I received an exciting phone call Monday. It was a PR agency responding to my application to become their intern! I was way to excited. They wanted to have a phone interview with me, which was today. I did all the things that I know I’m supposed to: write down the answers to the common questions that interviewers ask you and have my own questions prepared. Yes, in an interview not only are they trying to learn about you, but you need to learn about them. Actually, you should research the company before hand because they will ask you “What do you know about our company?”
The interview went well. There were parts that I stumbled on. I was so focused on not saying “um,” especially at the beginning of a sentence. I don’t think that’s attractive. What did I stumble on? Well, it was enough to make me slap myself in the forehead. First, she asked me what my hobbies were. I wasn’t expecting that question. Out of the hundred job applications that I have filled out and the few interviews that I have been in pre-recent grad life, I have never been asked that question. I like that the interviewer asked that. It shows that they are interested in you as a person, not just an employee. Who wants to work with someone who’s boring? Well, I blanked and forgot what my hobbies were. I think i kept saying traveling which is a hobby of mine. In case you were wondering, I LOVE to read, I play the piano, and I blow in a flute (notice I didn’t say play. Long sad story). The next question that I stumbled on, which I advise you strive to do the opposite of what I did, was the question “What do you know about our company?”Now, I looked at their website for 30 minutes and wrote down all that I wanted to remember. Why when she asked I completely blanked? Don’t ask because your guess is as good as mine.
In the end, I’m confident that the answers that I gave were good enough to make up for that. Plus, I know that if I am meant to have this job, it’s already mine. I just pray about and put my confidence in the Lord that He’ll make up for what I messed up. The position is in Oklahoma. The good news is that’s my hometown (GO SOONERS), and I have someplace to stay if I get accepted. All I need is the phone call, a time frame, and I will hit the road!
Here are some questions that I was asked so you can WRITE DOWN the answers you would give:
- What are your hobbies?
- What are your pet peeves?
- What do you see in the future for this industry?
- What made you want to go into PR? Did you study it all through college?
- What other experiences in public relations that are non-academic?
- Do you work well under pressure?
- Do you prefer to work independently or with a team?
Here are the questions that I asked the interviewer:
- What is your history with the company
- What do you look for in an intern or employee?
- How is the working environment at ________?
- What do you like about your job?
- What opportunities would be available to me in the future, if I were hired?
- What is your advice on the best strategy for an incoming intern?
- I see that ________ has a lot of achievements and I see recently in the news that the company did (event)? Is the company working towards other achievements or is it focusing on this event right now?
The answers to these question are highly beneficial you learn so much about the company and the person who is interviewing you. I wish I had remembered to ask the interviewer if there were any improvements that I could make on my resume, cover letter, and website. Make sure you add that to your list of questions.
What questions have you been asked? What questions do you ask interviewers? What mistakes did you make in an interview that we should all be warned about? Comment below and let us know!
The PR Sho 