Four tips to ace a public relations job interview 

A risk taker, an optimist, and a storyteller, Lakshita Kandpal of Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) recently made her alma mater proud as she bagged a lucrative job at Adfactors PR.  The young PR professional is excited to start her professional journey with India’s largest PR firm. “It is a feeling I cannot really put into words. The agency life that I have dreamed of being a part of, is now my reality. All I need to do is live up to all the expectations from me and deliver on time,” she expresses. 

Read edited excerpts: 

Please tell us about your new role in one of the leading PR firms?

I have joined Adfactors PR as a Trainee Account Executive. I have just completed my 2 weeks induction. The first week training was held in Delhi and the second week 2 of the induction was in Mumbai headquarters. During the induction, we got to learn about various software, procedures, and clients Adfactors have. We interacted with the senior management including Mr. Madan Bahal, Managing Director and Mr. Rajesh Chaturvedi, Chairman. From what is public relations to how to nail a PR campaign, every aspect was covered. I am really excited to start my professional journey with India’s largest PR firms. 

So, what was your preparation strategy to crack placements?

The most important is staying updated with news and latest trends, especially in communication. I got to know the evening before that my interview would be the next day. I had cleared the written examination, so I was already prepared to some extent, but I technically got only one night to prepare for my interview with the panel of seniors at AdFactors PR. 

That night I updated my resume and customised it to the organisation’s needs and expectations. I collated my portfolio and organised documents in a proper order. I read about the news topics that were doing the rounds back then. I ensured to do all my reading part in the night itself. 

The next morning I got up, only saw the headlines again, and left for the interview. I did not overload myself with information. Instead, I remained calm and put on my most confident self.

How did AIMC groom you for the placement process?

AIMC has been my greatest kickstart. Each day, I learnt insightful things about the industry from our professors. From ideating for campaigns to running successful events, we did it all in AIMC. We were given live projects to produce ad films and run digital campaigns. We approached industry leaders for interviews. We interacted with directors of India’s top agencies. All of it made us industry ready, as it gave us an idea of how things will be when we join the industry finally. 

What skills did you develop in AIMC and how did these skills help you crack the job interview?

Teamwork, collaboration, and hard work have always been stressed out by each of our professors. I remember I wrote the report for the very first day on the induction at college. We started learning and working right from the first day. That is the kind of commitment and professionalism AIMC teaches. How to create ‘SMART’ goals and ‘Deliver on Time’, how to stand out in a crowd and come up with the ‘Big Idea’ were other important skills I developed at AIMC.

Also Read: ‘Industry-relevant curriculum, brand case studies prepared me for a career in PR’

Did you always aspire to work in the PR industry? So, when is the right time to start preparing for placements? 

I realised I was interested in Public Relations during my 3rd year of BJMC. After that I researched for top media colleges in India, I got to know about AIMC and took up admission. I could not have been happier about my decision. You never get the right time to actually start preparing, because opportunity may strike anytime. The best way is to learn and grow daily. Master the field you want to pursue and then don’t let any opportunity go to waste. It is extremely vital to attentively attend all the guest lectures as they give insights from their experiences which no book can provide. 

Read This: ‘In PR, media rounds are a key exercise in building networks, healthy work relationships’

Where do you see yourself in the coming 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I’d like to excel in my sector and come across as a reliable name of trust and success in the PR Industry.