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Any mid to senior PR or marketing people?

3 replies

stuckonabarbedwirefence · 31/08/2017 13:48

Hi, I've got an interview next week for a fairly senior PR manager role.

I really want the job and plan to put in some heavy research and question practice over the weekend!

Can anyone give me any examples of questions I'm likely to be asked?

The last interview I had was for a mat cover and it was pretty informal. Before that, probably 10 years ago and I can't remember!

Thanks

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WorkingBling · 31/08/2017 13:56

Your information is too vague. If I was hiring, I would want examples of specific work and campaigns being managed. I'd want a good sense of how you work with clients (internal or external). If the role includes managing people I'd want to know how you approach management and performance issues.

You're likely to be asked about journalist contacts so be prepared to know who is big in their space. Try to relate it back to their current activities, "I see that journalist x has been writing a lot about your HR policies recently. I know him quite well so was pleased to see you obviously speak with him." [that is the most simplistic response ever, but hopefully you get the idea].

I'd also expect to be asked my views on the corporate's PR/ reputation/ media approach currently. You should have a view on what you think they are doing and whether it's working. Clearly, if you think they are terrible, don't be negative. But you need to be able to discuss authoritatively what you think they are doing and where you would be interested to see new things.

They might ask you what you think they should do differently or publications/ journalists you think they should meet (or they might be subtly trying to find out if you understand who their target market is and will expect you to reference the reporters they probably already know as well as any others).

Personally, but this might just be me, I'd want to know what kind of story angles you think we should be working on and I'd ask you about what you see as the big issues/challenges/themes for our industry from a media perspective.

If you're going to be working with a PR agency already in situ I'd ask if you know the agency. I'd also want to know what experience you have working with PR agencies as the in house person.

I'd want to know your approach to crisis communication and what you recommend in situation x or y.

This is all just off the top of my head.

WorkingBling · 31/08/2017 14:00

Oh, and one more important thing, if I'm hiring for a senior role I need to know that you have experience and ideas, but these are balanced with an understanding of the industry and the company and any sensitivities that might arise. So, for example if you are applying to work for a bank I'd expect you to temper any of your suggestions or comments with an understanding of how nervous and cautious banks are these days, particularly in the context of regulation. If your industry is known for having prima donna management teams, I want to know that you can work within those parameters. If your industry is known to be extremely bureaucratic I would want to be confident that you understand that and can work within that.

i.e. at a senior level, I don't want someone who is all ideas and fire and great journalist relationships but who can't work with the very senior people you'll be dealing with day to day.

stuckonabarbedwirefence · 31/08/2017 17:06

Thanks WorkingBling. That's really really useful.

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