Final stage Interview tips for marketers

75% of our candidates who get through to final stage interviews are asked to deliver a presentation. Typical examples include “create a marketing plan where the objective is to drive leads” or “devise a campaign to target a specific audience. Include metrics and copy”.

As a team, we’ve seen some excellent presentations, some average ones and on occasion some rather shocking ones. We wanted to pool our knowledge together and come up with a few interview tips that could help you secure your dream marketing job. 

Focus on the topic – If you’ve been asked about lead generation, don’t start talking about raising brand awareness or increasing engagement. It’s highly likely that the topic selected for your presentation is a key business objective that you will be expected to for fill….if you get the job!

Show your thinking – A potential employee is more interested in how you’ve reached your “answer” rather than the “answer” itself. They are testing your skills and ability to think logically. Why have you done what you’ve done? What benefit will it have on my business? Show them!

Research the sector – This is perhaps an obvious statement but the small details you weave into your presentation that demonstrate your knowledge of a sector are important.  A topical news story you might do a blog post on, key events throughout the year, the latest legislation or technology.  

Understand the audience – This doesn’t need to be perfect but you need to show thought towards segmentation and targeting. Carry out your own research online and show what you can but also be prepared to talk about steps you would take to know them better. Also think about the messages you would target to each segment.

Explore current marketing tactics – Obviously be aware of their products and services but also current marketing tactics. Are they attending any events? What news have they released? Do they use social media? What content do they have on their website? Are they looking to thought leadership?
Justify your own tactics – This should be about 50% of your presentation and as a marketer is your opportunity to shine. What are the tactics you will use and why? What value will they deliver to the business? How will they integrate?

Talk about execution – Ultimately this is where you’ll be tested on how hands on you are. Will you use agencies? What software is involved? Who would follow up? What people will need to be involved?

Demonstrate ROI – The people you are presenting to aren’t interested in exact ROI figures and you’re unlikely to have access to the data anyway. They want to know what factors you would measure to determine the success of a campaign and the impact it might have on the business.

Outline budgets & timescales – outline the key milestones for the plan and what will be achieved by when. What are the potential costs involved? What options are available?

Talk in the first person – “I did the campaign” not, “we did the campaign”. Whilst clients realise you may have been part of a team in your previous role they want to hear about your experience and your skills.

Hopefully some of these tips are useful but they are by no means exhaustive. In part 2 of this series on interview tips for marketers, we’ll look at more practical presentation tips and power point tips.
Do you have any tips of your own? Maybe you’ve interviewed candidates before, and have some valuable insight?

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