caught up in trying to answer every part of the question, or answering the question itself too literally.
8. Most questions are stupid questions, or at least boring ones. Turn them into a much more interesting question in your head and answer that one instead.
9. A good question is a springboard for you to write an essay or a manifesto. Try not to do that. Write the manifesto in your head and then summarize it or pick out the bangers.
10. Jokes and flippancy don't tend to go over well at RFA. Exercise caution.
11. But don't exercise so much caution your answers come off as insincere "boilerplate". Be yourself. A version of yourself that doesn't immediately post the first thing you think of to say, but yourself.