First, always know what kind of job you are applying for. At some point, the interviewer is going to ask you what your definition of public relations is and how you feel you fit into it, and it is important that you not be caught empty handed. Remember that you are applying for a job where it is going to need to look as if you have all the answers, so take a moment to see what you need to know. Formulate your own answers and run them by your friends and family.
Second, always remember that you should do your research. No matter how small the firm that you are applying with, there is going to be a body of work on them somewhere. Take a moment to look them up online and to see if there are any new stories up about them. Are they having any problems and what kind of victories have they celebrated recently? Just going to their website will teach you a lot, and you'll discover that being prepared for what they have to throw at you is important.
Another thing that you might want to do when you are interested in getting started in PR is to join the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, also known as CIPR. You'll discover that you can join as a student member and it will help you start to make the make the contacts that are so very important to public relations work. Similarly, you will get to go to group meetings and to get an idea of what the industry is like. Also, make sure that you look for the right industries and for the right internships that suit you. A mismatch is something that can set you back for ages, and when you want to make sure that you are going into your dream job, a straight path is better than nothing.
When you are thinking about applying for a PR position, remember that you should get personal. Do you know who is in charge of human relations, or even who is going to be interviewing you? Being personal and getting a certain intimacy going right from the start is important and when you are looking to sell yourself, there are so many things that you can do with a promising beginning.
