Public Relations Interview Preparation

Practise Public Relations Mock Interview Online
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Public Relations Interview Prep

1 Free Guide Here

Read this free guide below with common Public Relations interview questions

2 Mock Video Interview

Mock video interview with our virtual recruiter online.

3 Evaluation

Our professional HRs will give a detailed evaluation of your interview.

4 Feedback

You will get detailed, personalized, strategic feedback on areas of strength and of improvement.

Expert Tip

Be Positive

Maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview. Even when discussing challenges or difficulties, frame them in a way that shows your ability to find solutions and overcome adversity.

Top 20 Public Relations Interview Questions and Answers

Public relations professionals are responsible for managing a company's communication with the public. They create strategies to build a positive brand image, engage with customers and stakeholders, and handle crisis situations. If you're interviewing for a public relations position, here are the top 20 interview questions and answers to get you started.

1. What experience do you have in public relations?

Answer: Talk about your relevant work experience, including any internships or entry-level roles in PR. Discuss the campaigns or projects you worked on, and highlight any measurable results you achieved.

2. What do you know about our company and industry?

Answer: Do your research and learn about the company and its industry before the interview. Discuss what you know, and show your enthusiasm for the job and industry.

3. How do you manage stakeholders' expectations?

Answer: Explain how you communicate with stakeholders, set expectations, and follow through on commitments. Give examples of how you have successfully managed stakeholders in the past.

4. How do you measure the effectiveness of a PR campaign?

Answer: Discuss the metrics you use to measure the success of a campaign, such as media coverage, social media engagement, website traffic, and customer feedback.

5. How do you handle negative feedback or a crisis situation?

Answer: Explain how you approach crisis communications, including creating a plan and messaging, monitoring the situation, and responding swiftly and transparently.

6. How do you stay up-to-date on industry trends and news?

Answer: Talk about your methods for staying informed, such as attending conferences, reading industry publications, and networking with peers.

7. How do you prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines?

Answer: Explain how you organize your workload, prioritize tasks, and use project management tools to meet deadlines.

8. How do you adapt your communication style to different audiences?

Answer: Discuss how you tailor your messaging and tone to different audiences, such as customers, stakeholders, and executives.

9. What is your biggest PR success story?

Answer: Share a story of a campaign or project you worked on that achieved significant results, such as increased media coverage, improved reputation, or increased sales/leads.

10. How do you work with journalists and media outlets?

Answer: Discuss your methods for building relationships with journalists, pitching stories, and coordinating interviews and coverage.

11. What social media platforms do you specialize in?

Answer: Discuss your knowledge and experience in social media platforms, including which ones you specialize in and how you use them for PR campaigns.

12. How do you handle confidential information?

Answer: Explain your experience in handling confidential information, your adherence to company policies, and your security measures to protect sensitive information.

13. How do you balance objectives between different departments and stakeholders?

Answer: Discuss how you prioritize and communicate to balance competing objectives among various departments and stakeholders.

14. How do you measure the ROI of a PR campaign?

Answer: Discuss how you determine the return on investment of a PR campaign, including the monetary value of media coverage, leads, and sales.

15. Can you give an example of a time when you had to persuade a reluctant stakeholder?

Answer: Discuss how you convinced a stakeholder to support a campaign or project, including the methods you used to persuade them and the outcome of your efforts.

16. How do you handle a situation when you disagree with a superior's approach to handling a PR situation?

Answer: Discuss how you approach communicating with a superior and suggesting alternative approaches while maintaining a positive relationship.

17. What's your process for creating a PR plan?

Answer: Explain our process for gathering research, identifying objectives, creating messaging, developing tactics and executing the plan.

18. Can you recall a marketing initiative that you recommended that was later rejected?

Answer: Explain how you responded – how you went about requesting feedback and weighing alternatives in order to improve your recommendations.

19. What actions would you take if a client didn’t agree with your communication strategies and content?

Answer: Explain as to tell the client that their input is taken into account while assuring of the effectiveness of the communication strategy and content.

20. Can you give an example of how you used social media tools and apps to engage effectively with a brand’s target audience?

Answer: Give an example of a time where you used tools such as Hootsuite or Buffer to measure the success of the social media campaign or tool such as Instagram to promote the brand to a targeted audience. Describe al the processes involved in the minute detail.

With these top 20 public relations interview questions and answers, you'll be well on your way to success in your next public relations interview. Remember, always come prepared and highlight your relevant skills and experiences using real-life examples.


How to Prepare for Public Relations Interview

A public relations job is a highly competitive and demanding field. There are various functions of a PR professional, including media relations, event management, crisis communication, and social media management, among others. If you are planning to take up a public relations job or have already applied for it, then it demands proper preparation to face an interview.

Below are the top ways to prepare yourself for a public relations interview:

  • Research the company thoroughly: Before attending the interview, you must research the company you have applied for. You need to have a thorough understanding of the company's vision, mission, values, and goals. To assess the company's previous PR campaigns, you should check out their press releases, social media, blogs, and news articles.
  • Polishing your verbal and non-verbal communication skills: Public relations demand excellent communication skills. You must be an effective communicator both verbally and non-verbally. It would be best to practice your communication skills in front of a mirror before the interview. Also, make eye contact while answering questions asked during the interview.
  • Get acquainted with PR's common terminology: A public relations job demands you to have in-depth knowledge about the PR terminology. So, you must have a clear understanding of terms like, Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE), Benchmarks, Bottom Line, and more.
  • Create a portfolio: Before attending the interview, It is crucial to create a portfolio of your previous PR works, campaigns, or projects to showcase your skills and experience.
  • Be prepared for common PR questions: During the PR interview, you might face some standard questions. Be prepared to answer questions like your strengths, weaknesses, why you chose PR, what is your idea about PR, etc. Practice answering these questions beforehand.
  • Dress appropriately: Your appearance plays a crucial role in the interview. So make sure to dress appropriately and professionally for the interview. You should avoid formal wear and choose business attire.
  • Stay updated with current events: One of the most important qualities of a public relations expert is staying abreast of current events. Reading magazines, newspaper articles, and blogs on current events could help you have insightful opinions during the interview.
  • In conclusion, preparation is the key to crack a public relationship interview. You must invest enough time and effort in researching the company, honing your communication skills, polishing your PR terminology, creating a portfolio, preparing answers to frequently asked questions, dressing appropriately, and staying updated with current events.

    Common Interview Mistake

    Not Relating Your Skills to the Job

    Failing to relate your skills and experiences to the role can make it hard for the interviewer to see your fit. Use examples that directly tie your skills to the job requirements.