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Public relations professionals often have to prepare themselves, someone in the company, or their clients for an interview. That means that you must help them to be comfortable with the material that will be covered, ready to answer any questions, and acting in a professional manner.
As the PR pro, your role is to ensure that they have the correct information to share, know what to expect, and are presentable and respectable.
Here are some things to consider when prepping yourself or your client for an interview:
- Practice. This makes a world of difference. Prepare the interviewee with possible questions and do mock-interviews. This can calm the nerves and help to foster a comfortable appearance.
- Do your homework. This can help you to be better informed about the person who will be interviewing the speaker, what they cover, and what they look for. This can also help you to better perform and to be able to give the interviewer what they were hoping to gain from the interview. Don't assume that you will know everything you need to know and don't assume that the interviewer will be your friend. Know too that they are not out to get you.
- Be personable. Use first names, smile, and talk to the interviewer. (That is why you came to the interview, after all.) Be sure to speak to the interviewer instead of to the camera, and be responsive to questions you may not have expected.
- Be honest. Truthfully answer questions, but know what is information that can be shared and which information is meant to be kept within the company. Avoid saying "no comment". While some PR pros will encourage you to say this if you need to, avoid saying so; this can raise some concerns and make you look bad. Try saying something about the topic, sharing only what you are able to share. Moreover, avoid gossip or something you don't know much about; speculating what you don't know can get you in trouble, and gossip never helped anyone's image.
- Be humble. When necessary, you need to be able to admit to mistakes. You should also know that while this is the interviewer's job, they are taking the time to talk to you, just like you are taking the time to be there. Respect their time and be sure to thank them for it.
- Be aware. Pay attention to their body language and be aware of your own. Also, be aware of your appearance; try to avoid distracting patterns and accessories and excessive make-up. Also be aware of how long you talk; pay attention to cues from the crew and the interviewer so you keep the interview the length they need it to be.
Just remember that this interview is a reflection of you as the PR professional and of the company the interviewee represents, so prep and polish them to shine on camera or the radio.
Have any tips to share from your own interview experiences? Click on this post's title and leave a comment!
Public Relations Tools | The Interview
________________________________________
Public relations professionals often have to prepare themselves, someone in the company, or their clients for an interview. That means that you must help them to be comfortable with the material that will be covered, ready to answer any questions, and acting in a professional manner.
As the PR pro, your role is to ensure that they have the correct information to share, know what to expect, and are presentable and respectable.
Here are some things to consider when prepping yourself or your client for an interview:
- Practice. This makes a world of difference. Prepare the interviewee with possible questions and do mock-interviews. This can calm the nerves and help to foster a comfortable appearance.
- Do your homework. This can help you to be better informed about the person who will be interviewing the speaker, what they cover, and what they look for. This can also help you to better perform and to be able to give the interviewer what they were hoping to gain from the interview. Don't assume that you will know everything you need to know and don't assume that the interviewer will be your friend. Know too that they are not out to get you.
- Be personable. Use first names, smile, and talk to the interviewer. (That is why you came to the interview, after all.) Be sure to speak to the interviewer instead of to the camera, and be responsive to questions you may not have expected.
- Be honest. Truthfully answer questions, but know what is information that can be shared and which information is meant to be kept within the company. Avoid saying "no comment". While some PR pros will encourage you to say this if you need to, avoid saying so; this can raise some concerns and make you look bad. Try saying something about the topic, sharing only what you are able to share. Moreover, avoid gossip or something you don't know much about; speculating what you don't know can get you in trouble, and gossip never helped anyone's image.
- Be humble. When necessary, you need to be able to admit to mistakes. You should also know that while this is the interviewer's job, they are taking the time to talk to you, just like you are taking the time to be there. Respect their time and be sure to thank them for it.
- Be aware. Pay attention to their body language and be aware of your own. Also, be aware of your appearance; try to avoid distracting patterns and accessories and excessive make-up. Also be aware of how long you talk; pay attention to cues from the crew and the interviewer so you keep the interview the length they need it to be.
Just remember that this interview is a reflection of you as the PR professional and of the company the interviewee represents, so prep and polish them to shine on camera or the radio.
Have any tips to share from your own interview experiences? Click on this post's title and leave a comment!
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