Robert was kind enough to invite me to participate in one of his PR Quest podcasts last week. About halfway through the podcast, he asked if I had any favorite interview questions for entry-level candidates. This got me thinking (very dangerous, I know!) that it might be worthwhile to elaborate on how I usually go about interviewing people for junior-level positions.
I imagine all of us Marcomblog contributors have 3-4 questions/techniques we like to use so if everyone else is game, perhaps we can get a list going.
As for me:
*I usually start off by explaining my role with the company and giving a 2-minute snapshot of my background. I then turn it around and ask the “interviewee” to do the same. What am I looking for? A concise answer, what experiences/traits/accomplishments he/she decides to highlight, etc.
*I always ask entry-level candidates to describe what my company does and why they are interested in joining the team. When I was on the agency side, I also asked if any clients seemed to stand out as particularly intriguing. Needless to say, I’m checking to see whether the person actually took the time to do any research on the company/clients. (You’d be surprised at how many candidates don’t do well on this question.)
*I’ll often take this one step further and ask candidates why they are interested in working for a technology company and/or why they think a career in high-tech marketing/PR is the right move. Simple as it may seem, I’ve found this question to be very helpful in determining how tech savvy and motivated the person is. The people who stand out usually express an interest in new advancements in technology or getting a “sneak peak” at products or services before they hit the market.
*I almost always ask what types of publications (print and/or online) candidates read. I’m not necessarily looking for Forbes or Fortune here, but it helps me figure out whether the person is tuned in to current events.
I also ask a few of the standard questions (what are you good at, what was your biggest achievement/failure, etc.). It’s amazing how often the question “what aren’t you good at?” still trips people up (even the more experienced ones). ALWAYS come to an interview with an answer prepared for a question like this. Your best bet (in my opinion) is to pick a skill you wouldn’t necessarily be expected to have yet and spin it into an area you’d like to refine. For instance, I wouldn’t expect an entry-level candidate to have much experience managing others, so I would be very satisfied with someone who told me that this was a skill they’d like to develop.
Now, one item I don’t think I touched on during the podcast is interview pet peeves. Aside from the obvious frustration caused by folks coming to interviews completely unprepared, I really only have one. It absolutely, positively sets my teeth on edge to hear someone say they are interested in PR because they are a “people person.” Please do NOT come to an interview and tell me this. (In case you think I’m being a bit harsh here, ask a few other PR pros. Most will agree that this is a definite “interview don’t.”)
Okay, would anyone else like to jump in here with more questions or suggestions?
5 comments
7/6/2005 at 11:47 pm
Makenzi
Even though I consider myself an “experienced” interviewer, you can never get too much interview advice. Now that I am beginning to interview for my first job post-college, your tips will be put to good use!
I have also been told time and time again never to label yourself as a “people person.” In my opinion this is just meaningless rhetoric. For you to emphasize this as a pet peeve reinforces that this response is an interview don’t.
Thanks again for taking time to share your interview insights.
7/18/2005 at 11:39 pm
Jeremy Pepper
My favorite question to trip someone up with is usually something based on a past comment during the interview, brought up again during the end. It intimidates the interviewee, because it shows you are really listening.
7/27/2005 at 12:52 pm
Laurie
Thanks so much for the tips. I will deifnitely be using them when I begin interviewing for jobs this fall. When interviewing for my internship this fall I was asked similar questions, but the interview was not formal. These will definitely give me an example of what to expect and what to be prepared for. Thanks again!
8/25/2005 at 5:12 pm
Diana
The interview questions that you stated above sound very familiar to previous interview questions that I have received. When interviewing for my internship with Adam Friedman Associates this spring, one of the first questions that I was asked was,”What book are you reading?” Thankfully, I was reading a book at the time, although I don’t think my interviewer recognized the title. I was then asked about how I feel about certain current issues such as Terry Chaivo.
At the time, I did not see the relevance in the questions that I was asked. Teachers have told me time and again the importance of reading the newspaper but, I never fully understood. The day I began my internship, I started to see what my teachers had been telling me all along. For atleast an hour every day, I had to read the Wall Street Journal. For the most part, since many of our clients were from China, I read the China section day after day. I began to realize that the events such as the Chinese bid on an American oil factory affected our clients opinions of the US. It was important for all of us at the agency to keep up to date with the opinions of our clients so that we can make sure we calm their fears or questions about American investment.
Since my internship, I still make an attempt to read/watch the news everyday. The Today Show, Wall Street Journal and New York Times have become my all time favorites.
9/1/2005 at 3:47 pm
Mallory
This is a great list of what to expect in interviews. I have had a few interviews for my internship next summer and I was asked very similar questions to the ones you listed. The interviews I’ve had so far have been fairly informal and not as intimidating as I had expected.
One thing you mentioned as being some of the most important questions you ask an interviewee is about your company. I think those are the most important questions you can ask. I believe you shouldn’t interview with a company unless you have researched what they do and what you could do for them. If you have researched the company and believe that you, and they, would benefit from your being a part of it, that attitude will shine through in your interview.
I had never heard not to call yourself a “people person” in an interview. I can understand how that would become trite and a cliche for public relations people to describe themselves that way. I will keep that in mind and find more interesting and descriptive ways to identify myself.
The tips you mentioned are wonderful and will help everyone out when they interview for their internships and jobs in the future. Thank you for taking the time to make that list and help all of us become better interviewees.