10 Ways to Nail Your Next Phone Interview

As students begin to apply for summer internships, many will face phone interviews as a part of the application process.

Having been through a few myself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind next time you pick up the line:

1. Ask the interviewer ahead of time to call you on a land line. This way you won’t have to deal with cell batteries dying or bad reception areas. Even using a hands-free headset can be beneficial.
   

2. If possible, temporarily turn off your call-waiting option so you won’t be distracted by those annoying beeps.

3. Have your resume and portfolio handy. It is often difficult to remember details about your past experiences off the top of your head, so having them on paper in front of you will make it easy to talk about. Also, tab important pieces of your work you want to mention, making sure to highlight skills relevant to the position you’re applying for.
   

4. Prepare bullet point notes of answers to commonly asked questions. Can you tell me about yourself? What has been your biggest challenge? What has been your greatest accomplishment? Why do you want this position? Having three to four key points prepared ahead of time will help you stay on track and avoid rambling on.
   

5. However, don’t expect to have an answer ready for every question. Be prepared for the curve ball. I was once asked, “If you were a vehicle, what would you be?” I’ve also heard of interviewers asking you to spell the company’s name. Expect the unexpected and do your homework to learn as much about the company as possible.
   

6. Ask your roommates to keep things quiet for awhile. You can even put a small “Interview in Progress” sign on the outside of your bedroom door.
   

7. If possible, sit at a desk with your computer. In fact, having the company’s Web site up can be helpful in case you need to access fast facts.
   

8. Have water handy. The last thing you want is to go into a frantic coughing spell during your time to shine.
   

9. Always ask a question when given the opportunity. You can ask when they plan to make a final decision, what some job responsibilities are or even what the corporate culture is like. Asking questions shows you aren’t afraid to engage in conversation.
   

10. Send a thank you card. This isn’t just for in-person interviews. An email is acceptable to send, but a handwritten note is still the best gesture. Purchase a card beforehand and send it out immediately after your interview. You never know what a difference it could make.
    

What are some of your own interviewing tips?

What I've Learned Doing PR For My Mother

My mom began face painting many years ago. It was a skill she picked up to provide some extra fun at my Girl Scout troop parties. I’ve long since outgrown my mint green vest and skirt, but my mom has fine tuned her face painting abilities ever since.

About a year ago, she decided to start her own side business providing face painting for other people to enjoy. While my mom has found a way to do something she loves, I have found a way to practice what I’ve been learning about public relations.

Here are some skills I was able to put to use for my mother’s business:

1. Web site creation. Using Apple’s iWeb made creating a Web site for my mom easy. The templates provided an easy-to-use guide, but I was still able to make the site my own by adding in graphics and logos I custom made in Photoshop and InDesign. The skills I learned in my intro to visual communication class came in handy here. I also have learned a lot about domain names, nameservers and hosting through trial and error. Web site creation can be very frustrating at times, but I am glad I was able to put these skills to use. I took an intro to multimedia design class last semester where I learned how to create sites in Flash, but I think it will be awhile before I’m ready to start from the ground up.
   

2. Video/audio editing. I was inspired by my intro to multimedia design class to put my audio/video skills to the test. I was able to record video and use Apple’s iMovie to create two short clips for my mom’s site. The process of getting everything to look and sound like I wanted was challenging, but in the end having video/audio on my mom’s site adds an exciting element of interactivity for the end user.
   

3. Graphic design. On top of coming up with a name for my mom’s business, I helped her establish a brand by designing a logo in InDesign. The logo, as seen above, now appears on her business cards and polo t-shirts, and also can be used for many other promotional purposes.
   

4. Photography and photo editing. Using my own digital camera and software, I’ve been able to take and edit photos for use on the Web. Again, my Photoshop skills came in handy here. This way, potential customers can see exactly what to expect when they book an event with PegFX.
   

5. Relationship building. Knowing how to communicate with a client is key to achieving successful results. Obviously, my relationship with my mother is going to be different than with other clients. However, working with my mom to promote her business has given me a taste of what to expect. For example, having to explain what I do to someone from a non-PR background has given me good practice. Not everyone understands what public relations is or why it is important. What matters is that you are on the same page and understand what it will take to achieve your goal(s).
   

6. Overall, working with my mother has not only given us a chance to get to know each other better, but it has proven to be beneficial for both of us. We both have the chance to do something we love while helping one another grow and learn. I’ve got more creative marketing strategies for PegFX in mind, but finding the time to work on them is a different story.
   

7. Students, if you’re looking to get some good experience, ask around at local businesses to see if any would be interested in some free PR. It doesn’t have to be an internship per say, but perhaps you can offer some help publicizing upcoming events, writing or designing promotional materials or launching a new campaign. Take advantage of your time as a student to gain as much experience as possible before entering the job market.
   

If you’d like to check out my mom’s face painting Web site, click here.

New Year's Resolutions

Every year when Jan. 1 rolls around, millions of people vow to lose those extra pounds, quit their unhealthy habits and manage their money better. Now I’m not saying I can’t afford to do all of the above, but this year I’m taking my new year’s resolutions in a different direction. This will be my first year blogging my resolutions to the world, so maybe that will motivate me a bit more.

Blog more. I just recently started blogging. In fact, I feel like this whole wave of social media emphasis happened before I ever saw it coming. I would ideally like to blog at least three times a week, but I’m going to shoot for once a week to start out. Busy as I am, I know I need to set aside time in order to achieve this goal.

1. Read more. I feel like I do a good job of staying informed about current issues surrounding our nation and world. But when it comes to reading novels and books, I can’t remember the last one I read (completely) for non-school related purposes. Last week I was at Barnes & Noble and came across at least 10 books that caught my eye. Anyone have some good must-reads I should check out?

2. Relax more. My friends and family are always telling me I need to de-stress. I like to think I have my stress under control, but the truth is there are times when I feel completely overwhelmed with school, work and my involvements and I get burned out. Many days I am out and about from roughly 8am until 1am when I attempt to get some quality sleep. I’d like to prevent getting overwhelmed in the future by setting aside 30 minutes each day to relax by doing yoga, working out, reading or just taking a power nap.
   

3. Do more. This resolution is slightly contradictory to my last one, but at the same time I feel it is important to make the best of the little time I have left at CMU. Many of my friends graduated this past semester and even more will do so in the spring. It has been a real wake up call that helped me realize how fast four years can go by. I feel like I’ve done a lot at CMU and made some of the best friends I could ask for. I have just over one year left in Mount Pleasant, so I want to make each day count. Years from now I know I will still cherish the friendships and memories from CMU.

Do you share any of these resolutions? Do you have any advice or suggestions for ways I can achieve these?

Surviving Your "Hell Week"

With the holidays getting closer and closer, many students are finding themselves in the home-stretch of their fall semesters. In fact, I myself have just one final exam left before I head home for a much deserved winter break.

For many students, final exam week is a difficult challenge to overcome. Term papers, exams, essays and group projects all due at the same time--and to make matters worse, these last few days usually play a huge part in determining final grades.

No matter what industry you’re in, you probably have to deal with deadline pressure and those occasional weeks where you can’t even seem to find time to breathe. Below are some tips that help me get through these tough times.

1. Order your tasks based on priority. What task has to be completed first? Or, which exam will you have to take first? The projects with the tightest deadlines should be your first priority. It can be difficult, but do your best to “forget” about your other pressures until you turn in or complete the others. If you mentally forget you have three other exams to study for and just focus on studying for the first one, it won’t seem like such a daunting task.
   

2. Procrastinate...a little. Procrastination can be very powerful, and can either make or break your chances of success. Although it is never a good idea to completely blow off studying to play Guitar Hero all night long, some distraction can be helpful. Reward yourself for every half hour or hour of studying/work with something you enjoy. For example, after an hour of studying, go grab an ice cream, do a little Internet surfing or watch some TV. Procrastination in moderation can help get your mind off of things for awhile, enough to let you feel refreshed and refocused once you get back to what you’re supposed to be doing.
   

3. Overestimate the importance and difficulty of things. I have found that doing this with projects and assignments is the best way to successfully complete them. For example, if a teacher assigns a take-home essay, don’t assume that it will be simple and quick to complete. I have actually found stress to be a good motivator that helps me to achieve my fullest potential. Overpreparing for an exam won’t hurt you, but underpreparing for one surely will. Without pushing yourself to a mental breakdown, “stressing out” a little about every project or exam serves as a little motivation. That way when you complete whatever task it was you can look back and say, “Well that wasn’t bad at all.”
   

4. Speculate. Figure out the worst and best case scenarios for your problem or task. For example, before exam week started, I went though all of my classes and figured out my current grade. Using that score, I factored in what my grade would be if I received a 0 percent, 50 percent and 100 percent on each exam. Knowing all I needed was at least a 50 percent on my psychology exam helped relieve some of the stress of studying. I knew I could then put more of an effort into studying for my male-female communication exam, which I need at least a 90 percent on to get the grade I desire.
   

5. There is no supplement for sleep. Sure caffeine and other products may have effects that make sleep seem unnecessary. And perhaps sometimes you may run into situations where you absolutely do not have time to sleep because of an impending deadline. However, when you are faced with the choice to continue cramming or get a few hours of rest, choose the sleep. Studying on low-energy is less rewarding than letting your body and mind relax and recharge. Once you’re at least a little rested, you’ll be more likely to be able to concentrate and recall information easily.
   

What about you? Students, what are your tricks that help you study and succeed? Professionals, what tips have you followed in order to avoid being overwhelmed by the stresses of your career?

The Success Secrets They Don't Tell You in Textbooks

I’ve heard rumors about the “old Polish wisdom” to look forward to on the last day of JRN 450 with Jim Wojcik, and today I got to hear exactly what everyone was talking about. Without spilling too many of Wojcik’s secrets, I’ve listed a few key points from this afternoon’s lecture mixed in with some of my own thoughts.

1. For budding PR professionals, don’t let your cell phone ruin your reputation. Get rid of your “I Kissed a Girl” ringback tone and make sure your voicemail message is both personal and professional. Inappropriate ringtones are also a killer when they go off during meetings or in the presence of coworkers, they are only appropriate in the right contexts. Also, don’t use an automated voicemail response that only gives your number. You want callers to know they are reaching the right person.
   

2. On a similar note, learn how to leave a good voicemail message. This includes remembering to clearly identify yourself, the purpose of your call and your phone number. When leaving your number, either speak slowly or say it more than once.
   

3. When using company resources, only write emails or text messages that you would be willing to disclose to the public. If you need any confirmation of the damage that can be caused by using company property for personal use, please Google “Kwame Kilpatrick” AND “text messages”.
   

4. Say you graduate and are fortunate enough to land a job paying $30,000 a year. Understand that you will never see that much money. After paying taxes, housing payments, transportation costs, bills, food and other unexpected expenses, you’ll be surprised at just how fast money can go. In most cases, take the lower salary option that includes health care benefits rather than opt for a higher salary with no benefits. As much as we like to think we are health gurus and that nothing bad will ever happen to us--it will. You don’t want to be stuck paying off a $25,000 medical bill because you chose a salary that payed $5,000 more per year.
   

In closing, I’d like to leave you with a great quote from the Polish PR master himself. “Never burn any bridges. You never know when you will need to cross over them again.”