J Public Relations Interview Questions
& Process

It was pretty simple and direct. I met with two or three people and also had a written take-home task. Everyone was really nice and helpful throughout the whole process. The take-home assignment was pretty straightforward and actually kind of interesting. I liked the process and my time at J/PR.

Started with an initial application and a questionnaire. Then I had to do a video application where I answered a few questions. The last stage was an in-person interview at their office. The in-person interview was pretty wild. When I got there, two current interns were in the lobby on their laptops, and one of them was manning the reception desk. This is a big red flag for me; I want to intern to learn about the PR industry, not to do office manager tasks. The interview itself was with two women who asked standard questions about my PR background. I was into it until one of them said, "We're kind of like a sorority. We can teach you the PR business and you can do well, but if you don't fit in with us, it's not really a good fit." I think my face showed my surprise. It was so unprofessional and awkward to hear. Basically, they were saying that someone's skills or experience don't matter as much as whether they fit the office's aesthetic? No thanks.

I applied for the social media manager position and created a portfolio specifically for J Public Relations. The interview was conducted over the phone. I noticed some requirements during the call that weren't in the job description. The call lasted about 40 minutes. In the end, they suggested I apply for a different role if one opens up soon. The interviewer was pleasant, but the long call felt like a rejection. For the future, it's a good idea to email the recruiter to confirm all requirements are listed on the job description.

They asked me to go into a lot of detail about all my past roles over the last 20 years, which felt like too much since half of it wasn't relevant.