5 Things I've Learned About Interviews

Interviews can seem daunting and nerve-racking. However, after doing multiple interviews throughout my college career for internships and being an interviewer for my radio show, I’ve come to enjoy them. Here are some of my tips for job and internship interviews so hopefully your fear subsides.

1. Tailor your notes to the position

Employers want to hear about what you’ve done, but more importantly, how you can transfer it to the job/internship they’re hiring for. My advice is to tailor your notes for the interview to the position. For example, if you are interviewing for a non-profit organization in Philadelphia, you would want to mention your time in PRowl where you were on a non-profit’s account.

Get very specific in your notes about what you achieved in your previous positions and what tasks you did. Putting yourself in the employer’s shoes and thinking about what you would want to know about a potential employee is helpful, too.

2. Know your experience inside and out

I’ve had interviews where employers ask general questions about my experience (“What have you done in social media/pitching/writing?”) and I fill in what I feel is most applicable to the position. Others had questions about how I completed the specific tasks and projects I listed on my resume. Be prepared for both, plus the infamous “tell me about yourself” question!

3. Connect with the interviewer as a person

I know you hear this all the time, but an interview should be a conversation. I’ve learned this the most through my radio show. Sticking to the questions word-for-word and not reacting to my interviewees’ answers makes for a stiff and very short interview.

Even a minute or two of talking about the interviewer’s favorite aspect of PR, where you both went to school, what you’ve both been up to with hobbies or TV shows, is enough to make that connection. Also, you and the interviewer already have one thing in common: your career interests!

4. Have your own questions

At the end of each interview, they will typically ask if you have any questions, and you should have at least one. I always have one or two prepared based on my research of the organization and position.

You’ll probably have a question about something they mention when talking about their organization or the position itself. Depending on where the conversation is going, ask it as it pops up, or at the end of the interview.

There are some go-to questions (What would a day-to-day look like in this position? Are there opportunities for advancement in this position?), to have just in case.

5. Ask for help

I have to admit, I’m not the best at this one, but I’m getting better.

First off, when you’re doing research on the organization, Google “(name of organization) interview process/questions.” Sometimes people who have been interviewed for positions at that organization share their experience and possibly the interview questions on Indeed or Glassdoor.

If you know someone who has interviewed or interned at the organization before, ask them what the interview process was like. They’ll most likely be honest about their experience and give you advice.

Interviews aren’t easy. Reading articles and blogs like this one can definitely help you out. However, a lot of what I’ve learned was from being thrown into the fire and just doing multiple interviews, but that is also a good thing. You’ll realize what your baseline is for an interview, and assess how you can improve from there.

This blog was written by Caitlin McGeehan, Vice President.

Member Monday

Happy Monday! This week we're recognizing Khalia Horton for her involvement in our chapter!

Q: What year are you?

A: Sophomore

Q: What is your major/minor?

A: Public Relations with a minor in International Business (Marketing)

Q: Where are you from?

A: Washington, DC

Q: How long have you been a member of PRSSA?

A: Joined this spring!

Q: Why do you love PRSSA? What do you hope to get out of it?

A: I love PRSSA because each meeting I feel as though I learn new editing techniques and gain real-world PR experience. I hope to be able to make new friends and gain valuable advice and skills to help me after graduation!

Q: What committee are you a part of? What have you done with this committee?

A: Digital Committee, created the Women's History Month Guest Speaker and Tip Tuesday posts

Q: What PRSSA events have you participated in?

A: I have participated in various speaker events to gain knowledge and make connections within my industry.

Q: What other TU organizations are you a part of?

A: PRowl, Dare to Dance, TUPAC, TU Music Business Club, BSU

Q: Coolest place you’ve ever traveled to?

A: Seoul, South Korea and Spain

Q: Favorite social media platform and why?

A: Twitter and Tik Tok, I love to connect with people with similar interest and plus it makes me laugh.

Q: Dream job?

A: Talent Acquisitions Manager for a Music label, Dancer/Artist myself

5 AP Style Recommendations You May Not Know

Almost every PR professional knows the AP Stylebook and how difficult it can be to remember all its rules and conditions. It seems like the rules can change as quickly as the news cycle. After scouring tweets within the past year from the AP Stylebook Twitter account and cross referencing with the stylebook that is bookmarked on my laptop, here are five recommendations PR students and professionals may not know.

When to use climate change and global warming

The AP Stylebook says that these two terms are not interchangeable and their use depends on the context. Climate change describes the various effects caused by increases in greenhouse gases, which includes extreme weather, storms and ocean acidification. Global warming is just one aspect of climate change, so it’s important to recognize how and when to use these words.

Avoid the term “committed suicide”

Saying someone committed suicide implies a criminal or sinful act, and topics involving suicide should be written with sensitive language. Instead, say someone “died by suicide” or “took their own life.” This recommendation can also apply to language that should be used during informal conversations in the workplace or in other professional settings.

How to write about illegal immigration

The AP Stylebook recommends only to use the word “illegal” to talk about an action, not a person. Don’t describe a group of people as “illegals” or “aliens.” It is better to say someone entered a country illegally or without legal permission. Using this terminology when writing about illegal immigration helps keep writing neutral while being senstive to individuals.

How to describe someone who cannot walk

According to the AP Stylebook Twitter, do not say someone is confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair-bound. Instead, say someone uses a wheelchair for independent mobility. Only talk about someone’s need for a wheelchair if it's relevant to the story or conversation. AP style has similar recommendations for writing about other types of disabilities as well.

Writing about drug addiction

When writing about individuals who suffer from drug addictions, AP style recommends avoiding the word “clean” unless it’s in direct quotations. This is because the word implies a previous state of dirtiness instead of an actual disease that many people suffer from. Drug addiction has many stigmas attached to it, including that it is not a real disease, and it is important to keep that in mind when writing or talking about substance abuse.

This blog was written by Angela Tessitore, Director of Diversity and Inclusion.