PR Manager Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Most PR Manager interviews in the UK follow a pattern, and knowing it beats guessing. Below are eight questions from our bank of 16, each with a note on what the interviewer is really after.

Eight PR Manager interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. What does a typical week as a PR Manager involve, and how do you balance reactive and proactive work?

Why they ask: To check you understand the breadth of the role and can prioritise.

2. How would you build a PR strategy and plan for a year, from objectives through to evaluation?

Why they ask: To test strategic planning skills beyond tactical press-office work.

3. How do you measure PR success, and what is your view on AVEs and the Barcelona Principles?

Why they ask: To check you use credible, modern measurement rather than outdated metrics.

4. How would you build a crisis communications plan for an organisation that doesn't have one?

Why they ask: To test preparedness and structure under pressure.

5. What are the legal risks a PR manager needs to be aware of, such as defamation and contempt of court?

Why they ask: To check you can protect the organisation from avoidable legal exposure.

6. How do you decide whether to use an agency, a freelancer or in-house resource for a PR project, and how do you manage the relationship?

Why they ask: To test commercial judgement and supplier management.

7. A journalist emails you a damaging allegation about your organisation an hour before their deadline. What do you do?

Why they ask: To test speed, composure and judgement.

8. Tell me about a time you managed a PR campaign that delivered measurable business results.

Why they ask: To check you can link PR activity to outcomes.

A sample answer to question 1

What does a typical week as a PR Manager involve, and how do you balance reactive and proactive work?

No two weeks are identical, but there is a rhythm. Monday I review coverage from the weekend, check Meltwater alerts and agree priorities with the team. Proactively, I'm working the forward feature list, drafting pitches and building announcements around newsdesk deadlines, while keeping stakeholder relationships warm with journalists and internal leads. Reactively, I'm ready for issues, reactive comment requests and the unplanned story that needs a holding statement within the hour. I protect roughly sixty per cent of my diary for planned work and leave slack for the rest, otherwise firefighting swallows everything. I also manage the team's workload, review copy before it goes out, report to the marketing director or comms lead, and manage agency or freelance spend. Friday is for evaluation: what landed, what didn't, and what we change next week. Good PR managers keep the strategy visible while the inbox tries to hijack the day.

Common mistake to avoid: Describing only media relations; ignoring team management and measurement

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 16 questions are on the PR Manager interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.