There are countless interview guides out there, many of which include tips like dressing appropriately, getting there on time and shaking hands with your interviewers. Call us presumptuous, but we’re going to assume you already know that stuff. So our managers have come up with their top 10 tips for conducting a successful interview, based on feedback they’ve received from both candidates and marketing recruiters. Read on to find out how you can make a great impression in an in-person or video interview and land your next marketing job.
1. Be a STAR
Give your answers using the
STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to ensure you convey your message in a structured way and always come across as meticulous and organised.
2. Prepare the counter
Remember an interview is a dialogue, not a monologue. You can size up the company as well as the other way round. Asking questions about their market and growth plans demonstrates your interest in the company and shows you have researched them. e.g. “I can see your competitor x has recently launched x. What are your thoughts?” Make sure you have at least five questions so you're not in the situation where the interviewer answers everything you want to ask. This will leave you looking unprepared and they'll remember you for the wrong reason!
3. Check all channels
Explore the company’s social media channels – not just their website – to get a comprehensive view of the business. Join their social media groups where relevant.
4. Do your research
Familiarise yourself with the company – their history, offering, stakeholders and where they sit in the marketplace. Your interviewer will know if you have taken the time to find out more about their company. Read the company’s website, latest press releases and financial results.
5. Back it up
Make sure you have strong examples to give for each requirement on the job description. If you're shouting about your
key marketing skills then you need to back this up. Prepare your answers to
competency-based questions and flesh them out with with ROI, case studies, figures and other evidence.
6. Know your interviewers
Research the people who will be interviewing you. Check their LinkedIn profile to see their career history, likes, previous posts and anything else that you can use to build a rapport. You can learn a lot about the company and their team from the 'Meet the team' page on their website.
7. Follow up
Chase an answer if you haven’t heard back within the time frame the interviewer gave you. Even if you fear that you weren’t successful, interview feedback can be crucial in helping you refine your answers and technique for future interviews.
8. Don’t bad mouth previous employers
Always be diplomatic and professional. If you’re negative about previous companies, the interviewers will only think that you’ll inevitably do the same to them one day.
9. Show weakness
Questions like “What would your friends say is your worst characteristic?” or “What are your weaknesses?” aren’t an excuse for you to say you’re “a bit of a perfectionist.” What they really want to know is how you’ve learnt from your mistakes, how you turned that characteristic into a strength. They want to know that you’re introspective and always looking for an opportunity to
upskill in your marketing career.
10. Bring examples
You may want to try and wow the interviewers with an impromptu exposé of some of your past work. But always check with them beforehand – don’t get it out and start talking through it without being prompted or you could end up wasting time not answering the questions they wanted to ask.
