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Department of Jounalism
California State University, Chico

 
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The Art of Interviewing

For many students, the interview is the scariest part of the job hunting process. It shouldn't be. With good preparation and a significant dose of self-analysis and company research, the interview process should go smoothly. Think of interviewing more like having great conversations with interesting people, rather than an occassion for you to get grilled.

Two key pieces of advice
1) Be certain that you think of interviews as two-way communication. The company is trying to find out if you're a good fit for it. You also have to determine if the company is a good fit for you. To do that, you need to ask lots of questions and really get a feel for the culture of the organization.
2) Every interaction you have with a company is a form of interviewing. Whether you are greeting the receptionist or talking to the HR director over the phone, every interaction with a company matters and may influence the company's hiring decision.

There is a wealth of information online about questions to be prepared for and the Career Center has a good list as well. Some questions specific to PR positions you should be prepared for include:
-What are you reading right now?
-Tell me about a news story you read today and the role PR plays in it.
-How do you define PR?
How is PR different from marketing or advertising?
-Why do you like PR?
-What are the biggest challenges PR in this industry must address?

 
 

 

Some Articles About Interviewing
The return of the interview suit

The best questions to ask in an interview

8 Worst Things to Say in an Interview

You're not getting the job — 25 reasons why.

Say "hmmm" to the first salary offer

What will the class of 2008 earn?

 How to answer 10 tough interview questions


Web sites to explore:
Interview Up!
Ace the Interview
Career Lab
Prepping for the Phone Interview (Blog)