Let's talk about tips for interviewing. You've got your LinkedIn polished, it represents you well. Your brand positioning reflects your brand and it's clear what your strengths are and what you bring to the table. You have been networking and doing everything right. Well, now it's time for the interview. It's important that you thoroughly prepare before attending the interview. Of course this is a bit implied, but let's talk about what this really means. First, you should do your homework. That means scour the company's website, learn everything you can about the company. Read the mission statement, try to identify the C suite, who is the leadership. If this is an agency, you'll want to look at the client list, see who the agency represents and what sectors the clients are in. Maybe do a google news search to see if the company has been in recent headlines. Do the same for the client list. You really want to get a feel for what you'll be asked to do and what the company is all about. Check out the company's social media channels, use LinkedIn to identify some employees. Look for commonalities and things you can use in the interview to show that you've done your homework. I also recommend going to google and searching for interview questions. Just google public relations interview questions or something like that. Sit in front of a mirror and practice saying the questions and answers out loud. I like to say it out loud because sometimes the answer we think in our head, it doesn't come out of our mouths the same way. It is important that you become comfortable saying your answer. Most employers are going to ask you about a difficult situation or a teammate that did not contribute. You should already have ready to go examples for these kinds of questions. You know you'll be asked, so why not formulate a strong answer ahead of the interview? I highly encourage you to practice out loud. You are the driver of your brand story. So you use the interview as an opportunity to highlight certain skill sets or experiences that demonstrate what is desired. Having a rich conversation in the interview, that's the goal. Many employers want intellectual curiosity, that's the natural drive to acquire knowledge. You aren't being forced, you are just naturally curious, that shows motivation and drive. Demonstrate that you have intellectual curiosity by bringing up that news search or connecting with the interviewee over home states or a shared connection. These are the details that will win you the job. Next, you should always ask questions. This is not the time to ask about salary and benefits. No, no, that's presumptuous. Instead you want to ask questions about the company, may be about the internal culture. Maybe you ask about a particular strategy or campaign execution, ask about where the company sees itself in five years. Ask questions that demonstrate you have thought about working there. Remember, most people like to talk about themselves and their accomplishments. So ask, finally, you should always send a thank you. You should have a card already ready in your car, go back, fill in some personalized details from the interview and drop it in the mail. Send an email, thank you as well. It's all about these small details that show you've really put some thought into this. That is impressive to employers. Remember, they're hiring you to make their jobs easier, to be part of a team. Show them in your interview that you are that person. Now, there are some things you just don't ask in the initial interview. You want to be patient, for example, don't ask about salary out of the gate. You can ask about benefits, but that's a lazy question. You should ask the meaty questions during the interview. The ones that show you did your homework. Then when you are offered the job, that's when the negotiation begins. Not all jobs have negotiating room, but it's always worth a try. Women often make less money than men simply because they don't ask for more. I'm a big believer in asking to negotiate. I'm definitely not the best at it, but I always try. My mentor told me you should ask for the salary range. Most companies approve a range to work within. Once you understand the range, you are better able to understand what you can ask for. For some negotiating is terrifying, but it all takes practice so we might as well start now. Interviewing takes time and practice too. Don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. Just learn from every experience, and I have no doubt you'll lay on the job.
