Interview Etiquette

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Interview Etiquette

• Cal Poly PRSSA
• January 26, 2010

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Ron Culp, Ketchum PR

• The Ill do anything attitude is important
  right out of school.
• Dont be afraid to say that I want this job
  more than anything.
• It is important, especially during the interview,
  to be able to project. If you have no confidence,
  then the interviewer will have no confidence that
  you can sell his clients products and services.
• Demonstrate your ability to multitask,
  communicate in all forms, organize and work on a
  deadline.
• The job is not about you, but what you can do for
  the company.

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Here are several tips for your interviews

• Practice for the interview. Prepare an answer for
  questions, i.e. Tell me about a time when a
  customer was disgruntled, What is your
  weakness
• Research the company before you apply. Ask
  questions that demonstrate that knowledge during
  the interview.
• Send thank you notes! i.e. Thank you so much for
  interviewing me yesterday. I am excited at the
  possibility of working for _(name of company)_.

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Be Informed, Positive, Dress for Success

• Have a firm hand shake and appropriate interview
  attire 
• Avoid any criticism of previous employers
• Avoid appearing desperate
• Bottom line  Wardrobe does matter. 

5
Start from the Bottom

• Undergrad Interns Rare at Major Agencies
• Ron Culp, Ketchum PR
• Paid internships are becoming rare
  for undergraduates since major agencies have a
  wide choice of candidates among college
  graduates.
• Internships for college graduates have
  become the common starting point for entry-level
  positions, which is a change from a few years ago
  when it was possible to land a full-time job
  right out of college.

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A few mistakes often made by interviewees

• Professor Bill Adams, APR, Fellow PRSA, May 1999,
  PRSA Tactics
• The biggest mistakes
• Deciding to wing it. If the competition is
  prepared and youre not, guess who gets the job?
• Focusing on salary.
• Emphasizing your traits over your skills.
• Failure to answer questions.

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Phone Interview Tips

• Go somewhere quiet with reliable service
• Have a glass of water
• Keep your resume close by
• Have access to a computer
• Talk slowly, be awake and be prepared!

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The Top 10 Characteristics for Entry-Level
Practitioners

• Strong sense of empathy.
• Being a good listener.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Willingness to start at the bottom
• Skill in writing and a mastery of English usage.
• Maturity in self-expression and oral skills.
• Ability to organize and edit information.
• Maturity in grooming and appearance.
• A good manager of personal time.
• Experience in community service.