What Questions Might You Be Asked at a Job Interview?
There are only three things that a prospective employer wants to know when they're interviewing a candidate for a PR role:
- Can you do the job?
- Will you love the job?
- Can we work with you?
As a candidate, the same should apply for you when finding out about the job: can you do it; will you want to get up every morning and go to work; and (MOST important) can you spend eight hours a day with these people?
Can You Do the Job? (Strengths)
This is your chance to talk not only about your PR skills and media contacts, but also about your leadership skills and the ability to develop relationships while climbing the corporate ladder.
You can't tell what a person is like by looking at their CV. So be prepared to talk about your projects, and don't assume that just because your interviewer is in PR they know what you do. They want to hear examples of your successful PR campaigns, and also what hasn't worked and what you learnt from that. Be prepared to talk and be honest!
Not only is it important to look at the PR skill set you have... but also look at your strengths in terms of getting along and dealing or interacting with people.
Will You Love the Job? (Motivation)
You do not wish to get paid for working hard, you want to enjoy what you do. Be prepared to talk about what challenges you, and what you love to do. The company are seeing what you will embrace and how you complement their team.
Can We Work With You? (Fit)
Will you fit into the company culture and the existing team? Remember, people buy people, so if you don't like them and they don't like you - IT JUST WON'T WORK! 40 percent of PR professionals leave organisations (many fired or pushed out) within twelve months. It's not because they're stupid, it's because they don't fit in with the organisation. Everyone has experienced the 'wrong job' - either because it was mis-sold, or because they mis-sold themselves at interview only to find they didn't fit the culture.
Preparing for Interview: the Client
If you're interviewing PR professionals then don't go in under-prepared. You expect your candidate to prepare and it is equally important that you do too. Make sure you have fully read their CV and have clear questions on strengths, motivations and fit. Remember to make that candidate LOVE your company – EVEN if you're not going to offer them the job, everyone should leave wanting to work for you. Remember you work in PR and you develop brands, so this is your way of developing market awareness that your company ROCKS!
Preparing for Interview: the Candidate
Make sure you look at the company website and that you know exactly what the company do and who they do it for, and if you are using a recruitment consultant make sure they brief you properly on the role you have applied for. Do use google to find out about the client & contact. If you're the one being interviewed, prepare by thinking through examples of your PR work, so you can give proper concise examples. Think about the media and who you know, and 'name drop'. Don't assume that they know what you do. Make sure you do your own PR in the interview. If you don't tell them what you do and how you do it, then they won't know! 'Big yourself up'. You need to show the company how you can fit into their organisation and demonstrate the 'value add' you will bring to the company. Make sure you ask questions so you know it is right for you. Be prepared to talk about weaknesses, but think of this as areas you need training in. More advice on this is here.
The better you do, the more chance you have of getting that dream job and on the salary you want and deserve. If you undersell yourself then you have the chance of losing the dream job or being offered a low salary as the client feels they will have to train you. BE WARNED - be prepared. GOOD LUCK!
Comments:
Hi - this is really useful - thanks.
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Posts tagged: interviews (1), recruitment (10)
