Here's how you can prepare for a job interview in Strategic Communications.

In addition to researching the company and the specific role, be sure to brush up on your knowledge of strategic communication best practices. This includes understanding key communication models, crisis communication strategies, and how to measure the success of communication campaigns. Familiarize yourself with current industry trends and communication tools as well.

First, I agree w the advice & comment from Doug. Secondly, I’ve been involved w many priv co’s who have comms/media rels/strategic comms divisions. They tend to be process oriented rather than results & substance oriented. That’s why those companies are run more by third-party consultants than the internal divisions themselves. The above is a preface to my advice. Approach an interview like a policy maker rather than a scribe for policy makers. It’s very tough for those in mgnt level of media to make the transition into strategic comms because the latter thinks in terms of process & assisting rather than developing and governing. Talk policy rather than writing & your interview as well as the company will benefit.

Definitely take the time to look at what is publicly available about the company, but also remember to comb through your network too. You may have friends or former colleagues that work for that organization that you can reach out to regarding the internal landscape and culture of the company. Having done the insider research could give you a valuable advantage during the interview process!

Don't just research the company website; delve into industry news and competitor strategies to show you're thinking ahead and can provide fresh perspectives on their communication goals.

Prove how your work shifted stakeholder behavior to align with corporate objectives. Before-and-after comparisons are powerful sales tools. Show baseline stats from the beginning of a project compared to the end. Did an external campaign build your digital community or grow leads? Did your employee newsletter increase the adoption rate of a new process or tool? Did your PR efforts amplify media coverage among top outlets? Use samples and stats to show how your methodical approach exactly supports your company's big picture.

Consider how you've used strategic communication in past roles, even if they weren't in communications. Did you develop a communication plan to launch a new product? Manage a crisis situation? Craft messaging to target a specific audience? Highlight these experiences in your interview, framing them to demonstrate your strategic communication abilities. For instance, if you spearheaded a social media campaign that increased brand awareness by 20%, quantify your results to showcase the impact of your strategic communication efforts.

This should be a given. As media continues to evolve, “strategic communications” needs to be fluid. You don't need to know everything, but show your willingness to adapt and learn.

This a very useful article! There are 3 schools of thought here: - One can prepare thoroughly by reading up on the latest trends and understanding what’s happening in the world of strategic communication. That seems pretty reasonable, but also an obvious and dull thing to do. - One can also bring in a portable speaker, play Eye of the Tiger and punch your way through the interview. Some say that’s a truly impactful way to conduct interviews. - Lastly, some say that a 15-shots challenge is the perfect way to prepare. While I have my doubts about the effectiveness of this method, I would love to be a fly on the wall during such interviews. Essentially, it’s all about picking the method that works for you, and be really strategic about it.