Here are 6 tips for doing television interviews that will save you from night sweats about crashing and burning on the air. If you follow these simple rules, you will come out on top and producers may even ask to have you back on the show.

1)       Practice makes perfect. Although you might think you’re automatically charming and well-spoken, nerves might get the best of you in the studio or in front of an audience. Take time with your PR team to fine tune your key messages, talking points and do a mock Q&A so you’re ready for all the interviewer’s questions (even the left fielders). Practice your answers out loud, speaking to a mirror so you can fine tune your facial expressions to make responses seem the most natural. Count 3 breaths to calm your nerves. Remember to speak slowly and enunciate your words – when nervous, we tend to speed up and it’s harder to understand. Instead of saying “Like” or “Um” when you’re trying to piece together a thought, try taking a brief, collected pause until you sort it out.

“I’ve got this down!”

2)      Look the part. You might have an a stunning pair of dangly earrings or a dazzling patterned shirt…but this is not the time to wear either item. Pick solid bright colors in tailored shapes. Avoid shiny textures, busy patterns or wearing white or shades of  brown. In terms of accessories, go classic – you don’t want a necklace or tie to steal your limelight. Be conservative with your collar, buttons and skirt to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions or Sharon Stone peepshows. In terms of makeup, wear a bit more than you normally would for daytime…bright lights will wash you out, guaranteed. This is the ideal time to invest in a professional makeup artist who specializes in on-air makeup. If you don’t want to splurge on a house call, try your local MAC cosmetics counter where they often have artists trained for on-camera makeup. Need some outfit ideas? Flip on Good Morning America and take a look at the cheerful, stylish and sharp ensembles of Robin Roberts and Lara Spencer.

Good: Flattering, bright colors. Bad: Busy patterns.

3)      Listen up and come full circle. Just like in a job interview, you never want to cut anyone off. Listen thoughtfully to the interviewer and then respond in a complete sentence (ie: repeat the key components of the question). Also, do not be afraid to repeat certain key messages in different ways – if the interview is not live, it will edited – so it never hurts to repeat your main points.

Always answer in complete sentences (Psst: We like ice cream too!)

4)       Smile, smile, smile. We can’t say it enough – people forget to smile on the air. Unless you’re talking about a series of tragic events, be enthusiastic, passionate and warm. The best way to convey these emotions? Show those teeth. Not confident in your chompers? Invest in some Crest White Strips a week before the segment…you’ll be flashing brightly in no time!

“I can’t stop smiling!”

5)      Animate yourself. No, we’re not talking jump on the couch Tom Cruise-on-Oprah style, but be sure to work some gestures with your hands instead of staying motionless and robotic in the chair. Get comfortable, sit up tall and try not to freeze up! If you need some help getting pep in your step, drink a nice big cup of coffee before you go on the air and get plenty of sleep the night before.

Don’t act crazy…but inject your interview with the right amount of energy and movement.

6)      Be thankful. From the receptionist who checks you in at the studio to the anchors themselves, be polite and show appreciation for inviting you on the show. No one seeks out an entitled diva who is demanding and unpleasant – and if you behave in this regard, prepare for this to be your first and last appearance on the program.

If Britney Spears has to say it, you should really know better…

If you still aren’t feeling 100% ready, invest in a more intensive media training workshop where an expert will coach you through mock interviews and smooth out any uneasiness on camera. Professional Media Training courses will rid you of any stage fright and make you more confident than ever. At RED, we offer media training to help whip even the shyest clients into interview experts!

Many of us have been there, and if you haven’t, you’re probably there right now. It’s stressful, a little discouraging, and even painful. But fear not my friends, here are some sure-fire “do’s” and “don’ts” to make sure your resume makes it into the “call-back” pile. If you’re a new college graduate, follow these tips for how to write a successful resume and cover letter to get the interviews you want.

DON’T make your resume longer than one page. Employers want to be able to quickly scan through it. In the U.S., long resumes are a turn-off. Once you’ve had 10 years of experience, your resume can be two pages.

DO play around with the font (we recommend easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica), margins, and spacing to make sure everything fits neatly.

DON’T list part-time student jobs that are more than five years old if they aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

DO have a cover letter and keep it brief. Aim to convey what you can bring to the table and not why the job is perfect for you.

DON’T regurgitate your resume in your cover letter. Let your resume show off skills that are relevant to the job, and use your letter to convey your personality.

DO insert keywords (action verbs, adjectives, skills, etc.) from the job description into your resume and cover letter.

DON’T have a generic opening in your cover letter. You need to grab the reader’s attention in the first sentence, so read through some samples online, and then write something a little different!

DO use action verbs, everywhere. Don’t use adverbs on your resume; save them for the cover letter.

DON’T use a thesaurus to make every word sound “smarter.” An employer wants to be able to glance over your resume and know exactly what you’re talking about without the jargon.

DO your research and find out who will be receiving your resume so you can address it directly to them.

DON’T send out a universal resume and form cover letter.  Personalize it for the company and position you are applying to.

And lastly,

DON’T forget to proofread, and ask others to give you their feedback too! The smallest typo or punctuation error can be the difference between IN and OUT!

DO stay positive!  It is expected to have a lot more rejections than call-backs, and that’s A-OK. As long as you keep trying, you WILL eventually find the perfect job for you.

For other job hunting tips specific to getting into PR, check out http://theprcloset.tumblr.com/FAQ.

Reese, closing your eyes in your mugshot won’t make this PR crisis disappear!

A squeaky clean image was tainted this weekend when Reese Witherspoon engaged in a “Do you know who I am?” outburst that led to her subsequent arrest after a drunk driving incident with her husband.  This obnoxious display of “diva” egotism reminded us of a few reputation golden rules that we relay to our clients (to keep them cool and composed 24/7):

1)      The Golden Rule never fades. Always treat people the way you want to be treated. Earn your reputation by treating others well, not by getting on your high horse and making others feel small. Whether it’s the busboy, an enthusiastic fan, or the Pope, all humans deserve respect.

2)      If you’re fortunate to be prominently covered in the press or hold a high position in your organization, do not allow it to go to your head by adopting a smug attitude. Being newsworthy or revered does not give a free ride for irresponsible or rude behavior.

3)      Think before you act. Ms. Witherspoon and her husband took a selfish risk by driving drunk in the first place. If you can afford to travel by cab (or a 20-foot limo) after one too many drinks, opt for the safest option. In the same respect, avoid acting haphazardly in a public setting – always project your best self.

4)       Learn patience. Sometimes people are going to throw some tough questions your way (or put you in less-than-ideal situations). Keep your cool and try some deep breaths to control frustration.

Reese Witherspoon has already issued an official apology, chalking up her inappropriate behavior to one-too-many drinks, but as we know, the internet never forgets. It will take more than a simple “sorry” to reclaim the throne as “America’s Sweetheart.”

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” — Warren Buffett

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, recently unleashed her female empowerment book, “Lean In,” which has earned stellar coverage and awareness about women in the workplace. While we can chalk up this positive acclaim to talented publicists and spokespeople for the book, it hasn’t been all golden exposure. In fact, the campaign team learned a valuable lesson last week when Brandee Barker, Sandberg spokeswoman and former Facebook employee, digitally reached out to one negative reviewer of the book, Katherine Losse. Did she reach out through email? No…this was a private Facebook message. With one screen shot, this awful message was immortalized for all time:

Guess what folks? Everything that you do electronically is permanent. If you’re about to write angry, do NOT assume you’re covering tracks by issuing a message “privately.” The same goes for deleting posts. Remember how easy it is to make a digital footprint and consider the consequences of your actions. Always think before you press send.

Soon after Brandee’s post, Katherine Losse took to the Twittersphere to defend herself:

This situation serves as a helpful reminder of how publicists are a direct representative of their clients. It is imperative for publicists to put their best foot forward with all types of feedback. Because Brandee Barker, “Lean In” PR rep, was the one who sent the message, her actions make the entire “Lean In” female empowerment campaign look bad. Worse yet, they appear hypocritical for not supporting fellow women.

Email is the leading form of communication in business. To make sure you are communicating effectively, being heard and getting things accomplished easily, here are 7 simple tips for writing better emails.

1. Subject is CRUCIAL. Avoid one or two word subjects because they are not specific. The subject of the email needs to act as a headline and hints at what is in the body of the email. Pick words that set this email apart from the tons of other emails everyone receives.
2. Change the subject when the message changes so people can sort and easily find what’s relevant.
3. Always write the most important information at the beginning of the email. For example, state what the person you’re writing to is supposed to act on.
4. Keep in mind what the reader needs to know, what the reader wants to know, and what the reader needs to do. Does the reader have sufficient information?
5. Communicate with confidence. It’s not rude to be upfront about deadlines, needs, or other points – it’s BUSINESS.
6. Format the content in order of most to least important information, and general to specific. Make a statement, then support it with facts.
7. Begin most email messages with a 2-4 sentence  intro paragraph that captures the essential points from the entire message. Capture the highlights because most of us scan email for efficiency.