Questions That Will Help you Ace the End of the Interview

So you’ve made it over the first hurdle, you secured yourself an interview, did all of your research and aced all of the questions your interviewer had. Now, it’s your turn. At the end of the interview, there is always the dreaded “do you have any questions?” question that many applicants walk in unprepared for. This moment is just as important as the questions the interviewer asks because it is your chance to make sure they are a great fit for you, not just you for them. Here is a list of questions that give the interviewer the chance to really breakdown the organization to you: 

1.Can you give me some examples of what a typical day would look like in this position? 

Asking this question can get you truly prepared for what is to come. The worst feelings is arriving at a new job and realizing you are in over your head, or that you are walking into a position you won’t utilize all yours skills.

2.Where do you think the company is headed in the next 5 years?

This question not only shows that you are interested in the well-being of the company long-term, but also that you can compare your goals to where this job may progress to. 

3.What do you like best about working for this company?

This helps decipher the kind of atmosphere you are about to get into. For instance, if the interviewer were to respond that they love the laidback vibe all the managers give and you are someone who needs an authoritarian figure, this may not be the place for you.

4.What are the opportunities for growth and career advancement?

This question serves two purposes. One- It helps you to understand where the job may 

lead and the skills you might acquire. Two-it also signals that you are ambitious and thinking ahead.

5.Why did you come to work here? What keeps you here?
When you ask questions directly about the interviewer, they remember that you care about them as a person, not just the potential paycheck that could come from meeting them.

The saying goes that if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life. These questions can give you insight into more than just a job description. They benefit both parties involved. You can see if this is somewhere you would want to work, as well as show the interviewer you are a strong candidate for the position they are trying to fill. 

Is It Time To Pay Up?

Until I started searching for internships at the end of my freshman semester, I hadn’t put much thought into paid versus unpaid internships. As my search began however, I quickly discovered most internship opportunities, at least for PR, don’t offer compensation. Although there is an abundance that will gladly provide you with college credit, there is a huge absence of paid internships.

The debate over paid versus unpaid internships continues to rage in the United States and United Kingdom where hundreds of thousands of college students are not receiving fair compensation for they work they do. An incident that occurred just last month has further fuelled this debate. Arcadia, the company that owns popular fashion brands including TopShop, sent dozens of its former Public Relations interns backdated payments.

In the United States where the prevalence of internships has been growing rapidly, it is estimated that $600 million dollars is saved by the U.S. firms employing unpaid interns. Although there is no official count of how many unpaid interns there are throughout the country there is evidence that supports the idea that the number of unpaid internships are on the rise.

According to its set of guidelines, recommendations and best practices, PRSA believes it’s “ethically improper to employ anyone who adds real value to a public relations agency or department without compensating them for their work – whether that compensation is monetary or in the form of educational credits. If billable work is being performed by an intern, he or she deserves some form of legal compensation.”

Does this mean that there will eventually be a movement to abolish the use of unpaid interns? Personally, I don’t think so. But it is nice to hear that this issue is gaining some attention.

Rebranding Gone Bad

JCPenny's CEO  Ron Johnson thought he was on to something when he mustered up their new branding campaign which focused on "No more games, no more gimmicks, just great prices".

 

Consumers who have visited the store since their campaign launch in February 2012 have reported that JCP's 'Best Prices' are comparatively higher than other department stores with prices higher now than before their new efforts.

 

JCP's Facebook comments are currently 80 percent negative according to Business Insider. With a 20 percent decline in the first quarter, analyst are saying that the department store won't last.

 

Beside this being a rebranding disaster, the popular department store did not full fill on their advertised promotion, "Fair and Square Pricing".

 

Along with not delivering on their promise to customers, JCP failed to do any market research according to PR News Wire. JCP specifically deleted the word "sale" from any promotional material which research has shown is the MOST effective way to drive sales.

 

The only good news is JCP senior management has recognize the steady decline and are working to improve.

 

What PR steps would you take to turn JCP sales and image around?

The Perfect Pre-Vacation Check List

With summer in full swing, everyone is packing their bags, fleeing the office, and headed to the beach. Many PR professionals work long hours, including weekends and holidays. Depending on the setting you work in, your clients may be used to having you on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While taking vacation time is necessary and more than anticipated, it’s important to make sure you leave your work in a state that you would be happy coming back to. Here is a checklist that you can reference before you trade your business suit for a bathing suit:

1. Let clients know you’re leaving: You don’t want clients to feel as though you are rejecting or ignoring them. Send each of your clients an email or give them a phone call letting them know when you’re leaving and for how long.

2. Clear your “To-Do” list: Don’t leave tasks with looming deadlines unattended while you are away. This will only make the first days after your vacation stressful and full of pressure. Make a list of everything you have to do and complete everything before you leave the office.

3. Make sure your co-workers know you’re leaving: When one person leaves the office, work often has to be redistributed among other employees. Be sure to let your co-workers know how long you will be gone so that they can make necessary adjustments.

4. Set up a contact plan: Even though this is your time to relax, there is always the chance that something will come up. Be sure to let people know the best way to reach you, just in case.

Once you’ve checked off all of these items, you can go on to enjoy a great, stress free vacation.

Tried & True PR Rules for the Age of Social Media

It's easy to get caught up on a social media whirlwind, when working in the PR industry. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., all of these sites are taking more and more of an important stance in the world. We're taught to utilize social media, and it's no surprise when we find ourselves relying on technology. But the truth is, new is not always better. Below are tips to avoid social media blunders by falling back on the tried and true:

1. Build personal relationships: It's important to connect with journalists and bloggers via social media. But how many times do you remember pitches you received via the computer over personal ones? You are more likely to retain information you have heard in person, not to mention make more of an impression on the journalist you are trying to gain coverage from. While you shouldn't nix social media, try to reach out during events by asking the host for their media list and personally connecting with journalists and bloggers. 
2. Make every contact worthwhile: Press releases pitched over Twitter are equivalently received as spam. Reach out to contacts individually, and offer and "exclusive". Journalists are far more likely to pick up a story when they're the first and when the topic is the most newsworthy.
3. Never make social media your crisis response bureau: Social media is a great tool during a crisis. It can help you to get the message out quickly and to a wide audience. But don't make Twitter your only crisis response. Gather up a crisis response team who will be able to create the most effective response plan possible, and who will be able to minimize mixed signals and negative press.

What are some old school PR tactics that you find yourself using in today's day and age? Do you have anything to add? Let us know!

Common Misconceptions of Public Relations

Being home for summer vacation means running into old family, friends, and acquaintances who love to ask me what I am studying at school. When I say public relations, I get a few different responses. Sometimes, it is a simply a vague, “oh, how nice,” and other times I get, “Oh, you are a spin doctor, all press is good press!” and more often I get, “Oh, so you are studying communications.” When I go on to explain what PR really is, the stigma and common misconceptions do not change.

The view of PR professionals as “spin doctors” is a hard common misconception to correct, especially with the TV show The Spin Crowd and other PR focused shows such as Kell on Earth and PR. The Spin Crowd follows Jonathan Cheban who is the head of Command PR as they open new offices in LA. This show portrays PR professionals as part of the “spindustry” who focus solely on large-scale parties, celebrities and their images. It even gets personal when Cheban pressures an employee to get plastic surgery to fit the Hollywood image. Kell on Earth focuses on powerhouse Kelly Cutrone, and further adds to the stereotypes of PR.  The employees at People’s Revolution wear only black, work high-end fashion shows, and have a jet set life, complete with celebrity connections and “A” list parties. Finally, the short-lived TV series PR needs no other explanation other than their tagline was, “You know they’re lying when their lips move”. This tagline alone reinforces the misconceptions that are often associated with PR, making it harder to explain with every TV show focused on the topic. 

When I say I am studying public relations, it is difficult to explain how I do not want to do fashion PR, I wear colors other than black and I do, in fact, tell the truth. I make sure to specify that it is not generic communications and truly identify what I want to do and the work it will entail - not planning celebrities’ parties and lying to get to the top.

How do you explain public relations to your family and friends? 


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Brianna Rooney

PR Job Search Tactics

Finding the perfect job is no easy feat. It can be challenging finding ways to stand out, especially in an economy that has left thousands of qualified individuals jobless. However, the PR job outlook is strong. According to an infographic by Peak Communications Inc., there will be a 24 percent growth in PR jobs within the next six years. Even though more jobs are being created, there are many job-hunting tactics to help you land that new position in PR.

1. Be Social Media Savvy. According to PR agency CEO, Jeff Domansky, 52 percent of new graduates found their first job through social media. Building a positive online presence through Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook will show employers how effective you are at using social media, a skill that is essential to any PR professional. It is important to be strategic while maintaining your social media accounts. Be mindful of foul language, TMI and posting inappropriate pictures that would poorly depict you to a possible employer.
2. Be Proactive. As a job-hunter, it is important to stay on the daily grind of Google searching and job board scanning. The PR industry has targeted job boards such as the PRSA job center to help you with your job search. In addition to using job boards and Google, it is also helpful to look at individual company websites as well as search engines such as Indeed.com, Monster.com and MediaBistro.com.
3. Network. Joining professional organizations such as PRSSA and PRSA will expose you to professionals in the PR world that can help grow your network. Acquiring mentors, industry contacts, allies and leaders in the public relations world is essential to propel you to success as a PR mogul.
4. Do Your Research. If you have successfully landed an interview, it is imperative that you research the company and the person you will be interviewing with. The more you know about the company and job, the easier you will be able to show why you are the perfect candidate. Come prepared with specific questions to prove your interest in the position.
5. Follow-Up. According to Peak Communications Inc.’s inforgraphic, 100 percent of interviewers expect a thank you note after a formal interview. A little handwritten thank you card goes a long way. It adds a personal touch and usually elicits a favorable response. 

Do you have any additional tips? Let us know!


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Samantha Miller