Given the state of the current job market, many students and recent grads are finding internships more valuable than ever before. As a result, the internship market is more competitive than ever. Trust us, we’re looking to hire some new ones in Denver (scroll to the bottom).

The bar has been raised and the qualification standards to land an intern gig are much higher than before.  Fear no more! Having been one of the many on a hunt for an internship in the past, I know what it’s like. However, I’m now in a position to hire them, so with help from the TPR gang, I have come up with 5 Ways To Rock a PR Internship Interview.

If you take these helpful hints seriously, you will be one step ahead of the list of intern candidates.

1. Do your homework. Don’t just look at our website for client lists; every other interview candidate will do that. Try looking for articles we may have placed for our clients, or check LinkedIn and Twitter for information about the TPR team. The more you know walking in, the more you will impress us. Also, do your homework on industry trends. Turner PR Denver focuses on the luxury travel and hospitality industries – read recent issues of Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Hotels – and know what’s hot and relevant in the industry now.
2. Proofread your resume, once, twice, a dozen times. PR is all about communication, so your resume is a direct reflection of your writing skill and attention to detail. Check your spelling, grammar and formatting and have three other people check it. Even one error is a red flag!
3. Dress to impress.  Don’t get us wrong – fashion creativity is awesome. But if you have anything questionable on – change.  As a PR professional, you are the face of your clients, so professionalism is always the most important look to convey.
4. Come prepared and be confident. If you aren’t confident in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to be? We want interns who are proactive and willing to bring ideas to the table. Be sure to convey this in your interview. Don’t be too rehearsed, but be ready to answer expected questions.
5. Follow up. Make yourself stand out from the crowd. Take the extra step to follow up with us after the interview. Send an email, drop a letter in the mail or stop by the office to personally give us a thank you note. Make us remember you!

If you’re looking to get your career started, consider doing so with Team Turner. Our Denver office will be hiring Spring 2010 interns soon, so let us know if you’re interested. Click here for details!