First, a disclaimer: Speed has been interviewing recently so has seen quite a few prospective recruits, and these comments are not specifically about any of those interviews.

Apart from the one that was quite weird, but that is probably obvious.

So seeing the comments of senior journalists this morning on what they look for when hiring reporters, I thought about how that compares with PR interviews.

I’m planning another blog post this week about PR salaries and career progression within agencies, so this is perhaps a good prequel.

Things not to say when being interviewed for a job at a PR agency:

1. I really like the thought of working in PR

2. I know quite a few people who work in PR and am really into reading the media, so I think it’s something I’d like to pursue

3. They’ve piled me up with so much work that I don’t think I can keep working there so I need to go elsewhere where I can do less work (yes, have had this one more than once)

4. I don’t really do anything outside work

5. I don’t really read the newspapers, I get all my information from social media

6. Really sorry I’m late, I misjudged how long the journey would take me

7. If I joined here, how quickly would I be promoted to account manager (fine to discuss, but not in this presumptuous way without any discussion of why you might be capable)?

8. What do you think my best qualities are?

9. With the ways things are today, I don’t think grammar and proper English really have a role anymore

10. Do you have a blog?