How to Prepare for a Digital Marketing Interview (With Practice Questions)
By: Marissa Mok | Reading Time: ~ 5 mins
Now that you’ve completed your digital marketing education, updated your portfolio and secured an interview for your dream job, you’re ready for the next step! Interviewing can be nerve-wracking but with a little practice, you can boost your chances of a successful interview.
Do Your Research
The first step to preparing for an interview is to thoroughly review the job description. Take note of what responsibilities, experience and qualifications are required. Keep in mind the key requirements so you can emphasize how you are a great fit for the role. Consider your own background first and how that can fulfill the job’s duties. Prepare examples that showcase your accomplishments and skills. For example, if the role’s responsibilities included digital ads management, you could mention your experience running digital ads campaigns, your Google Ads certifications, and the platforms you are familiar with.
Next, research the company's background, its culture and values. If possible, look up your interviewer on the company website or LinkedIn, as knowing their background can provide you with insight into what to expect. Understand how the role fits into the company's overall goals, team and be prepared to discuss all the reasons why you're a great fit for the role and company.
Prepare Your Questions
After doing your research, put together a list of questions that you may have related to the company, team and culture, and the role itself. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates your interest in the position and company.
A few questions to ask include:
Can you describe the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
What is the work culture and environment like?
Can you tell me more about the team I'll be working with and their roles?
Time to Practice
Once you’ve got a solid understanding about the role and company, practice is the next step. Practicing will help to boost your confidence. So grab a friend or family member, and ask them to run through a mock interview scenario with you. This will help you to feel more comfortable and prepared during the actual interview.
Common interview questions you can practice
Note: tailor the questions according to the job's requirements and primary duties.
What are your strengths and weaknesses – highlight 3 each.
Why are you interested in this position?
How do you plan and execute the launch of a campaign?
Explain the concept of customer journey and how it relates to digital marketing
Describe a challenging digital marketing problem you encountered and how you solved it
Discuss one of your highly successful campaigns and highlight the factors that contributed to its effectiveness.
Tell me about a time in your digital marketing career when you decided to take a chance
Share a situation where you used both creativity and analytical thinking to solve a problem.
Choosing the right KPIs is important. What methods do you use to monitor and measure their progress?
How do you modify tactics when targeting B2B and B2C audiences?
How do you stay current with the latest digital marketing trends and updates in the industry?
Share Practical Experience
As you prepare for a digital marketing interview, it's essential to take notes that highlight your practical experiences relevant to the job you're seeking. This will differ based on whether you're applying for an entry-level, intermediate, or advanced role.
If you don’t have prior job experience, don't worry. Emphasize any project work you've completed during your school years. Did you collaborate effectively with fellow students? How did you tackle and overcome challenges encountered during these projects? These practical experiences can set you apart from other applicants and offer the hiring manager valuable insights into your problem-solving abilities and your work approach.
Stay Updated
In digital marketing, staying updated with the latest trends is important. Strategies that marketers used five years ago can be quite different from what they use today.
During your interview, discuss recent updates relevant to your desired role with the hiring manager. It's a two-way conversation, so feel free to ask them questions too. Demonstrating your eagerness to learn and stay updated in digital marketing is crucial when applying for these positions.
Dress for the Part
Even if the interview is online, it’s still important to dress appropriately. Choose an outfit that is professional and that aligns with the company's culture. To figure out their dress code, check to see if it’s included in the job description, or you can get a sense of how formal their culture is by taking a look at their website, social media or employee’s LinkedIn profiles.
Online vs In-Person Interviews
For an online interview, ensure your interview space is well-lit, quiet, and free from distractions. Test your internet connection and computer to avoid any technical issues. For in-person interviews, a bit more time and preparation is needed. Look up the directions to the location and plan to arrive early. Lastly, even though everything is digital now, bring a copy of your resumé with you, just in case they ask for it.
After the Interview
A day or two after the interview, send a follow-up email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity and their time and restating your interest in the position. Doing so can leave a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer.
If you're called back for an additional round of interviews, prepare to expand on your qualifications and experiences. Second interviews often focus on figuring out whether you’re a good fit for the specific role and culture. This is when you may meet other members of the team or department heads. Also, you can expect to receive in-depth scenario questions or share past experiences on how you handled certain situations. Interviewers may also give you an assignment to complete to show your skills and competency.
If the interview didn’t go as expected, don’t hesitate to ask for feedback so you can learn how to improve and succeed in your next interview.
Preparing for an interview can be nerve-wracking for many, but with a bit of planning and practice, you can go into it with confidence. With these tips, you're well on your way to acing your next job interview.
