Crisis Communications
Crisis Communications is a specialized area of public relations that focuses on protecting and defending an organization's reputation during challenging situations or emergencies. It involves planning for potential problems, responding quickly to issues that could harm a company's image, and managing communication with the public, media, and stakeholders during difficult times. Think of it as being the emergency response team for a company's reputation – they prepare for the worst, handle the situation when problems occur, and help rebuild trust afterward. This skill is particularly important in today's fast-moving social media world where news spreads quickly.
Examples in Resumes
Led Crisis Communications team during company merger, maintaining positive media coverage
Developed Crisis Communications plan that successfully managed product recall situation
Created and implemented Crisis Management and Crisis PR strategies for Fortune 500 clients
Handled Crisis Response during major corporate restructuring
Typical job title: "Crisis Communications Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Crisis Communications Managers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: Can you describe a major crisis you've managed and what was the outcome?
Expected Answer: Look for candidates who can explain how they led during a significant challenge, their decision-making process, and specific results. They should demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to maintain calm under pressure.
Q: How would you handle a situation where social media criticism of your company is escalating rapidly?
Expected Answer: Strong answers should include immediate response strategies, stakeholder management, monitoring systems, and long-term reputation recovery plans. They should emphasize speed, transparency, and authentic communication.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What elements would you include in a crisis communications plan?
Expected Answer: Candidate should mention key components like response team structure, communication channels, message templates, stakeholder contact lists, and approval processes.
Q: How do you determine if something is a genuine crisis versus a minor issue?
Expected Answer: Look for understanding of crisis evaluation frameworks, impact assessment, and ability to gauge potential reputation damage and business impact.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the first thing you would do if you discovered a potential crisis situation?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic crisis protocol: alerting appropriate team members, gathering facts, and following established communication procedures.
Q: How would you monitor for potential crisis situations?
Expected Answer: Should mention social media monitoring, news tracking, customer feedback channels, and internal communication systems.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Media monitoring and reporting
- Basic writing and editing
- Social media management
- Supporting crisis response team
Mid (2-5 years)
- Crisis plan development
- Media relations management
- Stakeholder communications
- Crisis response coordination
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic crisis leadership
- Executive communications
- Team management
- High-stakes decision making
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with real crisis situations
- Poor communication skills or unclear writing
- Lack of understanding of social media impact
- Unable to work under pressure or tight deadlines
- No knowledge of media relations basics
Related Terms
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