9 tips for mastering the PR internship interview

A nicely laid out résumé and a sharp outfit can certainly help you land that first gig in PR, but neither of those things will make up for not doing your homework.

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I have had a good many formal and mock interviews with companies within the PR and marketing industries this semester, so I’ve compiled the following interviewing advice for PR students looking to land that coveted internship:

1. Know the PR field.

You should be able to converse with an interviewer about the public relations field. Survey the job description for keywords that may not sound familiar. Look those words up. Subscribe to PR blogs and websites that cover what is going on in the PR field. It will make you sound good, and it will help you answer interview questions more intelligently and thoroughly.

For example, if an interviewer asks about how you would publicize a new gadget, you need to be able to pinpoint relevant modes of communication and explain why they are relevant to that gadget. Did you mention how you can contact bloggers to review the item? Everyone is going to suggest a press release, but it is important to know emerging trends in the PR industry, such as reaching out to bloggers.

2. Know about the company.

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